James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter … Read Full Bio ↴James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

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 Lonesome Road
James Taylor Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Walk down that lonesome road
All by yourself
Don't turn your head
Back over your shoulder
And only stop to rest yourself
When the silver moon
Is shining high above the trees

If I had stopped to listen once or twice
If I had closed my mouth and opened my eyes
If I had cooled my head and warmed my heart
I'd not be on this road tonight

Carry on

Never mind feeling sorry for yourself
It doesn't save you from your troubled mind

Walk down that lonesome road
All by yourself
Don't turn your head
Back over your shoulder
And only stop to rest yourself

When the silver moon
Is shining high above the trees

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to James Taylor's "That Lonesome Road" paint a picture of a solitary journey that one must take without looking back. The singer encourages us to walk down the road alone and to keep going until the silver moon is high above the trees. The lines suggest that the journey will be difficult and lonely, but that they must persist without turning back. Only when the moon shines upon us are we allowed to rest.

The first verse of the song establishes the setting and the sense of isolation that comes with traveling down a "lonesome road." The second verse highlights the introspection that one experiences while walking alone, wondering if things could have been different if they had made different choices. The singer reflects on the mistakes they made, wishing that they had listened more, kept quiet, and opened their heart to others. Yet they are here, and they must continue their journey, however difficult it may be.

The chorus serves as a reminder to keep going and not give up, despite the hardships of the journey. It encourages us not to wallow in self-pity, as it won't do anything to save us from our troubled minds. The chorus reaffirms the importance of continuing to walk down the lonesome road until we reach the end.

Overall, "That Lonesome Road" is a poignant meditation on the personal journey we all must take alone, and the challenges and rewards that come with it.

Line by Line Meaning

Walk down that lonesome road
Embark on a solo journey that may be difficult and lonely.

All by yourself
Without the company or support of others.

Don't turn your head
Don't look back or dwell on the past, keep moving forward.

Back over your shoulder
Behind you, where troubles or regrets may be.

And only stop to rest yourself
Take a break only when necessary.

When the silver moon
During moments of clarity, reflection or inspiration.

Is shining high above the trees
When things are clear or illuminated, helping to guide and clarify the path ahead.

If I had stopped to listen once or twice
Reflect on missed opportunities for growth, learning or understanding.

If I had closed my mouth and opened my eyes
Be more observant, humble, and willing to learn from others.

If I had cooled my head and warmed my heart
Strive for balance, emotional intelligence and empathy.

I'd not be on this road tonight
Reflecting on missed opportunities to grow and be in a better place.