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.
Song for You Far Away
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God only knows how they do it
One to another then back again
Something keeps putting them through it
Me, I've been watching more than fifteen years
It hasn't changed a bit
People keep talking about a different line
But it never seemed to fit
This is a song for you far away, far away
This is a song for you far away from me
This is a song for you far away, so far away
This is a song for you far away from me
Sitting here all alone is bringing it on again, I'm gone again
Sitting here thinking of you is driving it home again
This is a song for you far away, so far away
This is a song for you far away from me
Open the door it takes me back, oh it takes me back
Mention your name and I'm gone again, oh I'm gone again
This is a song for you far away from me
When you're far away
Talkin' 'bout far away
Far away from me
James Taylor's "Song for You Far Away" is a melancholic song that reflects on the distance between two people who are far away from each other. The song is about James Taylor's longing for someone who is not physically present with him. The first verse talks about the people around him who are in a constant cycle of emotional turmoil, but he is separate from it because he is consumed with thoughts of the person that he misses. He is nostalgic about watching and waiting for the person he misses for over 15 years, and even though people are talking about finding different ways to deal with similar issues, these methods never work for him.
The chorus serves as a refrain, with the phrase "This is a song for you far away" repeated frequently. It adds to the idea that he is writing this song specifically for someone who is far away from him. The second verse begins with James sitting alone, and the thoughts of the person he misses come back to him. He is filled with emotions and is consumed by the idea of the person being far away from him. He repeats the chorus, adding that the mention of the person's name is enough to remind him of their absence and throw him back into the emotional turmoil.
The lyrics of "Song for You Far Away" reveal James Taylor's tender emotions and his sense of longing for someone who is not with him. The song captures the painful experience of being far away from someone you love and missing them deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
People around me are at it again
The people around James Taylor are engaging in some sort of behavior that he disapproves of.
God only knows how they do it
He is at a loss as to how they are able to continue with their behavior.
One to another then back again
The behavior in question is being passed around amongst the group.
Something keeps putting them through it
Despite any negative consequences, they continue to engage in this behavior.
Me, I've been watching more than fifteen years
James Taylor has been observing these people and their behavior for over fifteen years now.
It hasn't changed a bit
Despite the passing of time, their behavior has remained stagnant.
People keep talking about a different line
The people are always looking for a new way to justify their behavior.
But it never seemed to fit
None of their justifications have ever made sense or felt appropriate.
This is a song for you far away, far away
The song is dedicated to someone who is currently far away from James Taylor.
This is a song for you far away from me
He is acknowledging that this person is separate from him and not physically present.
Sitting here all alone is bringing it on again, I'm gone again
Thinking about this person is making James Taylor emotional and overwhelmed.
Sitting here thinking of you is driving it home again
Continuing to think about this person is making James Taylor face the reality that they are far away.
Open the door it takes me back, oh it takes me back
Anything that reminds James Taylor of this person makes him feel like he's back with them, even if only in his memories.
Mention your name and I'm gone again, oh I'm gone again
Simply hearing this person's name is enough to make James Taylor feel like he's lost them all over again.
When you're far away
The song is ultimately about the pain of being separated from someone you care about.
Talkin' 'bout far away
The song acknowledges that many people experience this type of pain when they are separated from loved ones.
Far away from me
Being separated from someone you love is a difficult and painful experience.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind