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.
music
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still my head looks for a change
From time to time.
I don't really mean to look that far
Turn on the music, strike up the music,
Let the music change my mind.
Now don't I dig the big time rock and roll.
A time which after all is under control
Crank out the music,
Give me music, let the music fill the air.
My dear friend, your head's been sinking
Like a stone.
You must try thinking like a cloud sometime.
Just leave a happy side out loud sometime.
There's a symphony inside you,
There's a thousand things for you to do,
So come on.
Let a hush fall on the movie crowd.
Boy turns to girl and says I love you so.
What I hear in here is violins
Give me music, miss the music,
Let the music be there too.
I'll never know what to do
Unless you let the music be there too.
You see this man his head's been sinking
Like a stone.
You must try thinking like a cloud sometime.
Just leave a happy side out loud sometime.
There's a symphony inside you,
There's a thousand things for you to do,
So come on.
Let a hush fall on the movie crowd.
Boy turns to girl and says I love you so,
Well, you know, what I hear in here is violins
Strike up the music, lay on the music
Let the music be there, too.
Never know what to do unless you
Let the music be there too.
The song "Music" by James Taylor is a celebration of the power of music to uplift and transform us. The lyrics convey a sense of restlessness and a yearning for change, but also an awareness that the music itself can provide that change. The repeated refrain "let the music change my mind" emphasizes the idea that music has the power to alter our state of mind and inspire us even when we feel stuck.
The lines "Sit in the darkness and be somebody else" and "What I hear in here is violins" suggest that music can transport us to another place or time, allowing us to escape from our worries and inhabit a different reality. The reference to a "symphony inside you" implies that everyone has their own unique inner music, waiting to be discovered and expressed. The song encourages us to embrace our creativity and to let music be a part of our lives.
Overall, "Music" is a joyful and optimistic tribute to the transformative power of art. By tapping into our inner music, we can find new sources of inspiration and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Things may always stay the way they are,
Although things may remain unchanged,
Still my head looks for a change
I still seek novelty
From time to time.
Every now and then
I don't really mean to look that far
But I don't plan to go too far
Turn on the music, strike up the music,
I'll just listen to some music
Let the music change my mind.
To clear my thoughts
Now don't I dig the big time rock and roll.
I like rock music
Sit in the darkness and be somebody else.
It can change how I feel
A time which after all is under control
Time is something we can manage
Crank out the music,
Play loud music
Give me music, let the music fill the air.
It can uplift the mood
My dear friend, your head's been sinking
Dear friend, you've been feeling down
Like a stone.
Sinking fast like a stone
You must try thinking like a cloud sometime.
You should think more openly
Just leave a happy side out loud sometime.
Just be happy and express it
There's a symphony inside you,
You have something special within
There's a thousand things for you to do,
Countless opportunities await you
So come on.
Let's embrace them
Let a hush fall on the movie crowd.
Let the cinema be silent
Boy turns to girl and says I love you so.
A romantic scene is depicted
What I hear in here is violins
I hear romantic music
Give me music, miss the music,
I always want music around
Let the music be there too.
It must be a part of everything I do
I'll never know what to do
I feel lost
Unless you let the music be there too.
Without music, I won't have direction
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jean Santana
YOU'RE WELCOME....
00:00 FIRE AND RAIN
03:23 CAROLINA IN MY MIND
07:23 SHOWER THE PEOPLE
11:51 YOUR SMILING FACE
14:24 SHOWER THE PEOPLE
19:01 DON'T LET ME BE LONELY TONIGHT
21:56 HOW SWEET IT IS
26:46 HONEY DON'T LEAVE
29:52 SWEET BABY JAMES
32:39 HANDY MAN
35:58 COUNTRY ROAD @ WHISKEY BEFORE BREAKFAST
40:22 YOU CAN CLOSE YOUR EYES
42:30 STEAMROLLER
48:20 RANDY NEWMAN - CARS - OUR TOWN
50:32 MEXICO
53:17 BARTENDER'S BLUE
57:30 LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY
1:00:02 I WAS A FOOL TO CARE
1:03:16 MILLWORKER
1:07:26 SUNNY SKIES
1:09:46 RAINY DAY MAN
1:12:27 [ SONG NOT RECOGNIZABLE]
1:17:15 [SONG NOT RECOGNIZABLE]
1:20:43 VUNG LA ME BAY ( NOT JAMES TAYLOR'S SONG)
Carla Uhernick
I can not adequately express the admiration and appreciation I hold for James. His music is the soundtrack of my life while his melodic storytelling pulled me away from the brink many times. I can’t imagine my life without James. You are my Fire and Rain, James.
J Mac
I can't imagine a world without the magical music of James Taylor!
Teresa
Wouldn't want to either♥️
Marya Love
(: I Agree Too ... !!!!! ... 🎶☺
Rita Couch Cooper
I cannot either. He is one of the best.
Francis Mccarty
All the years of my trucking J James Taylor could play that music and I could go miles and miles in miles East good always has been and I appreciate him very much
Cheryl Nation
Uouu uugu
Beth B
His voice has been soothing me since high school in the early 70's. What an awesome man and a wonderful and talented family!!🎵🎸❣
Tony Williams
Hi Beth how are you doing I love this song
essjay Em
Me too. Finally got to see him. Close 3rd row. Seats. It was amazing. Years ago, however I did get the t-shirt. And if he didnt sing fire and rain I would have gone up on stage. Lol