5 of the Best James Taylor Lyrics

When he first came on the singer-songwriter scene, James Taylor was put down as a mushy-gushy, sensitive type that laid his sentiments on thick. At the time, that was considered a negative in some circles. In hindsight, that affinity has delivered some of the most cherished songs in rock history.

In honor of the singer-songwriter, we’ve compiled some of Taylor’s best lyrics from throughout his storied career. Check out our picks, below.

1. 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 (“Fire and Rain”)

“Fire and Rain” is one of Taylor’s most recognizable songs for a reason. He wields his pen with a purpose on this track, delivering three verses about different topics and tying them together with a timeless sentiment of loss.

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The line above comes from the bridge and it wraps up the main theme of the song in a neat little bow: You never know when hard times are going to rear their head and, when they do, it hits hard.

2. There ain’t no doubt in no one’s mind / That love’s the finest thing around (“Carolina in My Mind”)

The entirety of “Carolina in My Mind” feels like a sonic hug. Even if you haven’t had the privilege of visiting the Carolinas, you’ll yearn for those rolling mountains, lush forests, and shimmering shores while listening to the track.

Taylor expresses his love for North Carolina, where he and his siblings lived when he was younger, in the lyrics. Though this isn’t your typical love song—being directed towards a place rather than a person —Taylor still holds true to the statement in the lines above: Love’s the finest thing around, no matter who or what it’s for.

3. There’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway / A song that they sing when they take to the sea / Song that they sing of their home in the sky / Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep / But singing works just fine for me (“Sweet Baby James”)

“Sweet Baby James” is both a lullaby to Taylor’s nephew and an ode to his own relationship with music. Taylor spends most of the song singing about a lonely cowboy in a fairytale-esque style— perfect for a song dedicated to a child. In the lines above, he shifts focus, singing about the vagabonds of the world and how they use music as a guiding force.

Taylor paints himself in a similar light with the line singing works just fine for me.

4. It isn’t what she’s got to say / But how she thinks and where she’s been / To me, the words are nice, the way they sound (“Something In The Way She Moves”)

Taylor’s “Something in the Way She Moves” is one of the most stunning love songs in recent memory. The entire song features some of Taylor’s most honeyed and affecting lyrics, but the line above is particularly swoon-inspiring.

Though Taylor has dated several famous musicians, this song is said to be about an early girlfriend whom he was deeply intimate with. In the lines above he boils that intimacy down to a simple, yet beautiful sentiment.

5. Sail on home to Jesus won’t you good girls and boys / I’m all in pieces, you can have your own choice / But I can hear a heavenly band full of angels / And they’re coming to set me free (“Country Road”)

“Country Road” sees Taylor recount his time at McLean Hospital where he committed himself for depression treatment. In the lines above, Taylor lays a roadmap out for freedom.

Elsewhere in the song, he talks about his family issues, his time in prep schools, and his mental health —All of which are negative forces in his life. By the time he gets to the verse above, he has made his decision to leave home and find his own, more fulfilling path. It’s a powerful statement of personal vindication.

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