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.
Why Baby Why
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me why baby, why baby, why baby why
You make me cry baby, cry baby, cry baby
Lord, I can't help but love you 'til the day that I die
So tell me, why baby, why baby, why baby why
Well I got a crow I wanna pick with you
Just like last time when the feathers flew
A-leavin' me home with a hand full of bills
Lord, I can't live without you and you know it's true
But there's no livin' with you so what'll I do
I'm goin' honky tonkin', get as tight as I can
And maybe by then you'll 'preciate a good man
[Chorus]
Well, now I don't know, but I've heard say
That ever' little dog is a-gonna have his day
You'd better pay attention, don't you dare forget
Cause I'm just a little bitty puppy yet
Well, I caught you honky tonkin' with my best friend
The thing to do was leave you, but I should of left then
Now I'm too old to leave you, but I still get sore
When you come home a-feelin' for the knob on the door
[Chorus]
Tell me, why baby, why baby, why baby why
The song "Why Baby Why" by James Taylor is a classic country tune that delves into the complexities of love and relationships. The chorus of the song consistently asks, "why baby why," questioning why the singer's lover is causing them to cry and feel such intense emotions. The lyrics suggest that despite the pain and heartache caused by this person, the singer cannot help but love them and remain devoted until their dying day.
The first verse speaks to the frustration of dealing with a partner who is constantly running wild and leaving the singer with bills to pay. Despite knowing that they cannot live without them, the singer acknowledges that they cannot live with them either. The singer decides to go out honky-tonking to try and forget about their troubles, but hopes that their partner will come to appreciate a good man while they are gone.
The second verse brings up the idea that everyone gets their day and that it's important to pay attention and not forget that fact. The singer describes themself as a "little bitty puppy yet," suggesting that they are young and inexperienced in love. The verse also reveals that the singer caught their partner honky-tonking with their best friend, which caused them to feel sore and betrayed. Despite feeling too old to leave their partner, the singer continues to struggle with the pain and heartache caused by their actions.
Overall, the lyrics of "Why Baby Why" portray the complexity of love and the difficulties of navigating relationships. The chorus repeatedly begs the question of why someone would cause so much pain and heartache but acknowledges that love is not always logical or easy to understand. The song conveys a sense of loss and frustration but also a deep devotion to love and the people who bring us both joy and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me why baby, why baby, why baby why
Asking why the baby is making the person cry and how much the person loves the baby.
You make me cry baby, cry baby, cry baby
Expressing how the baby's actions are causing tears in the person's eyes and emotional pain.
Lord, I can't help but love you 'til the day that I die
Despite the hurtful actions, the person cannot stop loving the baby until they die.
Well I got a crow I wanna pick with you
The person needs to address an issue with the baby.
Just like last time when the feathers flew
A reference to a past argument or disagreement with the baby.
You're runnin' wild kickin' up your heels
The baby is behaving recklessly and carelessly.
A-leavin' me home with a hand full of bills
The baby's actions are causing financial strain on the person.
Lord, I can't live without you and you know it's true
Despite the difficulties, the person cannot imagine living without the baby.
But there's no livin' with you so what'll I do
The person is struggling to cope with the baby's hurtful behavior.
I'm goin' honky tonkin', get as tight as I can
The person is going out to drink and forget their troubles.
And maybe by then you'll 'preciate a good man
The person is hoping that the baby will learn to appreciate their worth.
Well, now I don't know, but I've heard say
Uncertainty about a certain situation.
That ever' little dog is a-gonna have his day
Justice will eventually come, even to those who seem small and insignificant.
You'd better pay attention, don't you dare forget
The baby needs to be aware of their actions and their consequences.
Cause I'm just a little bitty puppy yet
The person acknowledges their own vulnerability and dependence on the baby.
Well, I caught you honky tonkin' with my best friend
The baby cheated or did something hurtful with the person's best friend.
The thing to do was leave you, but I should of left then
The person realizes that they should have left the baby when they had the chance.
Now I'm too old to leave you, but I still get sore
The person feels trapped in the relationship but still feels pain and anger.
When you come home a-feelin' for the knob on the door
The baby is coming home and the person is resentful and angry.
Tell me, why baby, why baby, why baby why
Repeating the chorus and reiterating the question asked in the beginning.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: DARRELL EDWARDS, GEORGE JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind