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.
You
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I wish that I could slow the whole thing down
And have it back again, just one more time
Then again, maybe we can, 'cause I can't escape this feeling
That we've been this way together, you and I
There you are again, I climbed so high
High enough to finally see your sign
You were tending your own fire
We were biding our time
We were both waiting for the moment
When our paths would come together, you and I
I see how fierce you are
Whenever the world would drag us down
How serious you are
Standing on holy ground
And so although I know we're only small
In the time we have here
Surely, we have it all
I see how fierce you are
Whenever this world would drag us down
How serious you are
Standing on holy ground
And so although I know we're only small
In the time we have here
This time we got it all
You and I again
The lyrics of James Taylor's "You" describe the feeling of being near someone special and the sensations it brings. The song is a love ballad that expresses the feeling of being in love and being near the person that makes everything feel better. The singer explains how it is not the pale moon that excites or thrills him, but the nearness of his loved one. He goes on to say that it is not the sweet conversation that brings him the sensation, but simply being near the person he loves.
The chorus describes the feeling the singer gets when he is holding the person he loves, all of his wildest dreams come true. He doesn't need any soft lights or special settings to enchant him, he only needs to feel the nearness of his loved one. The singer asks for the right to hold his lover close and to feel their nearness in the night. This song expresses the power of being near the person you love and the joy it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not the pale moon that excites me
The singer is not excited by the appearance of the moon in the sky.
That thrills and delights me, oh no
The singer is not thrilled or delighted by the moon.
It's just the nearness of you
The singer is excited and thrilled by being close to the person they are addressing in the song.
It isn't your sweet conversation
The artist is not moved by sweet talk or conversation.
That brings this sensation, oh no
Sweet talk or conversation is not what is causing the artist's sensation.
It's just the nearness of you
Being close to the person addressed in the song is what is causing the singer's sensation.
When you're in my arms and I feel you so close to me
The singer is holding the person addressed in the song and feeling their closeness.
All my wildest dreams come true
The artist feels fulfilled and satisfied when they are with the person addressed in the song.
I need no soft lights to enchant me
The artist does not require special lighting or effects to be enchanted.
If you'll only grant me the right
The artist is requesting permission to do something.
To hold you ever so tight
The singer wants to hold the person addressed in the song very tightly.
And to feel in the night the nearness of you
The artist wants to feel the closeness of the person addressed in the song during the night.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aekkawinwisitkiatchai7640
When you're down and troubled
And you need some lovin' care
And nothin', nothin' is goin' right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night
You just call out my name
And you know, wherever I am
I'll come runnin'
To see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend
If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knockin' at your door
You just call out my name
And you know, wherever I am
I'll come runnin', runnin', yeah, yeah
To see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yes, I will
Now, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold?
They'll hurt you, yes, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them
You just call out my name
And you know, wherever I am
I'll come runnin', runnin', yeah, yeah
To see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yes, I will
You've got a friend
You've got a friend
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend
Ain't it good to know, ain't it good to know
Ain't it good to know
You've got a friend
Oh, yeah, now, you've got a friend
Yeah baby, you've got a friend
Oh, yeah, you've got a friend
@UltimateJoolsFan
When you're down and troubled
And you need some love and care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend
If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yes, I will
Now, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold?
They'll hurt you, yes, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them, oh, but don't you let them
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yes, I will
You've got a friend
You've got a friend
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend?
Ain't it good to know, ain't it good to know, ain't it good to know
You've got a friend?
Oh yeah now, you've got a friend
Yeah baby, you've got a friend
Oh yeah, you've got a friend
Source: LyricFind
@lightintheart
My dad was in the emergency room before he went to the ICU. I played this song on my phone and put one ear bud in his ear and the other in mine. He had a stroke and could no longer communicate and I held his hand and cried while the song played. My dad showed me this song and it will always be our song.
@shannanne13
Musetoit music is so powerful. you and your father and in my thoughts!
@lightintheart
Shannon Anne thank you so much. He's in a better place now
@amadeussmith693
Musetoit my father died in my arms to this song few days ago...i dont know you but i just felt saying you something...
@gloriamaryhaywood2217
Musetoit Your comment truly touched my heart!....What a loving dad he must be .. to have created and raised such a loving daughter as yourself!
@lightintheart
Gloria Mary Haywood you made my day. Thank you! the world needs more kind people such as yourself. Your words mean a lot to me. He was great father
@cyriah22
My 6 year old Grandson just asked me for this song.. he says his teacher plays his guitar in class and sings this.. this warmed my heart.💜
@hippymothasucka
Beautiful!! We need more teachers like that!! ❤
@piobmhor8529
I think of this song often. I’m a veteran and wasn’t dealing well with PTSD (didn’t know I had it at the time), I had a buddy who talked me out of suck-starting a shotgun, just simply by being there for me. He didn’t know what I was considering, but by simply telling me that people cared about me made all the difference. Thanks Steve for being my friend, I owe my life to you.
@Mr1967mejias
Praying for you. I also didn’t realize that I had PTSD. I chalked it up to just having a short fuse. The Army changed me. I’ve battled depression and anxiety. I learn to cope with it by being an ENCOURAGER to others, every day. Seeing them smile is my medicine, of choice. #PTSDisReal.