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.
Summer's Here
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got my rubber sandals, got my straw hat.
Got my cold beer, I'm just glad that I'm here.
Summer's here, that suits me fine.
It may rain today but I don't mind.
It's my favorite time of the year
And I'm glad that I'm here.
Old man wintertime, he goes so slow.
It's ten degrees below, you know.
You can take your ice and snow
And let my balmy breezes blow.
Yeah, the water's cold but I've been in.
Baby, lose the laundry and jump on in.
I mean all God's children got skin
And it's summer again.
Old man wintertime, he goes so slow.
It's ten degrees below, you know.
You can take your ice and snow
And let my balmy breezes blow.
Summer's here, I'm for that.
Got my rubber sandals, got my straw hat.
Drinking cold beer, man,
I'm just glad that I'm here.
It's my favorite time of the year
And I'm glad that I'm here, yeah.
James Taylor's song "Summer's Here" celebrates the coming of summer and all the joys it brings. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, expressing a genuine appreciation for the season. The singer is happy to be alive and enjoying warm weather, cold drinks, and good company. The first verse establishes the singer's essentials for summer: rubber sandals, a straw hat, and cold beer. These items signify relaxation and leisure, which are the hallmarks of summer.
The second verse suggests that the singer is content regardless of the weather. Even if it rains, the singer is still happy because summer is their favorite time of year. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm just glad that I'm here," emphasizing the singer's gratitude and joy for being alive during summertime.
The third verse contrasts winter with summer by describing the slow pace and cold temperatures of wintertime. The singer then dismisses winter by proclaiming their love for the warmth and ease of summer. The last verse encourages everyone to partake in summer activities, like swimming, regardless of their body types. The singer insists that everyone has skin, so there's no reason to shy away from the water.
Overall, "Summer's Here" is a simple, fun-loving song that captures the essence of summer as a carefree time of leisure and enjoyment.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer's here, I'm for that.
The singer is happy about the arrival of summer.
Got my rubber sandals, got my straw hat.
The singer is prepared for the warm weather with their summer attire.
Got my cold beer, I'm just glad that I'm here.
The singer is content and happy with their current moment.
Summer's here, that suits me fine.
The artist is pleased with the arrival of summer.
It may rain today but I don't mind.
The artist is not deterred by any potential rain on a summer day.
It's my favorite time of the year And I'm glad that I'm here.
The singer loves this season the most and is happy to be experiencing it.
Old man wintertime, he goes so slow.
The singer believes that winter seems to last forever.
It's ten degrees below, you know.
The artist is commenting on how cold the winter can get.
You can take your ice and snow And let my balmy breezes blow.
The artist does not enjoy winter weather and would rather have warm, summery breezes.
Yeah, the water's cold but I've been in.
The artist has gone swimming in chilly water anyways.
Baby, lose the laundry and jump on in.
The singer is encouraging someone to hop in the water without worrying about getting their clothes wet.
I mean all God's children got skin And it's summer again.
The artist is excited to be experiencing summer weather and feels that it is a shared experience with everyone else in the world.
Drinking cold beer, man, I'm just glad that I'm here.
The singer is enjoying a beverage and happy with their current moment.
It's my favorite time of the year And I'm glad that I'm here, yeah.
The singer feels very positively towards this season and is happy to be in it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind