After time in the Army Reserves, Paxton moved to New York City where he frequented the city's Greenwich Village coffeehouse circuit. His early success in Greenwich Village coffeehouses led to an ever-increasing circle of work. He made his professional debut at the Gaslight, the renowned folk haunt that also issued the singer's first album. In 1962 Gaslight Records would press 2,000 copies of his debut album, I'm The Man Who Built The Bridges.
Paxton also auditioned to join the Chad Mitchell Trio, but although he failed, the group enjoyed a 1963 hit with "The Marvelous Toy," one of Paxton's early songs. Paxton performed at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, a performance that would be recorded-and released-by Vanguard Records. Paxton would go on to record a second album with Vanguard-at the Newport Folk Festival the following year - but his association with that record company lapsed, and it would not be until the year 2000 that Vanguard once again released a Tom Paxton album, Tom Paxton: Best of the Vanguard Years. In 1964 Paxton was signed to Elektra Records for whom he recorded his best-known work. Then in 1965 he made his first tour of the United Kingdom - the beginning of a still-thriving professional relationship that has included at least one tour in each of the succeeding years.
He and his wife Midge have been married since 1963 and have two daughters, Jennifer and Kate. All three women have served as inspiration for many of Paxton's songs. He now has three grandsons, Christopher, Sean, and Peter.
In addition to songwriting, Tom Paxton has written many critically acclaimed children's books, some of which were inspired by his songs for children.
He has performed thousands of concerts around the world in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada. Paxton enjoys a strong relationship with fans throughout the world. His songs have experienced enduring appeal, including modern standards such as "The Last Thing on My Mind" (perhaps Paxton's best-known song, it has been recorded by dozens of artists, including Judy Collins, Sandy Denny, Dolly Parton, and Porter Wagoner), "Ramblin' Boy", "Bottle of Wine", "Whose Garden Was This", "The Marvelous Toy", and "The Hostage" (which recounts the 1971 uprising at Attica State Prison).
In February 2002, Tom Paxton was honored with the ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award in Folk Music. A few days later, he received three Wammies (Washington, DC, Area Music Awards); as Best Male Vocalist in the "traditional folk" and "children's music" categories, and for Best Traditional Folk Recording of the Year for Under American Skies (the duo album he made with Anne Hills in 2001). This was the first Paxton album to receive an award of any kind.
Paxton has been nominated four times for Grammy Awards in his career, all since 2002.
In 2004, the Martin Guitar Company introduced the HD-40LSH Tom Paxton Signature Edition acoustic guitar in his honor.
In 2005, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting at BBC Radio 2's Folk Awards at London's Brewery Arts Centre.
In 2006, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance.
On January 22, 2007, Paxton was honored with an official UK Parliamentary tribute at the British House of Commons at the start of his 2007 United Kingdom tour.
On May 3, 2008, Paxton was honored with a special lifetime tribute from the World Folk Music Association, and a concert was held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Reason To Be
Tom Paxton Lyrics
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Deep in slumber holy out on a sapphire sea
On her lips but barely a gentle smile is playing
A hint of come what maying as she lies close to me
She is the one touch of heaven I know
Here on this vagabond planet below
Deep in the peace of the morning I see
Deep in the peace of the morning I see
She is my reason to be
My love finds me waiting when the dawn comes creeping
When she is done with sleeping with a whisper prayer
She goes to her window as she is meditating
She knows I am waiting, she knows I'll be there
She is the one touch of heaven I know
Here on this vagabond planet below
Deep in the peace of the morning I see
She is my reason to be
Deep in the peace of the morning I see
She is my reason to be
She will rise and wander through the long green grasses
As the warm day passes she might pause to rest
I will walk beside her hand upon her shoulder
As we're growing older still I love her best
She is the one touch of heaven I know
Here on this vagabond planet below
Deep in the peace of the morning I see
She is my reason to be
Deep in the peace of the morning I see
She is my reason to be
She is my reason to be
The song "Reason to Be" by Tom Paxton is a loving tribute to the singer's significant other. The lyrics describe intimate moments between the two, with Paxton marveling at the beauty and peace he finds in his partner. In the first verse, he speaks of her sleeping next to him, her breaths steady and serene, radiating a sense of profound calm. Despite her quiet demeanor, though, there is a hint of joy on her lips - a hint of the spontaneity and adventure that they share together. To Paxton, his partner is a "touch of heaven" in a chaotic world, someone who brings meaning and purpose to his life.
In the second verse, Paxton describes his partner's morning routine - she wakes up early, spends time in deep contemplation, and then goes to her window to enjoy the sunrise. She knows that Paxton is waiting for her, and she finds comfort in the fact that he will always be there for her. Again, Paxton emphasizes the sense of peace and tranquility that his partner brings to his life, noting that she is "the one touch of heaven" he knows on this "vagabond planet."
Throughout the song, Paxton's love for his partner is palpable, and he holds her up as the most important aspect of his life. He sees her as a beacon of hope in a world that can be dizzying and chaotic, and he cherishes her with all his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
My love lies beside me breathing soft and slowly
My significant other is lying next to me, breathing quietly and slowly.
Deep in slumber holy out on a sapphire sea
She is in a deep, peaceful sleep, almost as if floating on a calming blue ocean.
On her lips but barely a gentle smile is playing
She has a slight smile on her lips, the kind that shows she is content and happy.
A hint of come what maying as she lies close to me
There's a sense of carefree attitude that she exhibits lying next to me.
My love finds me waiting when the dawn comes creeping
When the first light of day arrives, my partner wakes up to find me already waiting for her.
When she is done with sleeping with a whisper prayer
After sleeping, she whispers a prayer before starting her day.
She goes to her window as she is meditating
During her morning meditation, she goes to the window to feel closer to nature.
She knows I am waiting, she knows I'll be there
She's aware that I'm always there for her, waiting to support her whenever she needs it.
She will rise and wander through the long green grasses
As the day progresses, she walks through fields of lush green grass.
As the warm day passes she might pause to rest
If she gets tired during the day, she takes a break to rest and recharge.
I will walk beside her hand upon her shoulder
As we grow together and become older, I will always be by her side, holding her hand and guiding her along the way.
As we're growing older still I love her best
Even as we age and our bodies change, my love for her remains constant and never fades.
She is the one touch of heaven I know
She is my angel on earth, the one who brings me happiness and joy every day.
Here on this vagabond planet below
In this unpredictable world we live in, she is my constant companion and the one who keeps me grounded.
Deep in the peace of the morning I see
In the quiet stillness of the morning, I can truly appreciate and feel the depth of my love for her.
She is my reason to be
She is the driving force behind everything I do and gives me purpose and meaning in life.
Contributed by Lincoln B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.