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.
Shed A Little Light
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world become
We are bound together by the task that stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound and we are bound
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps the heart will never rest
Shed a little light, oh Lord
So that we can see
Just a little light, oh Lord
Want to stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh Lord
Want to walk it on down
Shed a little light, oh Lord
Can't get no light from the dollar bill
Don't give me no light from a TV screen
When I open my eyes I want to drink my fill
From the well on the hill
Do you know what I mean?
Shed a little light, oh Lord
So that we can see
Just a little light, oh Lord
Want to stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh Lord
Want to walk it on down
Shed a little light, oh Lord
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps the heart will never rest
Oh, Let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love of
Sister and brotherhood
The lyrics of James Taylor's "Shed a Little Light" are an inspiring call to action that recognize the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and remind us of our common ties as human beings living on Earth. The opening verse calls for us to turn our thoughts to King and acknowledge the connections that bind us together: ties of hope, love, sisterhood, and brotherhood. These ties, the song suggests, lead us to work together towards a world in which our children can grow free and strong - a world that we are bound to create.
The second verse strikes a more urgent tone, describing a "feeling like the clenching of a fist" and a "hunger in the center of the chest." These images suggest a deep, palpable desire for change and progress that cannot be ignored or contained. The song acknowledges that the journey ahead may be difficult or unclear, and that we may face darkness and mist along the way. But even as our bodies sleep, the heart never rests - a symbol of our unyielding commitment to this task.
The chorus of the song repeatedly calls on the Lord to shed a little light so that we can see and stand up, walk down, and strive for progress - a metaphorical call to action for all of us to work towards a brighter future. The final verse echoes the opening verse, reminding us once again to turn our thoughts to King and recognize the ties that bind all of us together in our pursuit of hope, love, sisterhood, and brotherhood.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh let us turn our thoughts today
Let us take a moment today to reflect upon something important.
To Martin Luther King
Let's focus specifically on the work and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
And recognize that there are ties between us
Let's acknowledge that we have connections and similarities with one another.
All men and women living on the Earth
This includes all people living on earth, regardless of race, gender, etc.
Ties of hope and love
These connections are based on shared emotions, including positive feelings of aspiration and affection.
Sister and brotherhood
This shared connection can be likened to familial relationships between siblings.
That we are bound together
We are united and connected by these shared ties.
In our desire to see the world become
We are united in our want for the world to be a certain way.
A place in which our children can grow free and strong
The desired end state we are united in wanting is a world where children can thrive and grow up without limitations.
We are bound together by the task that stands before us
We are united by a common goal or mission that we must accomplish.
And the road that lies ahead
This mission will require sustained effort and a long-term commitment to achieving it.
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
This is emotional stress or anxiety that resembles a hand tightly holding or squeezing something.
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
This is a powerful desire or urge felt deeply within one's core.
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
Overcoming the difficult obstacles or challenges is possible, but it will require courage and determination.
And though the body sleeps the heart will never rest
Even when one might physically rest or sleep, their determination and drive will always persist.
Shed a little light, oh Lord
Asking for help and guidance from a higher power.
So that we can see
To gain clarity or understanding about something.
Just a little light, oh Lord
Not asking for grand changes or miracles, but for small, incremental improvements or insights.
Want to stand it on up
Expressing a desire to take action or make progress towards a goal.
Want to walk it on down
Similarly, expressing a desire to make progress towards that goal step-by-step, little by little.
Can't get no light from the dollar bill
Money can't provide the answers or solutions being sought.
Don't give me no light from a TV screen
Similarly, the media or entertainment cannot provide the clarity or guidance being sought.
When I open my eyes I want to drink my fill
Instead, a desire to find the answers or guidance in something more natural and authentic.
From the well on the hill
The ideal source of clarity and guidance is something natural, found in the world around us.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LetsBeClear87
Oh let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women, living on the earth
Ties of hope and love, sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
With a desire to see the world become
A place in which our children can grow free and strong
We are bound together by the task that stands before us
And the road that lies ahead, we are bound then we are bound
There is a feeling like the clenching of the fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
Though the body sleeps the heart will never rest
Shed a little light oh lord
(So that we can see) Ohh now
(Just a little light ohh lord) Just a little light oh lord
(Gonna stand it on up) Stand it on up
(Stand it up ohh Lord) Get down
(Gonna walk it on down) Gonna shed a little
(Shed a little light ohh lord)
No No No No
(When I open my eyes, I want to drink my fill)
(From the well on the hill)
Then you know where I'll be
Shed a little light oh lord
(So that we can see) Ahh yes
(Just a little light ohh lord) Just a little light oh lord
(We're gonna stand it on up) Stand it on up
(Stand it up ohh Lord, Stand it up ohh lord)
(Gonna walk it on down) Gonna shed a little
(Shed a little light ohh lord)
There is a feeling like the clenching of the fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
Though the body sleeps the heart will never rest
Oh let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women, living on the earth
Ties of hope and love, sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
With a desire to see the world become
A place in which our children can grow free and strong
We are bound together by the task that ties before us
And the road that lies ahead, we are bound and we are bound
@megmc9644
Oh, let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world
Become a place in which our children
Can grow free and strong
We are bound together by the task
That stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound, and we are bound
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps
The heart will never rest
Shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
So that we can see, oh yeah
Just a little light, oh Lord. (just a little light, oh Lord)
Want to stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh Lord (stand it on up, Lord)
Want to walk it on down
Gonna shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
Can't get no light from a dollar bill
(Don't see me no light from a dollar bill)
Don't give me no light from a TV screen, oh no, no
When I open my eyes, I want to drink my fill
From the well on the hill
I know you know what I mean
Shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
So that we can see, oh yeah
Just a little light, oh Lord (just a little light, oh Lord)
Want to stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh Lord (stand it on up, oh Lord)
Stand on up, Lord
Want to walk it on down
Gonna shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
Shed a little light, Lord
There's a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest, oh yes
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps
The heart will never rest
Oh, Let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
Songwriter: James Taylor
@madcows2009
Oh, let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world
Become a place in which our children
Can grow free and strong
We are bound together by the task
That stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound, and we are bound
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps
The heart will never rest
Shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
So that we can see, oh yeah
Just a little light, oh Lord. (just a little light, oh Lord)
Want to stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh Lord (stand it on up, Lord)
Want to walk it on down
Gonna shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
Can't get no light from a dollar bill
(Don't see me no light from a dollar bill)
Don't give me no light from a TV screen, oh no, no
When I open my eyes, I want to drink my fill
From the well on the hill
I know you know what I mean
Shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
So that we can see, oh yeah
Just a little light, oh Lord (just a little light, oh Lord)
Want to stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh Lord (stand it on up, oh Lord)
Stand on up, Lord
Want to walk it on down
Gonna shed a little light, oh Lord (shed a little light, oh Lord)
Shed a little light, Lord
There's a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest, oh yes
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps
The heart will never rest
Oh, Let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
@localafh
Life is so hectic, but James Taylor is one of only a handful of recording artists/singers that put me at peace almost immediately. So glad he’s been and always will be a part of my musical life. ‘Love Always’ Matthew 21:22
@scattysafari7742
In wake of the world we're currently living in, we need more music like this. I don't know you, but if you're reading this & you're a man or a woman or nb or a person of faith, or not, or whatever race you are,you're valid, you have meaning & I love you.
@larrysnyder2387
God Loves You!
@jackvaughan7577
Now more than ever Scatty
God Bless You and Us All
Take Care
Jack Vaughan Tipperary Ireland
@belasmith1607
That really made my day better bruh sending my love aswell
@namelia4439
All my love to you!!!
@DR3itmatters
This played at my 31 yr
@tippoldefar1
Who's here after Bon Iver - AUATC😍 ??
@carboncopy1992
AAYYYEEEE!
@lilfmjr
Remixed...