James Taylor's--Fire and Rain--Lyrics, Video, and MP3
Ranked #7,016 in Music, #188,259 overall
Fire and Rain Song Facts
Fire and Rain is about the high and low points of James Taylor's life. He was only 20 when he wrote it, but was battling depression and drug addiction.
This was James Taylor's second single and his first to chart. His first single was "Sweet Baby James." The stark lyrics about James Taylor's depression stand out on Sweet Baby James, which contains mostly lighter, uplifting songs. The first verse is James Taylor's reaction to the death of a friend. The second verse is about arriving in America and struggling with depression, the third is about his stay at the rehab center. The line "Flying machines in pieces on the ground" is a reference to a band James Taylor was in called The Flying Machine, which broke up due to his drug problems.
This was one of the first big singer-songwriter hits of the early '70s. Before this, most hits were either written by one person and performed by another, or written and performed by a group like The Beatles or Rolling Stones. Artists like Carly Simon, Billy Joel and Elton John followed the trend of writing and performing their own songs.
Fire And Rain MP3
James Taylor - Fire and rain - live 2007
James Taylor - Fire And Rain Lyrics
Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Susanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way
Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
Been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things
to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground
Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again, now
Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around, now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you fire and rain, now
James Taylor's Greatest Hits
James Taylor's Music, Lyrics, and MP3
"I was there that very day and my heart came back alive." -- James Taylor
James Taylor Long Ago and Far Away: His Life and His Music
Official biography
James Taylor Long Ago and Far Away: His Life and His Music
Amazon Price: $15.40 (as of 02/17/2012)
Product Description
From his Beatles-sponsored debut in 1968 to his Grammy-winning Hourglass album of 1997, James Taylor has been universally acclaimed as a songwriter of exceptional eloquence and emotional power. Dispelling myth and rumor, Long Ago and Far Away examines the roots of Taylor s mental anguish and his recurring bouts with heroin and alcohol. This is an epic family history, an exploration of the real stories behind Fire and Rain and the rest of the songs, as well as a frank account of Taylor s days on the Apple record label, the financial disaster of his Greatest Hits album deal and the deaths and divorces that have haunted his life. In this major biography, Timothy White explores both the career and the troubled personal journey of the legendary singer-songwriter.No writer interviewed James Taylor and his family in greater depth over the decades than the late Timothy White, former editor-in-chief of Billboard, and author of the international best-seller Catch A Fire: The Life of Bob Marley. This new edition has been updated by his friend and former Rolling Stone comrade Mitch Glazer and includes an epilogue about the memorial concerts for Timothy that James Taylor helped organize. SELLING POINTS: Rich with insights from Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Sting, Danny Kootch Kortchmar, the entire Taylor family and many other key figures around James Taylor and his music. Original editions sold over ***** copies worldwide! (17,000 N America) Includes many previously unpublished photos and an extensive discography and bibliography.
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James Taylor in the News
- This Day in Music: February 17th
- For more on this story, see This Day in Music Spotlight. 1970, Joni Mitchell announced she was retiring from live performances during a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. Joni was on stage again by the end of the year. 1971, James Taylor made his ...
- Set the scene: Dubai Jazz Festival
- Already an established highlight of the Dubai social calendar, the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival has, in the past, played host to the legendary likes of James Taylor, David Gray and Robin Gibb ? and the 2012 line-up proves it's just ...
- Hot Tix: The Shins, James Taylor at Red Rocks and more
- ($36.50-$43.75, Ticketmaster) James Taylor will take a well-deserved victory lap this spring and summer when the gentle singer-songwriter plays select European and American dates following months of honors at the White House (for the National Medal of ...
- Carly Simon to Be Honored With ASCAP Founder's Award
- The Founders Award honors pioneering songwriters who have made exceptional contributions to music, inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators. Past recipients include Ashford & Simpson, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, ...
What is Your Favorite James Taylor Song?
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James Taylor's--Fire and Rain--Lyrics, Video, and MP3
James Taylor wrote Fire and Rain in 1968 at 3 different times. He started Fire and Rain in London, where he auditioned for The Beatles' Apple Records. He later worked on it in a Manhattan Hospital, and finished it while in drug rehab at The Austin Riggs Center in Massachusetts.Fire and Rain is about...5 points
James Taylor's--You've Got a Friend--Lyrics, Video, and MP3
Originally written and recorded by Carole King in 1971, You've Got a Friend became the biggest, and most well-known hit for then 23-year-old James Taylor, and his only #1 in America. It was the first single off of his third album, released on Warner Brothers Records.James Taylor made some minor lyri...5 points
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James Taylor's--Sweet Baby James--Lyrics, Video, and MP3
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James Taylor Set the Pattern for All Singer-Songwriters
A folkie with a dark past, upbeat sound and clear pop inclinations, James Taylor was the poster boy for the '70s singer-songwriter movement. He had personal or professional ties to almost all of the era's stars, including Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon -- his wife of more than a decade -- and several of his hits, including "Fire and Rain" and his cover of King's "You've Got a Friend," are definitive. Taylor came from a musical family -- three siblings were professional musicians -- and got his first break when Paul McCartney signed him to the Beatles' Apple Records in 1968. By then, he had already endured a 10-month stay in a psychiatric hospital for depression and was battling heroin addiction. That back-story colored his music. The collision of confessional songwriting and bright, catchy acoustic pop on Taylor's early records established the model for legions of folk-poppers. He continued racking up hits throughout the '70s with a combination of breezy originals and rootsy covers. The template has hardly changed in the ensuing decades, though hints of jazz and the classic pop songbook shine through on later albums.
Are You a James Taylor Fan?
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Jewelsofawe
Feb 19, 2009 @ 2:52 pm | delete
- I love James Taylor especially his song Fire and Rain. It always makes me think of my dad who died when I was 29 of a sudden heart attack. I always thought I would see him again just like it says in the song...
Love your lens!
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debnet
Feb 19, 2009 @ 2:48 pm | delete
- The James Taylor track that instantly comes to mind for me is 'You've got a friend'. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know Fire & rain. greta job on the lens. You've put a lot of thought and effort in it and it shows ;)
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