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.
That
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew that's probably what you'd think
If I stopped by this time of night
Remember way back when
I promised you I'd drop in
At one of those meetings down at the Y
When they started talkin' 'bout the steps you take
Mistakes you make, the hearts you break and the price you pay
You could hear a pin drop when this ole man
Stood up and said, I'm gonna say it again like I do every week
For those who don't know me...
It's the simple things in life
Like the kids at home and a loving wife
That you miss the most when you lose control
Everything you love starts to disappear
The devil takes your hand and says, no fear
Have another shot, just one more beer
I've been there, that's why I'm here
This ole boy stood up in the aisle
Said he'd been living a life of denial and he cried
As he talked about wasted years
I couldn't believe what I heard
It was my life word for word
And all of a sudden it was clear
It's the simple things in life
Like the kids at home and a loving wife
That you miss the most when you lose control
Everything you love starts to disappear
The devil takes your hand and says, no fear
Have another shot, just one more beer
I've been there, that's why I'm here
For us it may be too late
But it would mean the world to me
If you were there when I stand and say
It's the simple things in life
Like the kids at home and a loving wife
That you miss the most when you lose control
Everything you love starts to disappear
The devil takes your hand and says, no fear
Have another shot, just one more beer
I've been there, that's why I'm here
In James Taylor's song That's Why I'm Here, the singer visits a meeting down at the Y, and as he listens to the stories being shared, he almost walks away. However, an older man stands up and says that he has been there before and shares his story of denial and wasted years. The singer realizes that the man's story is his life word for word. The narrative seems to portray the struggle of addiction and the importance of the small things in life.
The lyrics suggest that simple things in life, such as a loving family, become even more valuable when we lose control. As the lyrics progress, it becomes clear that the devil can be very tempting, often urging us to take one more shot or beer, and that it is hard to resist. In this context, the older man's testimony shows how addiction's grip can be incredibly powerful and the devastating impact it has on people's lives. By sharing his story, the man acknowledges his faults and works towards redemption.
One of the key themes in this song is the role that community plays in helping people overcome their addiction. The old man's courage to stand up and speak encourages others to do the same, prompting a sense of camaraderie and hope amongst the audience. The simplicity of life is another significant theme, emphasizing the importance of the small things that we easily take for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
No I ain't had nothing to drink
I want you to know that I am sober right now, despite the late hour.
I knew that's probably what you'd think
I anticipated that you might assume that I had been drinking due to the time of night.
If I stopped by this time of night
I realize that it is late and unexpected for me to visit you now.
Remember way back when
Let's recall a previous conversation we had.
I promised you I'd drop in
I made a commitment to visit you in the past.
At one of those meetings down at the Y
I committed to attending a meeting at the Y with you.
When they started talkin' 'bout the steps you take
During the meeting, the topic of discussion was about the steps that one can take to improve their life.
Mistakes you make, the hearts you break and the price you pay
The discussion also included the consequences of making mistakes and hurting others, as well as the cost of those actions.
I almost walked away
I almost left without hearing the message because I was afraid to face my problems.
You could hear a pin drop when this ole man
The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop when an older man stood up to speak.
Stood up and said, I'm gonna say it again like I do every week
The man stood up to share his testimony, which he does every week at the meeting.
For those who don't know me...
He began his story for those who were unfamiliar with him.
It's the simple things in life
What I have learned is that the most important things in life are often the simplest ones.
Like the kids at home and a loving wife
For me, these simple things include my family, especially my children and spouse.
That you miss the most when you lose control
When one's life becomes unmanageable, they often realize that they have lost sight of what really matters to them, such as family and love.
Everything you love starts to disappear
When a person's addiction takes hold, they often lose everything that they once cared about.
The devil takes your hand and says, no fear
Addiction is like a voice in one's head that tells them to keep using, despite the negative consequences.
Have another shot, just one more beer
The voice of addiction often tells the person to keep using, even when they know they should stop.
I've been there, that's why I'm here
The singer has been through this struggle with addiction themselves and is now here to help others find their way out.
This ole boy stood up in the aisle
The older man who shared his story stood up in the middle of the meeting room.
Said he'd been living a life of denial and he cried
The older man admitted that he had been in denial about his addiction and became emotional as he spoke.
As he talked about wasted years
The older man reflected on how much time he had lost to his addiction.
I couldn't believe what I heard
The singer was surprised to hear someone else echoing his own experiences with addiction.
It was my life word for word
The older man's story was almost identical to the artist's own experience with addiction.
And all of a sudden it was clear
In that moment, the singer realized that he was not alone in his struggles and that there was hope for him to recover.
For us it may be too late
The singer is acknowledging that they may have already lost some important things in their life due to their addiction.
But it would mean the world to me
Despite this, it would be very meaningful to the singer for their loved ones to be there for them.
If you were there when I stand and say
The artist is picturing a moment in the future when they will be able to share their own story of recovery with their loved ones.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHAYE SMITH, MARK SPRINGER, MARK ALAN SPRINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@meganblaney6454
I saw him at Tanglewood last night and when he started playing this one I suddenly (and completely unexpectedly) burst into tears. I think it was a combination of getting through being a nurse during Covid and just how much his music has meant to my very being since I was young. Thank you, JT...
@KellyDeBardelaben
((((Megan))))) XOXOXOX
@rivalitz3443
His music sometimes had that affect on me too
@user-bt8mw3eh7y
pγΌ
@tinafarrar2527
I AM PEA-GREEN ENVY!
@gygijennings7540
Completely understand! :-)
@patriciaclemente2778
James Taylor forever, any time, any moment. So much love his voice, his songs! And what a great performance with this band and back up singers.π
@BillySBC
Absolute icon, who lives up to it as a man as well as an artist.
@OffbeatsMusic
I guess but for that sad time with addiction when with Carly - how I wish they had worked out. They were my favorite musical couple.
@user-bp8pd8tf4e
That mans voice never fadesβ€!