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.
oh babykk don;t you loose your lip on me
James Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord, have mercy, baby, now, don't you loose your lip on poor old loving man JT, no woo
Now I've tried so hard to be your good boy
Good God almighty, don't you know, mama, tell me what more
What more in this world in this whole wide world can a good boy
Just one by himself man be, no, woo
The lyrics to James Taylor's "Oh Baby Don't You Loose Your Lip on Me" are a warning to a lover to not get upset or angry with him. Taylor pleads with his lover not to become confrontational with him and warns of the consequences of losing one's temper. The phrase "lose your lip" refers to becoming verbally aggressive and speaking without thinking. The repetition of the phrase is meant to emphasize its importance and to convey Taylor's desperation to avoid confrontation.
Taylor acknowledges that he has tried hard to be a good partner and is hoping that his lover will recognize that. He asks, "What more in this world in this whole wide world can a good boy/ Just one by himself man be?" This line speaks to the idea that even when one tries their best to be a good person or partner, there are limitations to what they can do alone. It also suggests that Taylor is feeling undervalued or that his efforts are going unappreciated.
Overall, "Oh Baby Don't You Loose Your Lip on Me" is a song about communication and the difficulties that can arise in relationships. It speaks to the importance of recognizing one's own shortcomings and limitations, as well as the need to work together to overcome obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh baby, don't you loose your lip on me, no, no, no now
Please don't get angry and start arguing with me, let's talk calmly and avoid any conflict.
Lord, have mercy, baby, now, don't you loose your lip on poor old loving man JT, no woo
I am a loving man, don't be rude or disrespectful towards me. Please, have mercy and let's communicate peacefully.
Now I've tried so hard to be your good boy
I have made efforts to be the best partner I can be for you, to make you happy and show you my love and commitment.
Good God almighty, don't you know, mama, tell me what more
I have done my best to please you, but it seems like it's not enough. Please, tell me what else I need to do to make you happy.
What more in this world in this whole wide world can a good boy
I am a good person, and I have done everything I could to show you my love and commitment. There's nothing else I can do to make you happy.
Just one by himself man be, no, woo
I am just one person, and I can only do so much. Please, don't blame me for everything and try to understand my limitations.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES TAYLOR, JAMES V TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind