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.
Watchin' Over Me
James Taylor Lyrics
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Holdin' my hand and wipin' my eye
Watchin' me cheat, watchin' me lie
Oh watchin' over me
Lookin' back over on the damage I done
Made no kind of plan to be carryin' on
Thought I might ought to been dead and gone
How'm I gonna pay that debt I owe
Big red Jesus on the radio
Down on my knees after the show
I said oh the debt I owe
I learned my lesson again
Well, I learned my lesson again
Only one way to surrender
Learned my lesson again
Got to return it to sender
Leave a little light in the window
Got to remember my friend
Guess I got to say it's a lovely day
Nice enough to know it could ever be so
Ready man, steady man, here I'm gonna go
I said, oh, the lovely day
Ohh
Ohh
Ohh watchin' over me
Ohh watchin' over me
Ohh the damage I done
Ohh the damage I done
Ohh the debt I owe
Ohh the debt I owe
Ohh the lovely day
Ohh the lovely day
Ohh watchin' over me
Ohh watchin' over me
Ohh watchin' over me
Ohh watchin' over me
Hmm the debt I owe
Ohh watchin' over me
Ohh watchin' over me
Ohh the debt I owe
In James Taylor's song "Watchin' Over Me," the lyrics describe a person reflecting on their past mistakes and regrets. The phrase "watchin' over me" is repeated throughout the song, and it seems to refer to a presence, possibly a divine one, that is monitoring the person's actions and guiding them towards accountability and redemption. The song opens with the line "Watchin' over me when I was high," suggesting that the person's past behavior included drug use and reckless behavior. However, the presence that is watching over them is described as holding their hand and wiping their eye, indicating that there is a sense of comfort and support in the monitoring, despite its role in calling attention to the person's misdeeds.
The second verse of the song describes the person's reflection on the harm they have caused through their actions, and the sense that they "made no kind of plan to be carryin' on." This highlights a sense of aimlessness and lack of direction that may have contributed to their past mistakes. However, there is a theme of making amends, as the person considers how to "pay that debt I owe," and turns to a religious symbol, "Big red Jesus on the radio," for guidance. The third verse focuses on the idea of learning from past mistakes, and surrendering to a greater power. The repetition of "I learned my lesson again" suggests that this process is ongoing, and requires repeated reminders and realizations. The final section of the song ends with a description of a "lovely day," which seems to suggest a newfound sense of hope and optimism, despite the person's past regrets.
Line by Line Meaning
Watchin' over me when I was high
Someone was watching over me and caring for me when I was under the influence of drugs
Holdin' my hand and wipin' my eye
That person was supportive and comforting, even in my vulnerable state
Watchin' me cheat, watchin' me lie
That person was still watching over me, even when I was doing wrong
Lookin' back over on the damage I done
Reflecting on the harm I've caused
Made no kind of plan to be carryin' on
No consideration or preparation for the future
Thought I might ought to been dead and gone
Feeling like I should have died because of my mistakes
How'm I gonna pay that debt I owe
Wondering how I'll make amends for the harm I've caused
Big red Jesus on the radio
Finding comfort and guidance from a religious source
Down on my knees after the show
Praying for forgiveness and a path forward
I learned my lesson again
Realizing the need to change my ways
Only one way to surrender
The only option is to admit my mistakes and submit to changes
Got to return it to sender
Fix what I've broken and make amends
Leave a little light in the window
Maintain hope and leave room for redemption
Got to remember my friend
Keep in mind the person who has been supporting me
Guess I got to say it's a lovely day
Positive outlook on life, despite the struggles
Nice enough to know it could ever be so
Grateful for the good moments in life
Ready man, steady man, here I'm gonna go
Prepared and determined for the challenges ahead
Ohh watchin' over me
The person who has been supporting me is still watching over me
Ohh the damage I done
Feeling remorse for the harm I've caused
Ohh the debt I owe
Acknowledging the responsibility to make amends
Ohh the lovely day
Finding joy in the good moments in life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind