James Taylor

"In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina. Can't you see the sunshine? Can't you just feel the moonshine? Ain't it just like a friend of mine To hit me from behind? Yes, I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind."

"And as the moon rises he sits by his fire Thinking about women and glasses of beer. And closing his eyes as the dogies retire, He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear, As if maybe someone could hear.Goodnight you moonlight ladies. Rockabye sweet baby James. Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose. Won't you let me go down in my dreams? And rockabye sweet baby James."

"Take to the highway, won't you lend me your name? Your way and my way seem to be one and the same, child. Mamma don't understand it. She wants to know where I've been. I'd have to be some kind of natural born fool To want to pass that way again. But I could feel it On a country road."

"Just yesterday morning, they let me know that you were gone. Suzanne, 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."

"I’ve been walking my mind to an easy time, My back turned towards the sun. Lord knows 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."

"Where do those golden rainbows end? Why is this song so sad? Dreaming the dreams I've dreamed my friend Loving the love I love To love is just a word I've heard when things are being said Stories my poor head has told me cannot stand the cold And in between what might have been and what has come to pass A misbegotten guess alas and bits of broken glass…"

"Do me wrong, do me right, Tell me lies but hold me tight, Save your goodbyes for the morning light, But don't let me be lonely tonight."

"Most everybody's got seed to sow It ain't always easy for a weed to grow, oh no. So he don't hoe the row for no one. Oh for sure he's always missing. And something is never quite right. Ah, but who would want to listen to you Kissing his existence good night."

"Oh, Mexico. It sounds so sweet with the sun sinking low. Moon's so bright like to light up the night, Make everything all right."

"You can play the game and you can act out the part. Though you know it wasn't written for you. But tell me, how can you stand there with your broken heart, Ashamed of playing the fool? One thing can lead to another; it doesn't take any sacrifice. Oh, father and mother,and sister and brother, If it feels nice, don't think twice."

"Shower the people you love with love. Show them the way that you feel. Things are gonna work out fine if you only will (do as I say, yeah). Shower the people you love with love. Show them the way that you feel. Things are gonna be much better if you only will."

"Whenever I see your smiling face I have to smile myself. Because I love you (Yes, I do). And when you give me that pretty little pout, It turns me inside out. There's something about you, baby (I don't know)."

"I thought I was in love A couple of times before With the girl next door. But that was long before I met you. Now I'm sure that I won't forget you. And I thank my lucky stars That you are who you are. And not just another lovely lady Sent down to break my heart."

"Now, the smoke fills the air In this honky-tonk bar. And I'm thinking 'bout where I'd rather be. But I burned all my bridges; I sank all my ships. And I'm stranded at the edge of the sea."

"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time. Any fool can do it; There ain't nothing to it. Nobody knows how we got to The top of the hill. But since we're on our way down, We might as well enjoy the ride."

"The secret of love is in opening up your heart. It's okay to feel afraid, But don't let that stand in your way, no. 'Cause anyone knows that love is the only road. And since we're only here for a while yeah Might as well show some style."

"Seems like even her old girlfriends Might be talking her down. She's got her name on the grapevine Running up and down The telephone line Talking 'bout Someone said, someone said Something 'bout, something else Someone might have said about her She always figured that they were her friends But maybe they can live without her."

"True believer that I am I am blind, lead me on (lead me on) Blessed receiver of your love I own my own time And I've been holding on (holding on) Leave the word unspoken And the spell will not be broken."

"When I grow too old and dull to rock 'n roll Like to hold on tight to you darling And when my fires have all burned out I'd like to think I can still think about The things I used to sing about When I was spending all my time alone By myself and on my own Seldom seen and quite unknown."

"If I had stopped to listen once or twice If I had closed my mouth and opened my eyes If I had cooled my head and warmed my heart I'd not be on this road tonight."

"First kiss ever I took Like a page from a romance book. The sky opened and the earth shook."

"At that time my heart was all broke I looked like ashes and smelled like smoke. And I turned away from my loving kind Try to leave my body and live in my mind. But it's much too much emotion To hold it in your hand. They've got waves out on the ocean They're gonna wear away the land."

"I passed on the cocaine, Said bye-bye to my methadone. Put down the bottle for one more day. Backing off of my Tobacco Jones. Still I feel like a hopeless junkie, Like a man who can't say no. I look back and there's that monkey; Rascal won't let go."

"Sweet Baby James laid down the template for ‘singer-songwriter’ when he broke through in the early ‘70s, and has subsequently become an institution. Sensitive and fragile at first blush, Taylor’s songs have steel in the walls that have ensured they’ve passed the test of time. As fine a fingerpicker as there has been, and a songwriter of immense depth and emotional courage, James Taylor is an icon with good reason."