Taylor started her musical career at the age of fifteen in the band Little Red Rocket with Orenda Fink which released two albums on Geffen, Who Did You Pay (1997) and It's in the Sound (2000). The group disbanded during the merging of Geffen with Universal Music Group.
Taylor later moved to Athens, Georgia along with her musical collaborator, Fink where they formed the band Azure Ray.
Taylor released her first solo album 11:11 on Saddle Creek Records on May 24, 2005. The album features Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, Gretta Cohn of Cursive, Andy LeMaster and Mike Mogis as both musicians and producers. Grey's Anatomy named its March 31, 2011 episode Song Beneath the Song after a track from the album and also featured the song on the original soundtrack. Taylor later recorded a new song for Grey's Anatomy's 2005 Christmas episode entitled Christmas After All. Her second solo album, Lynn Teeter Flower, was released on March 6, 2007, also on Saddle Creek. A Good Start, the first track, was subsequently named one of NPR's 10 best songs of the year for 2007. The Ballad of Sean Foley was co-written with Conor Oberst. The following year she released an acoustic album titled Savannah Drive with Andy LeMaster which includes stripped-down versions of songs from her first two albums, plus one new track, Tell Me. On March 31, 2009 she released her third full length, LadyLuck via Nettwerk Music Group featuring the song Cartoons and Forever Plans, co-written by and including guest vocals from Michael Stipe of R.E.M.. LadyLuck reached number 48 on Billboard's "Heatseakers" charts.
Overlook, Maria's 4th solo album, was released August 16, 2011. After moving back to her hometown of Birmingham, Taylor was unable to write for nearly a year, eventually composing the entire album over two weeks during a break in touring with Azure Ray. This release marks the first time Taylor produced her own album. Paste called Overlook "her best, most animated collection in years." [19]
Maria Taylor released her fifth solo record, Something About Knowing on October 29, 2013 on Saddle Creek Records.
After moving back to Los Angeles, Taylor wrote and recorded In the Next Life, released December 9, 2016 on her own label, Flower Moon Records. The album features guest appearances from familiar collaborators Joshua Radin, Conor Oberst, among others. If Only (featuring Conor Oberst) was prominently featured in NBC's This Is Us. NPR, who premiered the full album stream, called it "her warmest and most affecting album... filled with gorgeous, touching songs about family, legacy, fear and the pursuit of contentment."
In November 2017, Taylor joined Ben Lee and an all star band of other musicians as Daniel Johnston's back band during the Los Angeles stop of his final tour.
In April 2018, Paste premiered Real Life (Trump Era) from the Friends and Family Vol. 1 compilation, put out on her label, Flower Moon Records. Released May 11, 2018, other contributors included Azure Ray bandmate Orenda Fink, Nik Freitas, Louis Schefano, Jake Bellows[/artist, and more. Flower Moon Records has since re-released Taylor's earlier albums, 11:11 and LadyLuck. On November 11, 2019, Taylor released her self-titled album, Maria Taylor.
Nature Song
Maria Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not supposed to know, don't I know
We never wore clothes, I let the feeling go
And let it fade inside
I know why I love I know
You're leaning down and gently you say "I want to leave"
Sure you can go but then you will sleep alone,
Though that I'm yours
There's something in your style
In the sun
You turned into the wind and took all my surprise
And like a million eyes on me, on me, on me
You're leaving now didn't you say "I want to leave"?
Anything else get it yourself and know what's mine's yours
When nature learns nothing's in control
And nothing stays the same in your way
It will not return until the season's change
And when it changes fine I'll go, I'll go, I'll go
The song "Nature Song" by Maria Taylor is a beautifully written piece that blends elements of nature with human emotions. The lyrics suggest the singer's deep connection to nature, and how this connection informs their relationship with their partner. The first verse, "When nature talks I'm not supposed to hear, I'm not supposed to know, don't I know" suggests a kind of hidden knowledge or intuition that comes from being attuned to the natural world. It's as if the singer is privy to a secret language that others cannot understand. This theme continues in the next line, "We never wore clothes, I let the feeling go, and let it fade inside", which seems to suggest a kind of naturalism or primal urge to connect intimately with nature.
As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the singer's partner. The lines "You're leaning down and gently you say 'I want to leave', sure you can go but then you will sleep alone" suggest a moment of tension in the relationship. The singer seems resigned to the fact that their partner may choose to leave, but also keenly aware of the consequences of such a decision. Later in the song, the line "When nature learns nothing's in control, and nothing stays the same in your way, it will not return until the season's change" suggests a kind of cosmic truth about the nature of life and relationships. Change is inevitable, and we must learn to accept it and adapt.
Overall, "Nature Song" is a deeply poetic and layered piece of work that explores themes of nature, love, and the human condition. With its haunting melody and ethereal lyrics, it captures the essence of what it means to be human in a world that is constantly changing.
Line by Line Meaning
When nature talks I'm not supposed to hear
I feel like I'm not meant to understand the messages that nature is sending me.
I'm not supposed to know, don't I know
Despite feeling ignorant about nature's secrets, I am certain that there's much more to it than meets the eye.
We never wore clothes, I let the feeling go
In the presence of such natural beauty, I stripped away all pretentiousness and embraced simplicity.
And let it fade inside
I took a step back and allowed myself to become one with nature, to feel its energy and let it become a part of me.
I know why I love I know
My heart knows what it loves, even though my mind struggles to find the right words to express it.
You're leaning down and gently you say 'I want to leave'
As much as I cherish this moment, I know that all good things must come to an end, as you kindly remind me.
Sure you can go but then you will sleep alone,
If you leave now, you will be missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with nature and with me.
Though that I'm yours
I am fully devoted to you, if only you would stay and see what nature has to offer.
When nature walks I see it in your legs
Your movements are graceful and light, like those of a woodland creature who knows its way around nature.
There's something in your style
Your demeanor exudes the calm, peace and harmony of someone who is in tune with nature.
In the sun
Under the bright sun, I can see the contours of your face with perfect clarity, and the way that you reflect the light is mesmerizing.
You turned into the wind and took all my surprise
In one swift motion, you merged with the elements and moved in perfect synchrony with the wind, taking my breath away.
And like a million eyes on me, on me, on me
All of nature seemed to be looking at me with a million eyes, as if to say, 'this is a special moment, cherish it.'
You're leaving now didn't you say 'I want to leave'?
As you prepare to leave, I'm reminded that even the most beautiful moments must come to an end, and that I should savor them while they last.
Anything else get it yourself and know what's mine's yours
I don't need any earthly possessions, because the most valuable thing I have is love, which I am happy to share with you.
When nature learns nothing's in control
Just like us, nature is a force that is ever-changing and unpredictable, and we should accept it for what it is.
And nothing stays the same in your way
The only constant in life is change, and nature is a testament to that fact.
It will not return until the season's change
Every season brings its own unique gifts, and we must wait patiently for the right moment to fully appreciate them.
And when it changes fine I'll go, I'll go, I'll go
If nature eventually moves on from this moment, I will do the same, content in the knowledge that I was able to experience it fully.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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