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.
Suite For 20 G
James Taylor Lyrics
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And hold on to me golden days, slipping away
Sunshine on my wall to keep my mind on the things I'm saying
Footsteps in the hall to tell me I've been this way before, nevermore
Let it rain, sweet Mary Jane, let it wash your love down all around me
Come inside and put it down, let it rain
I've been trying hard to find a way to let you know
This time round I'm searching down to where I used to go
And it's been on my mind to make it shine
You can say I wanna be free, I can say someday I will be
You can say I wanna be free, I can say someday I will be
When I catch a common cold, wanna hear a saxophone
When I let the good times roll, baby, slide me a bass trombone
Walk me down old Funky Street
Lord knows I feel good enough to eat now
Hold my soul. Now, I'm sure enough fond of my rock 'n roll
When I go to sleep at night, wanna hear a slide guitar
When I'm feeling loose and right, go riding in my automobile
Boney Maroney and Peggy Sue, got the rocking pneumonia, got the boogy-woogy flu, hey
Hold my soul, said I'm sure enough fond of my rock 'n roll, good God
Looky here, looky here, woo
The song Suite For 20 G is a mellow tune with a laid back rhythm, accompanied by James Taylor's soft voice. Taylor paints a picture of an ideal world that is slipping away, and he reminisces about a time when the world was more golden and magical. The month of May symbolizes this beauty and perfection that Taylor so desperately wants to hold on to. He longs for the sunshine on his wall that keeps his mind focused on his inner thoughts or the presence of the footsteps in the hall to remind him of where he has been before. It is as if he is asking for something, or someone, to stay with him as he watches the magic of life slip away. He pleads for rain to wash away any sorrows or hardships and to bring in love instead.
In the second stanza, Taylor is trying to find a way to communicate his thoughts and feelings to someone else. He wants to make things work out between them and find a way to make things better. He mentions that this is something that he has been contemplating for quite some time. He then repeats a phrase about wanting to be free and assures himself that someday he will be.
Finally, in the last stanza, Taylor sings about his love of rock and roll music. He talks about the different sounds that he enjoys like the saxophone, bass trombone, and slide guitar. These sounds bring him joy and ease his soul. He mentions a few iconic artists and how they have influenced his love of the genre. Taylor is holding on to this love of music and believes that it is one of the things that will make him free.
Line by Line Meaning
Slipping away, what can I say, won't you stay inside me, month of May?
As time passes, I feel like I'm losing control, but I wish I could hold onto the hope and vibrancy that the month of May brings.
And hold on to me golden days, slipping away
I wish I could cling onto the special memories and moments in my life, but time continues to move on and things change.
Sunshine on my wall to keep my mind on the things I'm saying
I need a positive and bright outlook to keep my focus on the words I'm speaking and the thoughts I'm having.
Footsteps in the hall to tell me I've been this way before, nevermore
I hear sounds that remind me of past experiences, but I'm determined to move forward and not fall into old patterns.
Let it rain, sweet Mary Jane, let it wash your love down all around me
I want to experience the feeling of peace and love that comes with the rain, and I hope it can surround me and bring me joy.
Come inside and put it down, let it rain
I invite the rain to come inside and soothe me with its presence and the memories it brings.
I've been trying hard to find a way to let you know
I'm struggling to express my feelings and communicate how I'm truly feeling.
That we can make it shine most all the time
I believe that we are capable of achieving bright and positive things most of the time, and I want to share that with the person I'm addressing.
This time round I'm searching down to where I used to go
I'm looking back at where I've been before and trying to find familiar ground in order to move forward from there.
And it's been on my mind to make it shine
I'm focused on making things better and more positive, and that thought constantly occupies my mind.
You can say I wanna be free, I can say someday I will be
While someone else may say they want to be free from something holding them back, I believe in a brighter future where they will be.
When I catch a common cold, wanna hear a saxophone
When I'm feeling down, I want to listen to music that will lift me up and make me feel good, like the sound of a saxophone.
When I let the good times roll, baby, slide me a bass trombone
In moments of joy and celebration, I want to be surrounded by music that makes me dance and smile, like the bass trombone.
Walk me down old Funky Street
I want to revisit a place or feeling from my past that reminds me of the happy times in my life.
Lord knows I feel good enough to eat now
I feel so happy and energized that I could eat anything, a sign of how good I'm feeling.
Hold my soul. Now, I'm sure enough fond of my rock 'n roll
I want to hold onto the feeling of being alive and passionate, and for me, rock 'n roll is a representation of that energy.
When I go to sleep at night, wanna hear a slide guitar
Before I go to bed, I want to listen to a soothing sound that brings me peace, like a slide guitar.
When I'm feeling loose and right, go riding in my automobile
When I'm feeling good about myself and life, I want to go out and enjoy myself, like taking a drive in my car.
Boney Maroney and Peggy Sue, got the rocking pneumonia, got the boogy-woogy flu, hey
I'm referencing iconic songs and musicians that make me feel happy and energized, and using them to express my excitement.
Hold my soul, said I'm sure enough fond of my rock 'n roll, good God
I want to hold onto my passion for rock 'n roll because it makes me feel alive and vibrant, something I value deeply.
Looky here, looky here, woo
An expression of enthusiasm or excitement, indicating that something good is happening or about to happen.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR, JAMES V TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind