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 Make It Easy
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You supply the satisfy and I'll supply the need.
I can't help the way I feel though
I know just where it leads,
You make it easy, yes you do,
For a man to fall, for a man to fall.
Heaven knows I love my woman
Now I wind up on the barroom stool
Buying drinks and keeping tight.
But you know I've never done
What's come in my mind tonight,
You make it easy,
Just sitting there looking good,
For a man to fall, for a man to fall.
Now me and my wife,
We've got the rest of our life
To make this thing right,
But you and me will only see tonight.
So baby, won't you turn me down
And point me out the door,
I'll head home and sleep it off
Just like every time before.
You keep on looking good my way,
I won't hold out anymore,
You make it easy,
You sure do make it easy, babe,
For a man to fall, for a man to fall.
You don't have to make it so easy, babe,
For another wise good man to fall,
You don't have to make it so easy, babe,
No, no no,
For another wise good man to fall,
You don't have to make it so easy, babe.
The song "You Make It Easy" by James Taylor is a love song with a twist, exploring the struggles of a man who is torn between his love for his wife and his attraction to another woman. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the singer exclaiming "Gosh almighty baby, yes indeed," expressing his excitement and passion for the woman who makes it all too easy for him to fall for her. He acknowledges that he can't help the way he feels, even though he knows where it will lead him - into temptation.
The second verse reveals that this man is married, and although he loves his wife, he is prone to arguing and drinking, which leads him to contemplate cheating with the woman who makes it easy for him to fall. He admits that he's never acted on these thoughts before, but tonight might be different. The chorus repeats the phrase "for a man to fall" several times, emphasizing the idea that the woman has an undeniable power over him and is all too tempting to resist.
In the final verse, the man acknowledges that he needs to do the right thing and go home to his wife, but the woman's allure is too strong. He pleads with her to turn him down and not make it so easy for him to fall. The song ends with the repeated refrain, highlighting the internal struggle of the man and the repercussions of giving into temptation.
Line by Line Meaning
Gosh almighty baby, yes, indeed.
Expresses a feeling of being impressed by someone
You supply the satisfy and I'll supply the need.
Acknowledges the mutual benefits and balance in a relationship
I can't help the way I feel though / I know just where it leads,
Admits to feeling strongly towards someone, despite the potential consequences
You make it easy, yes you do, / For a man to fall, for a man to fall.
Credits the person for having an irresistible allure that makes falling for them easy
Heaven knows I love my woman / Just bound to fuss and fight.
States the existence of conflict in a pre-existing relationship
Now I wind up on the barroom stool / Buying drinks and keeping tight.
Describes the coping mechanism and situation of seeking solace in alcohol
But you know I've never done / What's come in my mind tonight,
Confesses having thoughts of infidelity, but never acting on them
You make it easy, / Just sitting there looking good, / For a man to fall, for a man to fall.
Reiterates the effect the person has on someone else
Now me and my wife, / We've got the rest of our life / To make this thing right, / But you and me will only see tonight.
Recognizes the importance of a long-term relationship, but prioritizes short-term gratification
So baby, won't you turn me down / And point me out the door, / I'll head home and sleep it off / Just like every time before.
Asks for the person to resist temptation, but acknowledges previous patterns of behavior
You keep on looking good my way, / I won't hold out anymore,
Admits to vulnerability and weakness towards the person
You make it easy, / You sure do make it easy, babe, / For a man to fall, for a man to fall.
Reaffirms the power the person has over someone else
You don't have to make it so easy, babe, / For another wise good man to fall, / You don't have to make it so easy, babe, / No, no no, / For another wise good man to fall, / You don't have to make it so easy, babe.
Concludes with a plea for the person to resist making it easy for others to fall, acknowledging the potential negative consequences for everyone involved
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind