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.
Whenever You're Ready
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, it doesn't seem to have a home.
Left to fend for yourself in the wilderness,
Out there living life all alone.
Whenever you're ready,
You could see a dream come true.
Whenever you're ready,
Whenever you're ready,
Things could start looking up.
Whenever you're ready,
Take a big sip from the loving cup.
Making that face carved out of stone,
Coping real hard with a losing hand.
Sound of a dog choking on a chicken bone,
It just can't be the way that
You had things planned, my friend.
Whenever you're ready, yeah, yeah,
Things could start to happen real fast.
Whenever you're ready, my good friend,
Sure we could get one built to last.
Whenever you're ready, oh,
We could get it done today.
Whenever you're ready,
Sure enough you could come out and play.
Cold, hot, ready or not, whatever you've got.
What have you got to lose, my good friend?
Whenever you're ready, whenever you're ready,
My good friend
The lyrics of James Taylor's “Whenever You're Ready” discuss the struggles of life and how we must continue to persevere through the hardships of it. The song starts off by describing someone who has run out of money and is left to fend for themselves in the wilderness, living life all alone. The song then moves on to say that whenever this person is ready, they could see a dream come true, and that things could start looking up. The chorus repeats the phrase “whenever you're ready” several times, emphasizing the importance of taking action when the time is right.
The second verse continues to describe the struggles of life, comparing the singer's coping skills to a face carved out of stone and a dog choking on a chicken bone. The song emphasizes that things can happen fast and that the singer can build something that lasts, encouraging them to take action today. Finally, the song concludes by saying that regardless of whether the singer is feeling cold, hot, or not quite ready, they have nothing to lose and should come out and play when they are ready.
Overall, the song is a powerful message about the importance of perseverance and taking action when the time is right. It is a reminder that in life, we will face challenges, but we must continue to move forward and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Little one done run out of money now,
The person the song is addressing is out of money and may not have a place to live.
No, it doesn't seem to have a home.
It appears that the person is homeless or does not have a stable living situation.
Left to fend for yourself in the wilderness,
The person is left to survive on their own, without much support or guidance.
Out there living life all alone.
The person is living a solitary life and may be struggling to make connections with others.
Whenever you're ready,
The artist is encouraging the person to take action, but not pressuring them to do so immediately.
You could see a dream come true.
The person has the potential to achieve their goals or aspirations if they take action.
I'm just saying it's up to you.
The decision to take action and pursue their dreams or goals is ultimately up to the person, and the singer is not trying to force them to do anything.
Things could start looking up.
If the person takes action, things could improve for them and they could have a brighter future.
Take a big sip from the loving cup.
The artist is encouraging the person to embrace positive experiences and opportunities.
Making that face carved out of stone,
The person may be displaying a stoic or emotionless expression, despite the difficulties they are facing.
Coping real hard with a losing hand.
The person is dealing with challenging circumstances and may not feel like they have the resources or support they need to succeed.
Sound of a dog choking on a chicken bone,
This line seems to suggest that the person is experiencing a jarring or unexpected disturbance amidst their struggles.
It just can't be the way that You had things planned, my friend.
The person may be feeling disappointed or frustrated that their life has not gone according to plan.
Things could start to happen real fast.
If the person takes action, positive changes could occur quickly and unexpectedly.
Sure we could get one built to last.
If the person chooses to pursue their goals, they could create something enduring and meaningful.
We could get it done today.
The artist is emphasizing the potential for the person to take action and make progress immediately.
Sure enough you could come out and play.
If the person takes action and embraces positive experiences, they could enjoy life more fully and feel more connected to others.
Cold, hot, ready or not, whatever you've got.
Regardless of the person's current circumstances or readiness to take action, they have something to offer and can still pursue their goals.
What have you got to lose, my good friend?
The singer is suggesting that the person has little to lose by taking action and pursuing their goals.
Whenever you're ready, my good friend
The artist is emphasizing that they are a friend and support to the person, and only want what's best for them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind