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.
Terra Nova
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When shall I see the sea?
May this day set me in emotion,
I ought to be on my way.
We were there,
We were sailing on the Terra Nova.
Sailing for the setting sun,
May this day show me an ocean,
I ought to be on my way.
Ought to be on my way right now.
Stepping on the boat
With a lump in my throat,
On my way right now.
I got a letter from a dear friend of mine,
The story of a spiritual awakening.
She spoke of her love returning in kind,
She let me know that she'd be waiting.
And I should be on my way by now.
Walking across the floor,
Reaching for the door, on my way by now.
But here I sit,
Country fool that I am,
My elbow on my knee
And my chin in my hand.
My mind in the gutter
And my eye on the street,
Holed up in a cave of concrete.
And I ought to be on my way right now.
Packing my things
While the telephone rings,
On my way right now.
I miss my lovely mother
And I love my lonely father.
I know I owe my brothers one thing
And another, I hear my sister singing.
And I ought to be on my way right now.
Moving across the land
With my heart in my hand,
On my way by now,
Ought to be on my way by now.
Oh, end this day,
Set me in motion.
Ought to be on my way.
Out of the west
Of Lambert's Cove,
There's a sail out in the sun.
And I'm on board
Though very small,
I've come home to stop yearning.
Burn off the haze
Around the shore,
Turn off the crazy way I feel.
I'll stay away from you no more,
I've come home to stop yearning.
The song "Terra Nova" by James Taylor is a yearning for something new, a sense of adventure and a desire for change. In the first verse, the singer yearns to see the ocean and hopes that the day sets them in emotion so they can be on their way. The second verse talks about a journey on the Terra Nova, sailing towards the setting sun and a new horizon. The chorus repeats the desire to be on his way, to step on the boat and leave. The third verse tells the story of a dear friend who had a spiritual awakening and is waiting for him, this again reinforces the theme of change and new beginnings. The song ends with a sail on Lambert's Cove, and the singer finally coming home and stopping his yearning.
The song is about James Taylor's desire to break free from the conventional way of life and pursue his dreams. The lyrics show a sense of restlessness and a longing for something else in life. Taylor seems to struggle with the decision to leave, as he references his family and their love for him. However, his desire for something more is stronger, and he yearns for the ocean and the freedom it represents.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, end this day, show me the ocean.
The singer is restless and yearning to see the vastness of the ocean.
When shall I see the sea?
The singer is eager to experience the ocean as soon as possible.
May this day set me in emotion,
The singer hopes the sight of the ocean will inspire strong feelings within them.
I ought to be on my way.
The artist feels a strong desire to travel and move forward in life.
We were there,
The artist is reflecting on a past experience.
We were sailing on the Terra Nova.
The singer was on a boat called the Terra Nova.
Sailing for the setting sun,
The singer was sailing westward, towards the sunset.
Sailing for the new horizon.
The artist was seeking new adventures and experiences.
May this day show me an ocean,
The artist hopes to see the ocean again and relive past experiences.
I ought to be on my way.
The artist still feels a strong desire to travel and move forward in life.
Ought to be on my way right now.
The singer feels an urgent need to start their journey as soon as possible.
Stepping on the boat
The artist is beginning their journey by boarding a boat.
With a lump in my throat,
The singer is feeling emotional and perhaps a little apprehensive about their journey.
On my way right now.
The singer has finally started their journey.
I got a letter from a dear friend of mine,
The singer has received a letter from a friend.
The story of a spiritual awakening.
The letter contains news of the friend's newfound spiritual awareness.
She spoke of her love returning in kind,
The friend expressed that their affection for the artist was reciprocated.
She let me know that she'd be waiting.
The friend is waiting for the singer to return home.
And I should be on my way by now.
Despite the emotional pull of returning home, the singer still feels the need to travel.
Walking across the floor,
The artist is preparing to leave.
Reaching for the door, on my way by now.
The artist is finally leaving and starting their journey again.
But here I sit,
Despite their desire to leave, the artist is currently stuck in one place.
Country fool that I am,
The singer feels foolish for being stuck in one place while desiring to travel.
My elbow on my knee
The artist is slumping forward in a defeated manner.
And my chin in my hand.
The singer is resting their chin on their hand in a pensive manner.
My mind in the gutter
The singer's thoughts are muddled and unfocused.
And my eye on the street,
The singer is looking towards the outside world, longing for adventure.
Holed up in a cave of concrete.
The artist is trapped in an urban environment with no easy escape.
And I ought to be on my way right now.
Despite feeling trapped, the artist is still longing to travel.
Packing my things
The singer is preparing to leave and start their journey.
While the telephone rings,
The singer is being distracted by outside forces, making it difficult to leave.
On my way right now.
Despite the distractions, the artist is determined to leave and start their journey.
I miss my lovely mother
The artist is homesick and misses their family.
And I love my lonely father.
The artist has complicated feelings towards their father, who may be distant or emotionally unavailable.
I know I owe my brothers one thing
The singer feels indebted to their siblings in some way.
And another, I hear my sister singing.
The artist feels a connection to their sister, who may be musically talented or emotionally supportive.
And I ought to be on my way right now.
Despite these strong ties to home, the singer still feels the need to travel and explore.
Moving across the land
The singer is journeying across a vast distance.
With my heart in my hand,
The singer is wearing their heart on their sleeve, being vulnerable and open to new experiences.
On my way by now,
The artist is finally making progress and moving towards their destination.
Ought to be on my way by now.
The artist is motivated and determined to continue on their journey.
Out of the west
A new direction or opportunity is arising from the west.
Of Lambert's Cove,
This direction is coming from a specific place called Lambert's Cove.
There's a sail out in the sun.
The artist observes a sailboat that is visible in the sunlight.
And I'm on board
The artist has found a way to join the voyage and continue their journey.
Though very small,
The artist may feel insignificant compared to the grandness of the ocean.
I've come home to stop yearning.
The singer feels fulfilled and at peace with themselves now that they are embracing their passions and desires.
Burn off the haze
The artist wants to clear their mind and remove any confusion or doubt while embarking on their journey.
Around the shore,
The singer wants to forget their past and begin anew as they move forward towards their destination.
Turn off the crazy way I feel.
The singer wants to suppress any intense emotions or internal conflicts so that they can focus on their journey.
I'll stay away from you no more,
The singer no longer wants to avoid their passions and desires.
I've come home to stop yearning.
The artist feels confident in their decision to embrace their desires and is content to carry on with their journey.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: CARLY E. SIMON, JAMES VERNON TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
genghisconnie
Oh end this day show me the ocean
When shall I see the sea
May this day set me in motion
I ought to be on my way
We were there
We were sailing on the terra nova
Sailing for the setting sun
Sailing for the new horizon
May this day show me an ocean
I ought to be on my way
Ought to be on my way right now
Stepping on the boat
With a lump in my throat
On my way right now
I got a letter from a dear friend of mine
The story of a spiritual awakening
She spoke of her love
Returning in kind
She let me know that
She'd be waiting
And I should be on my way by now
Walking across the floor
Reaching for the door
On my way by now
But here I sit country fool that I am
My elbow on my knee
And my chin in my hand
My mind in the gutter
And my eye on the street
Holed up in a cave of concrete
And I ought to be on my way right now
Packing my things
While the telephone rings
On my way right now
I miss my lovely mother
And I love my lonely father
I know I owe my brothers
One thing and another
I hear my sister singing
And I ought to be on my way right now
Moving across the land
With my heart in my hand
On my way by now
Ought to be on my way by now
Oh end this day set me in motion
Ought to be on my way
Out of the west of lambert's cove
There's a sail out in the sun
And I'm on board though very small
I've come home to stop yearning
Burn off the haze around the shore
Turn off the crazy way I feel
I'll stay away from you no more
I've come home to stop yearning
LQ
One of my favorite JT songs from one of my favorite albums. Terra Nova always brings a tear to my eye and makes me smile. I have two copies of this album on vinyl and I decided to give one of the copies to one of my best friends (who also loves music) so that she could discover JT and love him as much as I do. I listen to this album all the time. James’s music has always been such a huge part of my life and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I saw James Taylor live for the first time with my Dad last summer right before my 15th birthday. His voices still sounds amazing just like it does on all of the records. I’ll never forget that concert. He closed the show by singing “You Can Close Your Eyes” as a duet with Bonnie Raitt. My dad used to play the video of James and Carly Simon playing that song almost every night before bedtime when I was little and I remember asking him to play that song over and over again. Hearing him play that song live with Bonnie Raitt (Who is another one of my favorite songwriters) was a dream come true.
delilah deballsak
wow that's so amazing, I love that JT is being kept alive for the next generation, I grew up on him too and my Dad would play him for me <3
Age Oh Truth
What a heartwarming comment...I just listened to this song for the very first time off the JT album...you're right. His and Carly's voice is beautiful here and Carly's solo at the end is sublime
Wesley's Amen Corner
James' and Carly's voices sounded perfectly angelic together...sigh...
Moody Will & The Roll
What a masterpiece, it gives me “a lump in my throat” every time upon listening.
genghisconnie
Oh end this day show me the ocean
When shall I see the sea
May this day set me in motion
I ought to be on my way
We were there
We were sailing on the terra nova
Sailing for the setting sun
Sailing for the new horizon
May this day show me an ocean
I ought to be on my way
Ought to be on my way right now
Stepping on the boat
With a lump in my throat
On my way right now
I got a letter from a dear friend of mine
The story of a spiritual awakening
She spoke of her love
Returning in kind
She let me know that
She'd be waiting
And I should be on my way by now
Walking across the floor
Reaching for the door
On my way by now
But here I sit country fool that I am
My elbow on my knee
And my chin in my hand
My mind in the gutter
And my eye on the street
Holed up in a cave of concrete
And I ought to be on my way right now
Packing my things
While the telephone rings
On my way right now
I miss my lovely mother
And I love my lonely father
I know I owe my brothers
One thing and another
I hear my sister singing
And I ought to be on my way right now
Moving across the land
With my heart in my hand
On my way by now
Ought to be on my way by now
Oh end this day set me in motion
Ought to be on my way
Out of the west of lambert's cove
There's a sail out in the sun
And I'm on board though very small
I've come home to stop yearning
Burn off the haze around the shore
Turn off the crazy way I feel
I'll stay away from you no more
I've come home to stop yearning
James Booth
Motion not emotion and small not smog, but thank you!
genghisconnie
@James Booth I thought it was ‘and I’m on board the very smog…’
My bad!
‘Emotion’ was auto fill. Boo!
I copied/pasted the rest.
Thanks for the heads up! Will fix.
I used to
cicobuffy
Lovely part in her autobiography where Carly talks about how the ending was born from a lullaby she sang to her daughter. Such sweet harmony is quite transfixing. I’ve come home to stop yearning
Laurie Goldsmith
Longtime JT fan here, haven't really listened to his stuff for a long time but my mom was dying this whole week with us by her side and toward the very end of the time this song came to me out of the blue, so strongly and I started playing it and boom! Clearly we will play this at her celebration of life some time from now. Thank you James Taylor for this.