Meaning Fire And Rain James Taylor

The susan mentioned in the lyrics fire and rain wasn t a love interest of taylor s but merely an acquaintance he had met as a teenager in new york who just as he had an addiction problem.

Meaning fire and rain james taylor. The stark lyrics about taylor s depression stand out on sweet baby james which contains mostly lighter uplifting songs. Schnerr and taylor previously worked together in the band the flying machine per story of song. Paul keleher via wikimedia commons.

Both quote james from a few interviews where he s explained the songs. The second line suzanne the plans they made put an end to you refers to suzanne schnerr a childhood friend of his who com. James taylor performing at tanglewood.

Fire and rain is a folk rock song written and performed by james taylor. Gentle plaintive and compelling fire and rain was the hit that launched the career of james taylor one of the 1970 s premier singer songwriters. The interviews are a few decades old so it s funny that the legends still persist.

She now hopes to share the good news with the world. Fire and rain has three verses. Fire and rain actually has multiple meanings with each verse speaking to different struggles taylor has faced in his life.

James taylor s fire and rain. James taylor explained the song in an interview with david mikkelson this way. The first verse of the song was written for a close friend suzanne schnerr who committed suicide while taylor was working with the beatles in london in 1968.

The first verse is about my reactions to the death of a friend. Timothy white s excellent james taylor biography long ago and far away and joel risberg s the james taylor encyclopedia both make it pretty clear what the song is about. Released on warner bros.