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Life is Fire and Rain  

hotdreamer1000 64M
8669 posts
9/2/2021 4:02 am

Last Read:
9/27/2021 10:37 am

Life is Fire and Rain


Sometimes I think I want to be James Taylor. Well not really, but you know what I mean.

I’ve been watching some of his recordings and interviews on line - I have been practising my American songbook folk<b> guitar </font></b>playing recently and he is one of the best, and some of his songs are great to practice on.

In his 2015 interview on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert he said he considers his songs to be living things which constantly need updating, for example in respect of Fire and Rain he says “I wrote that song in 1970, and back then I really hadn’t seen that much - just fire, and rain. Now I have seen so much more, like those little pizzas which are folded over at the corners…….calzone. I hadn’t seen those back then, but if I had I definitely would have added them to the song.”

I feel my life is a bit like that. I need to update myself a bit maybe, write some new lyrics.

Just while I am dealing with that interview – doesn’t Stephen Colbert have a great voice! And Taylor is just so amazingly laid back about his legacy of great songs, somehow managing to gently send himself up without diminishing the quality of our memories. Maybe our lives should be like that too. Relaxed about what has happened, good and bad, but without diminishing the memories.

Of course you can’t be James Taylor without the history of drug addiction and recovery, and I would not want to have to go through whatever the demons he had which lead to that. Or its aftermath. I have had the emotional equivalent and that is enough for me. In this and other recent interviews, he just seems like one of the nicest all round decent, funny guys you could ever hope to meet. And I look a bit like him too. Okay that part is slightly worrying because he is actually ten years or so older than me, but I like the way he looks so maybe I should find that reassuring.

Now all I need is to learn to play and sing like him.

hotdreamer1000 64M
12409 posts
9/2/2021 4:02 am

No missing words in this version:

Sometimes I think I want to be James Taylor. Well not really, but you know what I mean.

I’ve been watching some of his recordings and interviews on line - I have been practising my American songbook folk guitar playing recently and he is one of the best, and some of his songs are great to practice on.

In his 2015 interview on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert he said he considers his songs to be living things which constantly need updating, for example in respect of Fire and Rain he says “I wrote that song in 1970, and back then I really hadn’t seen that much - just fire, and rain. Now I have seen so much more, like those little pizzas which are folded over at the corners…….calzone. I hadn’t seen those back then, but if I had I definitely would have added them to the song.”

I feel my life is a bit like that. I need to update myself a bit maybe, write some new lyrics.

Just while I am dealing with that interview – doesn’t Stephen Colbert have a great voice! And Taylor is just so amazingly laid back about his legacy of great songs, somehow managing to gently send himself up without diminishing the quality of our memories. Maybe our lives should be like that too. Relaxed about what has happened, good and bad, but without diminishing the memories.

Of course you can’t be James Taylor without the history of drug addiction and recovery, and I would not want to have to go through whatever the demons he had which lead to that. Or its aftermath. I have had the emotional equivalent and that is enough for me. In this and other recent interviews, he just seems like one of the nicest all round decent, funny guys you could ever hope to meet. And I look a bit like him too. Okay that part is slightly worrying because he is actually ten years or so older than me, but I like the way he looks so maybe I should find that reassuring.

Now all I need is to learn to play and sing like him.


flannel_light 61F
4586 posts
9/2/2021 6:35 am

I was a lot like James Taylor with drugs and recovery. Still this day I have been clean for over 30 plus years. Life does get in the way and we all need to recharge and just have more time to relax and have some fun. Great post

The Light is shinning and she is lonely and waiting in the darkness.


hotdreamer1000 64M
12409 posts
9/2/2021 7:24 am

    Quoting flannel_light:
    I was a lot like James Taylor with drugs and recovery. Still this day I have been clean for over 30 plus years. Life does get in the way and we all need to recharge and just have more time to relax and have some fun. Great post
Thanks Flannel, good to hear your 30 year story, I am full of admiration, but you obviously are glad it was worth it.


lindoboy100 61M
23969 posts
9/2/2021 8:31 am

Great wee read McDream!

I'm not really a fan of JT though I do know a few of his songs. And I'm too lazy to go look up that interview......well, the cricket's on man.......and I'm trying to work! Ahem!!

I suspect that if you could learn to play and sing like him you wouldn't have any need of dodgy internet shag sites!!


superbjversion2 68F  
24388 posts
9/2/2021 9:42 am

Learn to play and sing as well as James Taylor but play and sing like yourself!

Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation bangs on the door forever!


hotdreamer1000 64M
12409 posts
9/2/2021 10:38 am

    Quoting lindoboy100:
    Great wee read McDream!

    I'm not really a fan of JT though I do know a few of his songs. And I'm too lazy to go look up that interview......well, the cricket's on man.......and I'm trying to work! Ahem!!

    I suspect that if you could learn to play and sing like him you wouldn't have any need of dodgy internet shag sites!!
Thanks Lindo. Very entertaining day wasn't it?!

Meanwhile, yes, I might get more action if I could play like James, but I would still enjoy the interactions on the blogs. Anyway, you never know, maybe he has a profile here.


hotdreamer1000 64M
12409 posts
9/2/2021 10:38 am

    Quoting superbjversion2:
    Learn to play and sing as well as James Taylor but play and sing like yourself!
Ha ha, yes! I can do the second part no problem, the first part seems more difficult for some reason!


jajo696 113F
4287 posts
9/2/2021 12:01 pm

have always loved JT/ Carly/ Carole King....that whole era. Just give me an acoustic guitar or piano and a voice and im good. I am actually in his state of Massachusetts and know of that route on the turnpike " from Stockbridge to Boston". His brother Livingston plays at a local club here every New years eve. Ive also seen his children by Carly perform ...Ben n Sally . Im a huge fan!
Isnt it true we all are a sum of our experiences and some of his early writings were a part of his substance abuse life. We live n learn and incorporate all of that into our writings/poems/thoughts. He has evolved....his words while timely are still poignant. Hes definitely an icon ...in my journey of life. ~


hotdreamer1000 64M
12409 posts
9/2/2021 1:21 pm

    Quoting jajo696:
    have always loved JT/ Carly/ Carole King....that whole era. Just give me an acoustic guitar or piano and a voice and im good. I am actually in his state of Massachusetts and know of that route on the turnpike " from Stockbridge to Boston". His brother Livingston plays at a local club here every New years eve. Ive also seen his children by Carly perform ...Ben n Sally . Im a huge fan!
    Isnt it true we all are a sum of our experiences and some of his early writings were a part of his substance abuse life. We live n learn and incorporate all of that into our writings/poems/thoughts. He has evolved....his words while timely are still poignant. Hes definitely an icon ...in my journey of life. ~
Lovely comment Jajo, thank you.


Violette001 51F
4619 posts
9/2/2021 7:26 pm

well... i like how you look too! 10 years from now! lol

i want to hear Fire & Rain with Calzones in them! where do you supposed he would've tucked that in??!

"Do not put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket"
--Author Unknown



hotdreamer1000 64M
12409 posts
9/3/2021 1:45 am

    Quoting Violette001:
    well... i like how you look too! 10 years from now! lol

    i want to hear Fire & Rain with Calzones in them! where do you supposed he would've tucked that in??!
"I saw a strange pizza pie and it caught my eye - it was folded into a pouch,"

Watch the interview and it's all there!


hippiechick1967 60F  
13154 posts
9/4/2021 12:12 pm

Well at least now I know a little of what you look like, or resemble - you look like James Taylor!

Elevate me...


hotdreamer1000 64M
12409 posts
9/6/2021 2:55 am

    Quoting hippiechick1967:
    Well at least now I know a little of what you look like, or resemble - you look like James Taylor!
I actually really do a bit!


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