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.
Sweet Potato Pie
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm walking on cloud nine today.
I'm over that line today,
Happiness is finally mine today.
I guess I'm just a lucky guy
And I'm prepared to tell you why.
It's strictly on account
Of my sweet potato pie.
I'm the fellow that she loves the most,
The main reason why she left the coast.
She's my little girlzina,
That much hotter that a jalapeno.
Tender like a night in June,
Sweeter than a honeymoon,
Brighter than a silver spoon,
Just as crazy as a loon.
Softer than a lullaby,
Deeper than the midnight sky,
Soulful as a baby's cry,
My sweet potato pie.
I used to see her around the neighborhood,
I wonder how she grew up so good.
She belonged to Freddy and he was bad
And I never was ready to make him mad.
I'm glad I had to wait awhile,
A little bit too juvenile.
I needed to refine my style, a silk suit
And a crocodile smile.
So let the whole damn world go by
'Cause I just want to testify
From now on it's me
And my sweet potato pie.
James Taylor's song "Sweet Potato Pie" is an uplifting tribute to a woman that has brought him happiness. As he sings "Oh Lord I feel fine today, I'm walking on cloud nine today," listeners can sense his relief and joy from finding his perfect match. It is clear from the lyrics that the woman he is singing about has transformed his life and brought him unparalleled happiness.
Taylor describes his love interest as the woman who "loves him the most," citing her as the reason why she left the coast. He affectionately calls her "my little girlzina," and compares her to a jalapeno – reminding listeners of the heat and spice that she brings into his life. Despite her fiery nature, he describes her as "tender like a night in June, sweeter than a honeymoon, brighter than a silver spoon, just as crazy as a loon."
The song pays homage to the impact that falling in love can have on a person's outlook on life, as Taylor sings "I guess I'm just a lucky guy and I'm prepared to tell you why. It's strictly on account of my sweet potato pie." He acknowledges that his softer side has been awakened and that his life would never be the same if not for her. The song ultimately expresses gratitude for love and the transformative power of it in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Lord I feel fine today,
I am feeling ecstatic today.
I'm walking on cloud nine today.
I feel like I am on top of the world today.
I'm over that line today,
I have passed the threshold of contentment today.
Happiness is finally mine today.
I have finally achieved true happiness today.
I guess I'm just a lucky guy
I am fortunate to have what I have.
And I'm prepared to tell you why.
I am ready to explain why I feel this way.
It's strictly on account
It's only because
Of my sweet potato pie.
Of the woman I love.
I'm the fellow that she loves the most,
She loves me more than anyone else
The main reason why she left the coast.
She moved away from the coast to be with me.
She's my little girlzina,
She is my beloved girl.
That much hotter that a jalapeno.
She is even hotter than a jalapeno pepper.
Tender like a night in June,
She is gentle and sweet like a beautiful June evening.
Sweeter than a honeymoon,
She is sweeter than a romantic honeymoon.
Brighter than a silver spoon,
She shines brighter than a shiny silver spoon.
Just as crazy as a loon.
She is as wild and crazy as a loon bird.
Softer than a lullaby,
She is softer and more soothing than a lullaby.
Deeper than the midnight sky,
She is deep, like the mysterious midnight sky
Soulful as a baby's cry,
Her soul is as pure as a baby's cry.
My sweet potato pie.
My beloved partner.
I used to see her around the neighborhood,
I first saw her near my place.
I wonder how she grew up so good.
I often think about how she became so amazing.
She belonged to Freddy and he was bad
She was involved with a man named Freddy who was ill-natured.
And I never was ready to make him mad.
I was not prepared to anger him.
I'm glad I had to wait awhile,
I am happy I got the opportunity to wait and improve myself.
A little bit too juvenile.
I was a little too young and immature.
I needed to refine my style, a silk suit
I needed to improve my fashion sense, to wear a silk suit.
And a crocodile smile.
And to smile like a crocodile, suavely and confidently.
So let the whole damn world go by
I don't care about anything else happening in the world.
'Cause I just want to testify
Because I want to speak the truth about my feelings.
From now on it's me
I am committed to
And my sweet potato pie.
My beloved partner.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind