Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the No. 3 single "Fire and Rain" and had his first No. 1 hit the following year with "You've Got a Friend", a recording of Carole King's classic song. His 1976 Greatest Hits album was certified Diamond and has sold 12 million US copies. Following his 1977 album, JT, he has retained a large audience over the decades. Every album that he released from 1977 to 2007 sold over 1 million copies. He enjoyed a resurgence in chart performance during the late 1990s and 2000s, when he recorded some of his most-awarded work (including Hourglass, October Road, and Covers). He achieved his first number-one album in the US in 2015 with his recording Before This World.
He is known for his popular covers of other people's songs, such as "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" and the aforementioned "You've Got A Friend", as well as originals such as "Fire and Rain".
Taylor's four siblings (Alex, Livingston, Hugh, and Kate) have also been musicians with recorded albums. Livingston is still an active musician; Kate was active in the 1970s but did not record another album until 2003; Hugh operates a bed-and-breakfast with his wife, The Outermost Inn in Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard; and Alex died in 1993 on James's birthday.
After his divorce from Carly Simon in 1983, Taylor married actress Kathryn Walker on December 14, 1985 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. She had helped him get off heroin, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1996.
On February 18, 2001, at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston, Taylor wed for the third time, marrying Caroline ("Kim") Smedvig, the director of public relations and marketing for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.[81] They had begun dating in 1995, when they met as he appeared with John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Part of their relationship was worked into the album October Road, on the song "On the 4th of July". The couple reside in the town of Washington, Massachusetts, with their twin boys, Rufus and Henry, born in April 2001. Henry shares James' intrest and talents.
Sally and Ben, his children with Carly Simon, have also embarked on musical careers. After they were born, Taylor moved with his family to Lenox, Massachusetts.
Sarah Maria
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the stars are in the sky.
And all that I can see
Is my sweet Maria's eyes.
Sarah, Sarah Maria.
Sarah Maria, ya, ya, ya, ya.
Well, you know about the sugar cane
She's got one end in her hand,
She's got one end in her mouth.
Come on, Sarah, Sarah Maria.
Sarah Maria, ya, ya, ya, ya.
She took me out walking
To the corner of the world
Where everyone was a-talking
About such a pretty little girl.
Come on, Sarah, Sarah Maria.
Sarah Maria, ya, ya, ya, ya.
Well the moon is in the ocean
And the stars are in the sky.
And all that I can see
Is my sweet Maria's eyes.
Sarah, Sarah Maria.
Sarah Maria, ya, ya, ya, ya.
Sarah, Sarah Maria.
Sarah Maria, ya, ya, ya, ya.
The song "Sarah Maria" by James Taylor is a love song that speaks about his love for a woman named Sarah Maria. Taylor portrays her as a beautiful woman who appears to have a hold on him. He uses terms like "sweet Maria's eyes" and "pretty little girl" to depict her beauty. The song emphasizes the essence of love, as Taylor associates Maria with the moon and stars that are in the sky.
The song goes on to describe Sarah Maria's fondness for sugar cane that comes from the South. He personifies her as holding one end of the cane in her hand and the other in her mouth. Maybe this is Taylor's way of praising her sense of humor or the way she brings sweetness to his life.
The lyrics continue with the image of Taylor and Sarah Maria walking to the corner of the world, where everyone was talking about her beauty. Even though she is the center of attention, Taylor is still mesmerized by her presence.
In conclusion, the song is a testimony of Taylor's love for Sarah Maria, whom he admires for her beauty, sense of humor, and ability to bring sweetness to his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the moon is in the ocean
The singer is setting the scene for the song by describing the view of the moon and stars.
And the stars are in the sky.
The singer continues to describe the view of the sky.
And all that I can see
The singer emphasizes his focus on one particular thing he sees.
Is my sweet Maria's eyes.
The singer is completely captivated by Maria's eyes.
Sarah, Sarah Maria.
The singer directly addresses Sarah, calling her by her full name to add emphasis.
Sarah Maria, ya, ya, ya, ya.
The singer repeats Sarah's name, adding a playful tone to the song.
Well, you know about the sugar cane
The singer shifts focus to a new topic, referencing sugar cane from the southern region.
That comes from way down South.
The singer specifies the location of where sugar cane comes from.
She's got one end in her hand,
The singer switches the subject to Sarah and describes her holding something.
She's got one end in her mouth.
The singer describes Sarah tasting or consuming something.
Come on, Sarah, Sarah Maria.
The singer addresses Sarah again, urging her to join in on the fun of the song.
She took me out walking
The singer shifts topic to Maria, and how she led him on an adventure.
To the corner of the world
The singer embellishes the journey by calling it an exploration to the furthest reaches.
Where everyone was a-talking
The singer describes the scene that Maria brought him to - where people were happily chatting.
About such a pretty little girl.
The singer indulges in the admiration for Maria, commenting on her beauty.
Sarah, Sarah Maria.
The singer repeats Sarah's name yet again for the catchy effect.
Sarah Maria, ya, ya, ya, ya.
The singer repeats Sarah's name and ends the song on a playful note.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind