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.
She Thinks I Still Care
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just because I spoke her name somewhere.
Just because I rang her number by mistake today,
She thinks I still care.
Just because I hang out at the same ol' places
Where the memory of her lingers everywhere.
Just because I'm not the happy guy I used to be,
But if she's happy thinking I still need her,
Then let that silly notion bring her cheer.
But how could she ever be so foolish?
Oh, where would she get such an idea?
Just because I ask a friend about her.
Just because I spoke her name somewhere.
Just because I saw her, then went all to pieces,
She thinks I still care.
She thinks I still care.
James Taylor's song ‘She Thinks I Still Care' is a reflective and contemplative ballad about a man who is being misunderstood by his ex-lover, who still thinks he has feelings for her. The song questions how small actions such as asking friends about her or accidentally dialing her number could possibly indicate that he still has feelings for her. The singer, however, is not interested in his ex-lover and is seemingly unaffected by the memories of her that linger around the same old places they used to frequent together. He realizes that his ex-lover's false beliefs that he still cares might bring her some happiness though he finds it absurd that she would have such an idea in the first place.
Throughout the song, we get to see the man's perspective regarding his ex-lover's fixation on him. He insists that just because he mentions her in passing and visits places where they once shared memories doesn't mean he still has feelings for her. James Taylor adds a layer of complexity to the song by not just making it about heartbreak but also about human misunderstanding, where two people can interpret the same actions differently.
The song is a soulful exploration of human emotions and the way two people perceive and experience events. James Taylor uses his signature fingerstyle guitar playing and signature soft yet expressive voice to convey the emotions of the singer. ‘She Thinks I Still Care' showcases James Taylor's exceptional talent as a songwriter.
Line by Line Meaning
Just because I ask a friend about her.
Merely inquiring about her from a mutual acquaintance.
Just because I spoke her name somewhere.
Mentioning her name in passing or accidentally.
Just because I rang her number by mistake today,
Dialing her phone number in error, with no intent to contact her.
She thinks I still care.
She jumps to the conclusion that I still have feelings for her despite all evidence to the contrary.
Just because I hang out at the same ol' places
Frequenting places where we used to go when we were together.
Where the memory of her lingers everywhere.
Reminders of her are all around, making it difficult to forget her.
Just because I'm not the happy guy I used to be,
Not feeling as upbeat or carefree as I once did when we were together.
But if she's happy thinking I still need her,
If she derives happiness from believing that I still want her in my life,
Then let that silly notion bring her cheer.
I have no intention of shattering her illusion if it brings her happiness.
But how could she ever be so foolish?
I am bewildered by how she could believe something so blatantly untrue.
Oh, where would she get such an idea?
I have no clue why she would hold onto this false notion, as it has no basis in reality.
Just because I saw her, then went all to pieces,
Becoming emotional upon seeing her unexpectedly.
She thinks I still care.
Despite my best efforts to move on, she remains convinced that I still have feelings for her.
She thinks I still care.
Her unfounded beliefs about my feelings for her persist, despite all evidence to the contrary.
Lyrics © DistroKid, GLAD MUSIC CO., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Steve Duffy, Dickey Lee Lipscomb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GizmoFromPizmo
Just because I asked a friend about her
Just because I spoke her name somewhere
Just because I dialed her number by mistake today
She thinks I still care
Just because I haunt the same old places
Where the mem'ry of her lingers everywhere
Just because I'm not the happy guy I used to be
She thinks I still care
Bridge:
Well, if she's happy thinking I still need her
Then let that foolish notion bring her cheer
But how could she ever be so foolish
Tell me where would she get such an idea...?
Just because I asked a friend about her
Just because I spoke her name somewhere
Just because I saw her - and went all to pieces
She thinks I still care
Oh, she thinks I still care...
This song makes me cry real tears :(
Mitch Chapman
I saw James do this live once and I love his introduction. He said “George Jones sang this song, and he sings it’s so sweet it’ll make you weep. It’ll make your dog weep… It’ll make your roof leak.“ Audience cheers and laughs… :-)
Kay M
I so agree, the intro is primo! He really shines in the role of Irish storyteller.
Janet Walsh
James Taylor is timeless his songs and covers make you feel like he knows exactly how to sing what you are feeling
Vee Cee
Wasn't sure James could pull off this Possum classic, but he done a good job.
Conne Dillon
THANKS for so much for sharing this. I'd never considered James Taylor a Country singer but he nails it here.
gooddaysahead1
He wrote one of George Jones' biggest hits: Bartender Blues
Jennifer
I have a live concert 2 CD set with this song. Highly recommend. Great renditions of all of his songs, and LIVE!
GizmoFromPizmo
Just because I asked a friend about her
Just because I spoke her name somewhere
Just because I dialed her number by mistake today
She thinks I still care
Just because I haunt the same old places
Where the mem'ry of her lingers everywhere
Just because I'm not the happy guy I used to be
She thinks I still care
Bridge:
Well, if she's happy thinking I still need her
Then let that foolish notion bring her cheer
But how could she ever be so foolish
Tell me where would she get such an idea...?
Just because I asked a friend about her
Just because I spoke her name somewhere
Just because I saw her - and went all to pieces
She thinks I still care
Oh, she thinks I still care...
This song makes me cry real tears :(
Phillip McClurg
James Taylor is a great lover of songs and style and he pays attention to how the great ones perform this song. Unlike other rock musicians (like Beck) he performs this song correctly and with respect, and as a result produces a version worthy of his skill. I think George Jones does the ultimate version of this song, but I think he would smile at how James treated this.
James Ishee
There's always someone to disparage. There's always someone to put down. Even when a master such as James gives his all to bring such a beautiful rendition to such a wonderful and bittersweet song by another master of song and verse. Nevermind. Just get into the bliss. And leave the haters to whatever. It's their loss. We all know better. Thank you James I can just hear George say. For this. ♡♡♡