Lyrics.
I’m not sure you truly know how deep my James Taylor obsession runs.
Deep.
Like, really deep.
Like laying on my kitchen floor balancing a cake plate on my stomach and shoveling in big forkfuls of the fluffy stuff, while an almost empty bottle of wine lies nearby and I belt the words to “Like Everyone She Knows” kind of deep.
Instead of being raised by wolves, I was raised by James Taylor lyrics. Oh… and my mom and dad. But anywho, some of my favorite lines come from him, such as
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
Words to live by. True story.
If you could choose any lyrics to be the theme of your life, what would they be??
56 Comments on “Lyrics.”
That beach photo is absolutely stunning.
Pull yourself together, darlin’, life goes on. – Ian McFeron!
I know this may sound lame, but I would love to have “Don’t Worry Be Happy” as my theme of life. Unfortunately it doesn’t ever seem to be that way since I am always worrying :(
Umm… I definitely love your choice… But I also often think of the song “Ghost of Corporate Future” as words to live by/theme song to my life:
“And people make you nervous
You’d think the world is ending,
And everybody’s features have somehow started blending
And everything is plastic,
And everyone’s sarcastic,
And all your food is frozen,
It needs to be defrosted…
“Well maybe you should just drink a lot less coffee,
And never ever watch the ten o’clock news,
Maybe you should kiss someone nice,
Or lick a rock,
Or both.”
oops forgot to say it’s by Regina Spektor!
Oh man I live James Taylor so much! I have to say I was raised on him and Cat Stevens. Some of my favorite lyrics are from Cat Stevens’ song “if you want to sing out” (I think that’s the title…?) super inspiring!
I totally agree!! Love that song!!!
I am in love with his song, “something in the way she moves.” SOOOO GOOD! I’m on a James Taylor kick lately. Woohoo!
::sigh:: Here comes my first failure. I don’t know who James Taylor is.
I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred. Gets me up in the morning. No? Well, then Eileen’s Song by Burlap to Cashmere.
Hold my hand and we’ll make it all right
From this hell that we live in
Cross the road until the light
Comes inside and lives within
It’s a long and lonesome ride
When your friends have all gone home
But the roses in your eyes
They pull me in so I don’t feel alone
You have one wing, I have another
Seeking shelter like sister and brother
Through the winter and through the summer
Like one angel we’ll fly far away
Oohh, this is hard!! I love the song “Hang On Little Tomato” by Pink Martini. The lyrics are so cute and inspiring. Definitely give it a listen!
“White and Nerdy” by Weird Al. Nope, not kidding :)
i love james taylor too! :) i don’t think i can come up with lyrics for my life…. that is the hardest question!
Not a country fan really, but my mother gave me a single of this Rascal Flatts song when I graduated high school – and it brings me to tears every time I hear it..
“My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big and worries stay small
You never need to carry more then you can hold..
And while you’re out there gettin’ where you’re gettin’ to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things, too,
Yea this… is my wish..”
May or may not have shed a tear while typing that…
I am a HUGE James Taylor fan and really this one hits so close to my heart…
Hey, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend?
People can be so cold.
They’ll hurt you and desert you.
Well they’ll take your soul if you let them.
Oh yeah, but don’t you let them.
You just call out my name and you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again.
Oh babe, don’t you know that,
Winter spring summer or fall,
Hey now, all you’ve got to do is call.
Lord, I’ll be there, yes I will.
You’ve got a friend.
However, I love them all pretty close to equally. I remember going to see him in concert when I was a kid at a venue here in Atlanta. It was one of those outside places that you take your food to and watch the concert…it was magical. I love that you have such an old soul!
It’s a great song alright – it’s written by Carole King !! <3
Which brings up a point… can't hardly separate James Taylor from Carole King or Carly Simon, in my mind – all 3 were so much a part of my teenagerhood and so I'll love them on into my geezerhood!!
I have different themes I guess depending on different feelings or moods, and since I'm too deaf to pick out the lyrics from the melody, I'm constantly having to look up the lyrics to songs I hummed along (or was lucky enough to have the lyrics printed on the record liner or jacket notes on those old 33 vinyls I grew up with!)…
Here's one:
Summer's here
I'm for that
Got my rubber sandals
Got my straw hat
Got my cold beer
I'm just glad that it's here
Summer's here
That suits me fine
It may rain today
But I don't mind
It's my favorite time of the year
And I'm glad that it's here
Old man wintertime
He goes so slow
It's ten degrees below, you know
You can take your ice and snow
And let my balmy breezes blow
Yeah, the water is cold but I've been in
Baby, lose the laundry and jump on in
I mean all God's children got skin
And it's summer again
Old man wintertime
He goes so slow
It's ten degrees below, you know
You can take your ice and snow
And let my balmy breezes blow
Summer's here
I'm for that
Got my rubber sandals
Got my straw hat
Drinking cold beer
Man I'm just that I'm here
It's my favorite time of the year
And I'm glad that it's here, yeah
It’s not the theme to my life…. but I *wish* it was!
The song “Copper Line” by James Taylor is probably one of my faves of his. It makes me want to live out in the country, and reminds me of my first love.
“First kiss, ever I took
Like a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook
Down on Copper Line”
Isn’t it just lovely? :)
I too am a 50 something year old lady trapped in a 20 something body. Stevie Nicks’ “Landslide” ALWAYS makes me want to cry, it’s so beautiful:
“Oh mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Mmm mmm I don’t know
Well I’ve been afraid of changing ‘cause I
Built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older, I’m getting older too.”
Gosh, I love it! Then again, I love most Fleetwood Mac and/or Stevie Nicks-related songs. :)
Totally laughing out loud at this post! I have done the laying on the kitchen floor with booze and junk food thing before! That’s living if I do say so myself! My theme song…”Cool Change” by Little River Band (blushing now)…I’m such a dork!
My dad has ingrained in me a deep love for James Taylor. “Mexico” is the jam.
I don’t think I could choose one theme song for my life… but here’s one I’ve currently added to my life soundtrack.
After the Storm – Mumford & Sons
And after the storm,
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up.
Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won’t rot, I won’t rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won’t rot.
And I took you by the hand
And we stood tall,
And remembered our own land,
What we lived for.
There wil come a time you’ll see
With no more tears
And love will not break your heart
But dismiss your fears
Get over your hill
And see what you find there
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair
And now I cling to what I knew
I saw exactly what was true
But oh no more.
That’s why I hold,
That’s why I hold with all I have.
That’s why I hold.
I will die alone and be left there.
Well I guess I’ll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
Because death is just so full and mine so small.
Well I’m scared of what’s behind and what’s before.
And there will come a time, you’ll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair
This song has been tugging at my heartstrings lately in a MAJOR way, thanks for posting! :)
‘Alright don’t worry even if things end up a bit too heavy, we’ll all float on alright.”
– Float On by Modest Mouse
I LOVE James Taylor! His music reminds me of when I was in elementary school when my family would cook out in the backyard in the summer. Shower The People is my absolute favorite song of his. :)
Van Morrison…. she gives me love, love love, crazy love! And Rock my gypsy sole. LOVE it!
Love it. Is it wrong that I dont know if I’ve ever heard a James Taylor song?
My lyrics would be from Bomshel – Fight Like A Girl.
“hold your head high
Don’t ever let them define
The light in your eyes
Love yourself, give em hell
You can take on this world
You just stand and be strong
And then fight like a girl”
I love this post! It took me back to my year in Montreal stuck in a house with a two year old through a long winter teaching her to sing ‘How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By you’. My baby is now 20 and away at University and still has james Taylor on her iPod!
I have always said that if I had a theme song in would be kick a little by the tractors, I used to listen to a LOT of country growing up, now not so much but the words say,
“some people judge you by the way you look, they see you once and say you aint no good. It’s like their never gunna take you the way you are. Thats when you have to stand up and be strong, go the extra mile and prove them all wrong, and just remember when they push you way to far, you got to kick a little, cause a stir, let a little motion be heard, yeah you got to kick a little and be tough, let them know that you had enough, cause in less you want to finish last, you got to kick a little…”
growing up…that was so inspirational to me, I wasn’t going to let anyone walk over me, and I still don’t!
These are some of the lyrics from the song “40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)” by Bob Schneider. He is from Austin and writes all of his own songs.. very cleaver and meaningful words :) enjoy!
I think the theme from this song that I try to live by everyday is “it ain’t no crime it’s just dreams we’re stealing. Anything to get more of this feeling…We ain’t got no time to waste, we got too much life to taste.”
Here’s a link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygUbBlXGrF0
Well if I spell it out, if I get it out,
will you hear me when I tell you about
what I have to say before it gets too late.
It’s not as easy as they said it’d be,
but there’s something right about you and me,
something right about you and me.
Well you’re the color of a burning brook,
you’re the color of a sideways look
from an undercover cop in a comic book;
you’re the color of a storm in June
you’re the color of the moon.
You’re the color of the night that’s right.
The color of a fight you move me.
You’re the color of the colored part of the Wizard of Oz movie.
We’re like Romeo and Juliet,
we’re like 40 dogs cigarettes.
We’re like good times that haven’t happened yet but will.
I can tell you where we’re gonna be
when the whole world falls in-to the sea,
we’ll be livin’ ever after, happily.
All the boys taking you for granted,
tell you what they want with their eyes all slanted.
I don’t like the way they look at you.
I don’t like the way they talk, too.
I don’t like the way they talk to you.
I wouldn’t let ’em talk to you like that.
Put ’em up high reach for the ceiling
tell ’em that I don’t walk damnit
I’m reelin’
it ain’t no crime it’s just dreams
we’re stealing.
Anything to get more of this feeling.
you take the high and I’ll take the low,
we’ll get there before you know.
We ain’t got no time to waste,
we got too much life to taste.
We’re like Romeo and Juliet
and 40 dogs cigarettes,
we’re like good times that haven’t happened yet but will.
I can tell you where we’re gonna be
when the whole world falls in-to the sea,
we’ll be livin’ ever after happily.
Sometimes you remind me of a moonbeam
on the ghost of a moonbeam
out on the beach down by the coast.
Slip into the nil like the most..
beautiful thing…
I’ve ever seen.
Come out tonight come out with me baby,
we’ll throw the careful into the crazy.
Turn the sky black into a sky blue.
Turn a close shave into a hoo hoo!
What I say is true.
Make a fire ought to burn a few.
Make a fire ought to burn a few
we can do what we want to do.
We’re like Romeo and Juliet
40 dogs cigarettes
we’re like good times that haven’t happened yet but will.
I can tell you where we’re gonna be
when the whole world falls in-to the sea,
we’ll be livin’ ever after happily.
The times we had
Oh, when the wind would blow with rain and snow
Were not all bad
We put our feet just where they had, had to go
Never to go
The shattered soul
Following close but nearly twice as slow
In my good times
There were always golden rocks to throw
At those who admit defeat too late
Those were our times, those were our times
And I will love to see that day
That day is mine
When she will marry me outside with the willow trees
And play the songs we made
They made me so
And I would love to see that day
Her day was mine
Beirut-‘Postcards From Italy’
I was also raised on James Taylor!!! Love him and his music! I completely understand and support your obsession!
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes – Jimmy Buffett
“Good times and riches
And son of a bitches
I’ve seen more than
I can recall”
;-)
Oh my love of James Taylor knows no bounds. His words have soothed my nerves, healed my broken heart, helped me remember a dear friend, and find my own voice.
He is timeless. He is part of our hearts, our souls.
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve sunny days and I thought they’d never end
I’ve seen lonely when I could not find a riend
But I always thought that I’d see you again
Oh my gosh, if you’re obsessed with James Taylor you would love living in Williamstown! His house is right nearby and he gives small summer concerts all the time, including one on fourth of july. He is also at the local bar sometimes!
Jessica,
I am in the same boat as you!!! I was raised on James Taylor as well, and I am so grateful to my parents for that. He is an amazing artist! I think people think I’m quite odd for being so passionate about him…but he and his songs inspire me so much words can’t even begin to describe it!
By they way…I truly enjoy getting your emails everyday…YOU ROCK LADY!!!!
:)
Jess
I LOVE James Taylor. My sister is actually named after the Sweet Baby James song. She was supposed to be a boy, so when she came out a girl my mom named her “Jane” as the next best thing. Also, I listened to the Sweet Baby James album so many times in high school that I wore out the vinyl record. There’s just something about the tone of his voice…
Amazing Grace, how sweet (hehe) the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
I would be nothing without my faith!!
Be blessed-
Amanda
“The secret of life is to try not to hurry… but don’t wait, don’t wait” – Faith Hill A good piece of advice, but also just a tad bit ironic.
Joni Mitchell- Case of you
Oh you are in my blood like holy wine
And you taste so bitter but you taste so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you
I could drink a case of you darling
Still I’d be on my feet
I’d still be on my feet
always loved this
Jack Johnson Do you remember when
Do you remember when we first met?
I sure do
It was some time
In early September
You were lazy about it
You made me wait around
I was so crazy about you
I didn’t mind
So I was late for class
I locked my bike to yours
It wasn’t hard to find
You painted flowers on
Guess that I was afraid
That if you rode away
You might not roll back
My direction real soon
Well I was crazy about you then
And now the craziest thing of all
Over 10 years have gone by
And you’re still mine
We’re locked in time
Let’s rewind
That was my hubs and I song at our wedding :)
I love James Taylor, too! My dad and I used to listen to him together a lot, it’s our thing. How Sweet It Is was our father-daughter dance song at my wedding!
Funny story – when I first started my blog and was looking for a name, I was looking for a song title to use. How Sweet It Is was one of my top choices, and I was totally bummed when I found ‘some girl’ had it already (that’s you). But now that I read and love your blog, I’ve forgiven you :) ha! One Sweet World (DMB) is what I ended up choosing.
Hahah really?! That is actually why I named my blog this too – has nothing to do with food. :)
I love it when your posts are so thought provoking! James Taylor is amazing, isn’t he? He and Carol King were incredible together, and I was just thinking about their concert last night because it was Carol King song night on American Idol! Did you see it?
My theme song? I Hope You Dance by LeeAnn Womack. When I got in the car to drive home from the hospital after my mom passed away in June 2000, it was playing on the radio. It was like my mom was singing to me from heaven.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistence
Livin might mean taking chances, but their worth taking
Lovin might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin
Don’t let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out, reconsider
Give the heaven’s above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion, always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…
Dance
I hope you dance
Thanks for making me think about my mom this morning, Jessica. Life is precious…make the most of each and every minute! :-)
i agree!
to simplify things, i usually go with…life’s a dance, you learn as you go :o)
Guess I’m in a mellow mood too, having just returned from two funerals this past two weeks…. but I remember hearing about? or seeing? part of the funeral for the late great actor John Belushi and knowing that James Taylor sang “Lonesome Road” – here is a poignant part:
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
For the last few years it has been “I hope you dance” By Leann Womack
I told my family, thats how I want them to be, if you get the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance. I told them thats my theme song and Lord, let it be a long time from now… but I want it at my funeral. Is that too weird?
Lately the song You’re Gonna Miss This (Trace Adkins) makes me tear up every time I hear it.
You’re gonna miss this
You’re gonna want this back
You’re gonna wish these days
Hadn’t gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you’re gonna miss this
It makes me feel better that someone else out there has this obsession. I feel like James Taylor is all I knew growing up. As I got older my mom I would go to his concert every summer. His music and lyrics weirdly feel like home!
My second daughter’s nickname was “Sweet Pie” because I loved hearing James Taylor’s “Sweet Potato Pie” when I was pregnant with her!
Oh lord I feel fine today
I’m walking on cloud nine today
I’m over that line today
Happiness is finally mine today
I guess I’m just a lucky guy
And I’m prepared to tell you why
It’s strictly on account of my
Sweet potato pie
I’m the fellow that she loves the most
The main reason why she left the coast
She’s my little girlziña
That much hotter that a jalapeño
Tender like a night in june
Sweeter than a honeymoon
Brighter than a silver spoon
Just as crazy as a loon
Softer than a lullabye
Deeper than the midnight sky
Soulful as a baby’s cry
My sweet potato pie
I used to see her around the neighborhood
I wonder how she grew up so good
She belonged to freddy and he was bad
And I never was ready to make him mad
I’m glad I had to wait awhile
A little bit too juvenile
I needed to refine my style
A silk suit and a crocodile smile
So let the whole damn world go by
’cause I just want to testify
From now on it’s me and my
Sweet potato pie
that’s always such a hard question!
i would have to say that the one that always comes to mind is “we can’t help you” by billy miles:
we can’t help you
if you don’t want to help yourself
we tried to do
the very best we could for
you but now we’re through
always made me chuckle when i got a difficult client.
My teenage years were laced with James..
You have successfully made me cry, once again!
Gotta go listen to him on my iPod..
There are just too many songs to choose as a theme for my life..
Thanks for the memories darlin’!!!;)
AMAZING beach pic– i love it! :D
My choice lyrics are from Life is Beautiful by Vega4
I recommend looking up the song cuz the whole song is amazing, and pretty true :)
“Life is beautiful, but it’s complicated,
we barely make it.
We don’t need to understand,
There are miracles, miracles.
Stand where you are.
We let all these moments pass us by.
It’s amazing where I’m standing,
There’s a lot that we can give.
This is ours just for a moment.
There’s a lot that we can give.”
<3
I absolutely <3 Sugarland's "Little Miss"
Little Miss do your best
Little Miss never rest
Little Miss be my guest, I'll make more anytime it runs out
Little Miss you'll go far
Little Miss hide your scar
Little Miss who you are is so much more than you like to talk about
:)
Secret of life… one of the greatest songs ever! Words to live by for sure… I actually can only listen to fire and rain when I am alone because it reminds me so much of my dad who died a few years ago. James really is the sound-track of my life:)
Copperline by James Taylor is a huge one for me.
I’m from NC and that particular song..well, it sums up growing up here and how I feel about the state pretty well. I guess it’s more of the feeling of the song than anything else. I actually live only about 15 minutes from where he’s talking about in that song.
I graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and ‘Carolina in my Mind’ is one of my favorites. Love James Taylor <3
There ain't no doubt in no one's mind
That love's the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
And hey babe the sky's on fire, I'm dyin'
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind
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