James Taylor Fire And Rain *DayOne Reacts*

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[@johnmickelson901]

The song has three verses. One is about a friend who committed suicide, another is about Taylor's addiction to heroin, the third refers to a mental hospital and a band Taylor started called The Flying Machine. Each verse is followed by the same chorus, `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.'

[@seannovack3834]

In 2005, during an interview on NPR, Taylor explained to host Scott Simon that the song was written in three parts: 1. The first part was about Taylor's friend Suzanne, who died while Taylor was in London working on his first album after being signed to Apple Records. Friends at home, concerned that it might distract Taylor from his big break, kept the tragic news from him, and he found out six months later. 2. The second part details Taylor's struggle to overcome drug addiction and depression. 3. The third part deals with coming to grips with fame and fortune, looking back at the road that got him there. It includes a reference to James Taylor and the Flying Machine, a band he briefly worked with before his big break with Paul McCartney, Peter Asher, and Apple Records. After this song was released and became a hit, his good friend singer/songwriter Carole King wrote "You've Got A Friend" and asked him to record a version of it

[@ebenclukey7293]

It's about a friend of his who died of suicide. James was recording in London at the time and was becoming addicted to heroin. He called his father (A respected doctor) to come get him. He spent some time in a mental hospital. Luckily he got clean.

[@VerizonEclipse]

James Taylor's first band "The Flying Machine" had broken up and he had just come back to North Carolina and was going through withdrawal from his heroin addiction when he found out that a really close childhood friend of his had committed suicide. Already at a low point, the news absolutely destroyed him. As he explained in his autobiography, he responded to it by writing the beginning of Fire and Rain. "I carried that song with me for the next year or so. Then that song would carry me for the rest of my life." he said.

[@bsharp6856]

This is the correct understanding of the inspiration of this song.

[@JC-rb3hj]

It's about a friend of his that died while he was in drug rehab. His friends kept the news of her death from him till he was better. The flying machine lyric came from the name of a band he was in at one time called "The Flying Machine."

[@wgdavis5353]

Hi Ms. D., To add to what JRC said, (I think I got this correct); it happened at Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh, N.C.. While at his stay at the hospital he made friends with a woman named Susanne.. They made plans to get together after they both got released.. Mr. James got out, Ms. Susanne was supposed to be released a few weeks later, but for some reason they (the Hospital) decided to extend her stay.. She could not handle it and committed suicide.. Hence the lyric "Susanne the plans they made put an end to you".. Sad, very Sad.. ♠W.G.

[@cmnslcf]

@@wgdavis5353 @jrc here's the real story, straight from the horse's mouth: “Fire and Rain” has three verses. The first verse is about my reactions to the death of a friend. The second verse is about my arrival in this country with a monkey on my back, and there Jesus is an expression of my desperation in trying to get through the time when my body was aching and the time was at hand when I had to do it … And the third verse of that song refers to my recuperation in Austin Riggs which lasted about five months." 'The “Suzanne” mentioned in the lyrics to “Fire and Rain” wasn’t Taylor’s girlfriend or fiancée, but rather an acquaintance (Suzanne Schnerr) whom he had met while he was a teenager in New York in 1966-67...' "[Suzanne] committed suicide sometime later while I was over in London. At the time I was living with Margaret [Corey], and Richard [Corey] was around a lot, and so was Joel O’ Brien. All three of them were really close to Susie Schnerr. But Richard and Joel and Margaret were excited for me having this record deal and making this album, and when Susie killed herself they decided not to tell me about it until later because they didn’t want to shake me up. I didn’t find out until some six months after it happened. That’s why the ‘They let me know you were gone’ line came up. And I always felt rather bad about the line, ‘The plans they made put an end to you,’ because ‘they’ only meant ‘ye gods,’ or basically ‘the Fates.’ I never knew her folks but I always wondered whether her folks would hear that and wonder whether it was about them."

[@Kagawongdog1]

From the info I found James wasn't even in the states when his childhood friend died. He was in London working on his 1st record . It was six months before they told him.

[@wgdavis5353]

@@Kagawongdog1 And that affects what I said how?? Did he write the Song before or after he learned of the death..?? ♠W.G.

[@Nomad-vv1gk]

Taylor wrote "Fire and Rain" in 1968. The song has three verses. One is about a friend who committed suicide, another is about Taylor's addiction to heroin, the third refers to a mental hospital and a band Taylor started called The Flying Machine. JAMES TAYLOR: “Fire and Rain” came very fast. You’d almost say it all happened all at the same time. I started it in London, in the middle of recording my debut album for Apple Records. My friend Suzanne had committed suicide a couple of months before my friends let me know. They didn’t know how the news would hit me and kept it from me until we were well into mixing that album. Then they told me about it, so that’s why the song starts with that first verse. I started it in London. I had known Suzanne the year before I started writing the song. I wrote the first verse and chorus and played it for my drummer Joel O’Brien in London. I had a small basement room. I lived in a succession of basement rooms. This one was fairly spacious. Silver foil on the wall. He said, “Oh, man, that’s going to be an important song for you.” When I finished making the Apple album, I was institutionalized at Austen Riggs in Massachusetts. I wrote the second two verses there. They put me in a little room, and I wrote a lot of songs there. It was very productive. I was getting my strength back, I was getting my nervous system back. Writing a lot of stuff. [The song] is very personal, confrontational and candid. It’s really a kind of blues in that it’s getting out something hard. It details three different episodes of hard times. The first one learning of Suzanne’s death, the second one coming back to the United States sick and strung out, physically exhausted, undernourished and addicted. And then the third one is, I think, hopeful. It’s much more general, about remembering one’s life, thinking back to my band The Flying Machine. Like a postcard from the loony bin before going back out into the world and reengaging.

[@descendantoffools9767]

Shower The People is a nice uplifting James Taylor song.

[@randallwilliams6068]

Nice choice !!

[@benjamineferko1657]

Live at the Beacon Theater was a great performance of Shower the People. A reaction must for James Taylor. 😁

[@lifelover515]

I think this is just about my favourite of all his songs, and especially the Beacon Theatre performance. I hope you get around to that one,Angela. There's also a tribute performance by the Dixie Chicks with James in the audience which is very good. 'Sweet Baby James is another fave. Oh and then there's ... never mind.

[@sjd5750]

Great song!

[@michaellazzeri2069]

ANGELA : This is from the spring of 1970----------as Taylor was reeling from a drug addiction, & as he learned about the suicide of a friend. he wrote this song. ----------------MJL< 75 y/o

[@thegorn68]

In 2005, during an interview on NPR, Taylor explained that the song was written in three parts: The first part was about Taylor's friend Suzanne, who died while Taylor was in London working on his first album after being signed to Apple Records. Friends at home, concerned that it might distract Taylor from his big break, kept the tragic news from him, and he found out six months later. The second part details Taylor's struggle to overcome drug addiction and depression. The third part deals with coming to grips with fame and fortune, looking back at the road that got him there. It includes a reference to James Taylor and The Flying Machine, a band he briefly worked with before his big break with Paul McCartney, Peter Asher, and Apple Records. Carole King played piano on the song. King has stated that her song "You've Got a Friend," which Taylor recorded, was a response to the line in the refrain that "I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend."

[@DayOneReacts]

Thanks guys so much for helping me understand this song. I knew I could count you!

[@jhrapsky2255]

We old-timers grew up with this music, so we know the back stories of many of the tunes. We're delighted to share with a younger person who cares about the music -- thank you for that.

[@paullilley3879]

It was 1967/8 ,he was in England recording an LP at the Beatles' Abbey rd studios when he heard the news that a female friend back home in America had died.

[@donjenkins3861]

This song is about his childhood friend Suzanne Schnerr who committed Suicide when he was in England. He also mentions his band The Flying Machine which failed. He finished writing this song while he was in rehab from drug addiction and depression. Carole King plays piano on this song. 🤔🤗😎

[@ashmar6204]

The first verse refers to finding out about his friend's death, the second verse refers to his battle with addiction and mental illness, and the third verse refers to the break up of his first band, The Flying Machine. This is one of my favorite songs, ever, by one of my favorite artists. The beauty of the lyrics is that they are so relatable. We've all lost loved ones, and many of us have relied on faith to get through personal struggles.

[@mdarrenu]

Singer songwriters of this era are incredible. Today's music can be entertaining but not heartfelt and deep and unique like this era.

[@hongfang2508]

This song is autobiographical. James wrote it in rehab from his heroin addition. But heroin was hard for James to kick. He had a series of relapses for at least a decade before finally being able to stay off the drug. James is the trifecta. Great songwriter. Great voice. Great guitar player. And he is still going strong. Still making music.

[@Lola23339]

It's about the suicide of a friend, his addiction to heroin, a mental hospital and a band he started called "Flying Machine."

[@darthv1001]

As others have said it was about his friend Suzanne who died when he was working with the Beatles at Abbey Road. Someone decided not to tell him in case it affected his work it was some months later he wad told hence "just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone." The fantastic "you've got a friend" was written by his great friend and collaborator and one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, Carol King for him as a result of the line "I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend" Thank you for reacting to James Taylor - I haven't seen anyone else do this and that's a shame. Next please listen to Carol King - anything from her amazing album "Tapestry"

[@denisetinto1828]

James has a special quality to his voice that makes you feel like he is your friend, very intimate. His songwriting is top notch. He went through addiction when younger, but he overcame that and his career has lasted decades. He brought me through some tough times when I was younger as well. I still have to listen to James every so often as he brings me a sense of peace and warmth every time. Cheers from Canada

[@michaellazzeri2069]

In so many ways, this song WAS the 70's. it was a time we will never see again. Sex was free------drugs were everywhere------and personal freedom was what it was all about. -----------MJL, 75 y/o

[@jamiemacdonald436]

The song has three verses. One is about a friend who committed suicide, another is about Taylor's addiction to heroin, the third refers to a mental hospital and a band Taylor started called The Flying Machine.

[@Peter-oh3hc]

Thanks. Was just about to write something similar

[@DayOneReacts]

Thanks for that info.

[@4potslite169]

Back in the day when song writers were truly artists and painted images w their words.

[@rbodee]

Fire and Rain refers to shock treatments then intense cold water thrown on patients in mental institutions. He had a period of depression and was institutionalized.

[@joeschmoe8264]

Wow didn’t know that; makes total sense now.

[@oh8wingman]

This song is about life. It's about the things that we all assume will be there and then one day they are not. It's about the joys of living and the sorrows of living. It's about how we all struggle to get past life's heartbreaks and how at any moment we go back to those same heartbreaks. It's also about where we get our strength to continue on. Taylor meet and befriended a girl named Suzanne while he was in drug rehab. Later, after they had parted, Suzanne committed suicide. Taylor wrote the song when he realized how fleeting life can be. He had just taken it for granted that Suzanne would always be there and now he would never see her again and how we all struggle to live life without falling back into the deadening gloom that can come with living.

[@jessieball6195]

The first verse is about a close friend ("Suzanne the plans they made, put an end to you...") who committed suicide, and the second verse deals with Taylor's own addiction to drugs (and then overcoming it).

[@laapache1]

I am always amazed at the kids who weren't exposed to the music of the 60s 70s and 80s, especially the 70s. I envy your journey

[@waynebrown3266]

It is a sad song...but it is a very well done sad song.

[@rickeyjay7164]

My understanding is that he was institutionalized for a while when he was young. The young girl (Suzanne in the lyric) he had gotten to know there committed suicide and that is what he is singing about. “Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone” - the opening line.

[@user-ky6vw5up9m]

James Taylor was the first solo artist that The Beatles signed-up when they created their own Record Label.

[@t.j.payeur5331]

My little brother died unexpectedly about a year ago..I played this at his memorial..I always thought that I'd see him again...

[@AnthonyL0401]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[@lowelldodson6845]

sorry for your lost this a great song in rememberant of your little brother RIP

[@andrewcormier529]

Taylor wrote "Fire and Rain" in 1968. The song has three verses. One is about a friend who committed suicide, another is about Taylor's addiction to heroin, the third refers to a mental hospital and a band Taylor started called The Flying Machine This is right off of Google James was married to Carly Simon a great singer song writer also,you did a really good reaction James was a great singer song writer many songs he collaborated quite a bit with Carol king who you might want to check out a couple of her songs try one more from James that I love, going to Carolina Enjoy your reaction You must try Jim Croce....like C roach E....operator time in a bottle, new Yorks not my home, I got a name, lovers cross, check him out you won't be disappointed God-bless keeps spreading the music..

[@bkm2797]

Love Jim Croce one of my very favorites is 'Operator', if that song doesn't cause a tear or two from Amber I'd be surprised.

[@Niecy70]

James Taylor's voice is one of the purest ever. I love so many of his songs. I hope you keep checking him out❤

[@jamespasifull3424]

James Taylor is one of the reasons we were given ears!!

[@mikelogan5629]

He was a troubled soul. He went away to clean up his drug addiction. While there his good friend died. Suicide.. The rest is figuring out how to move on having failed some one by failing yourself. His ex-wife is the equally brilliant Carly Simon. So many great songs by both. I suspect the brilliance and creative insecurity did them in.

[@Kagawongdog1]

A female friend passed away, I believe by overdose. The news was kept from him because they thought it would interfere with his career at the time. When they finally told him is when he wrote the song. One of his biggest.

[@douglasmartin4817]

They played this at the concert for 9/11. I just balled my eyes out. I have a feeling there wasn’t a dry eye in the venue that day.

[@gloriasmith3954]

He had been in rehab for drug addiction.. He had become very close with Suzanne ... He finished rehab. And was recording a album . If I am remembering . And she passed away. And they decided not to let him know until after the album was finished.

[@dalem8332]

Beautiful song by The brilliant songwriter and singer James Taylor. ♥️🎼🎵🎶🇨🇦

[@ALong-fo5so]

Suzzane was a childhood friend who commited suicide while he was recording his first album in England and he wasnt told until later.

[@lipby]

He was hospitalized for depression in the late 1960s, and this about a friend who he met in the institution who committed suicide. "Flying machines", by the way, was the name of a band that James Taylor tried to put together that failed. I was always confused about that line.

[@hongfang2508]

James became addicted to heroin while in the Flying Machine group and battle addiction for roughly ten years before getting sober.

[@cmnslcf]

See my answer in JRC's thread above.

[@lipby]

Jesus Christ. I read this and thought: "I don't remember writing this. Am I going insane?"

[@robert-ef8qv]

I love ❤️ your reactions , so beautiful & kind and innocent.

[@ytTonyZ]

Suzanne was a friend of his who committed suicide in a mental health facility, while he was away in London pursuing his career. This led the the song “You’ve got a friend” that I believe was written by his friend Carol King.

[@edge1289]

Each verse of the song has a different meaning, the first verse is about a friend who committed suicide, the second verse that contains “ my time is at hand” is about Taylor’s heroin addiction, and verse three is about a insane asylum and a band called flying machine. He wrote this in 1968.

[@scottwhite6040]

Thank God he was able to beat the addiction. That in of it self was a huge victory for him as it would be for any addict .🙏

[@scottwhite6040]

I think the death of his friend John Baluchi really scared him.

[@jackiefloyd8003]

James Taylor wrote this song; the first verse is about a friend’s suicide, the second verse is about his addiction to heroin(which he eventually conquered) and the third verse is about a mental hospital stay. It’s a beautiful and melancholy song; he has so many hits and is a truly talented singer/songwriter.

[@tradeladder146]

Thank you for that always wondered.

[@sobergreek1]

You're wrong it's actually about his girlfriend who his friends were surprising James Taylor by buying her a ticket to come and visit him in the plane crash that's what the songs about his girlfriend got killed in the plane crash

[@CG-ry9ne]

It’s about the suicide of Suzanne Schnerr, a childhood friend, and his experiences with drug addiction and fame

[@robertrein5744]

Yes a friend died by suicide, even more it was about his addiction to heroin and being in a mental hosppital..

[@ianwatts6529]

Carol King wrote " You got a friend" as a reply to him.

[@stephanieo2509]

Speaking of lullabies, give a listen to "Sweet Baby James" which is pretty much exactly that.

[@debbiechang5781]

“Shower the People” is a beautiful James Taylor song. Please react to Linda Ronstadt. 🌺✌️

[@1939lb]

One my favorite songs..PERIOD!!!..pressing rewind several times..Thank you for this one

[@johnmcaleer7099]

A poetic and lyrical masterpiece thank you angela

[@buixrule]

Smilin Face is a great song by James Taylor. Very uplifting

[@jthaw]

There is a great live version of this from 1971 and a BBC broadcast that is available on James' web page. It's just James and his guitar. As someone pointed out, this is about a friend, Suzanne, he knew from his time in McClean Psychiatric Hospital in Belmont (outside of Boston). He does have a song, written much later, about the emotional struggles of a friend who was a Vietnam vet, called "Native Son". It's worth listening to. Most of his music is deep, with careful arrangements and astonishing though underplayed guitar work. And his live performances are equal to his recordings...one of the few artists about which that claim can be made (that goes for the Eagles too). If you are interested in learning more about James Taylor I recommend his autobiographical audio book "Break Shot".

[@christopherlopez8541]

Hey girl, This song is about a friend of his (a woman), he had gotten to know in rehab. He was told she died of an heroin overdose. He wrote this song immediately thereafter. P.S. "You've Got. Friend", was written as a response to it by life-long friend and fellow artist, the great Carole King. The original version (which you should definitely check out), is on her multi-million selling album "Tapestry". She also wrote "Natural Woman", made famous by the late, great Aretha Franklin. The original version is also on "Tapestry". She's an amazing singer/songwriter.

[@DayOneReacts]

Wow, ok. Thanks so much for that.

[@christopherlopez8541]

@@DayOneReacts 🤗❤️🥃

[@patriciac814]

Tapestry was one of the best selling albums of all time. Maybe check out “ I feel the earth move” or “where you lead” from that album. Also, James’ x wife, Carly Simon: “You’re so Vain”. “No Secrets” and “Anticipation”. James’ “How Sweet it is”. He sounds like he’s smiling the entire song.

[@christopherlopez8541]

@@patriciac814 Yes! Every single song on this album is brilliant! I grew up with it. My mom was a tree-hugging hippie. I LOVE James Taylor, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Carole King. I miss those days.

[@PurityKontrol]

Deep song and deep meaning...

[@kurthealey6936]

I have been waiting for SOMEBODY to react to JT! You have made the wait worth it! Great job! I have attended several JT concerts. Each one is like visiting with a friend you haven't seen in years. The warmth, the glow of harmony.

[@lamusiclover2264]

Shower the People and Mexico are wonderful. "Only One", "September Grass", "Sweet Baby James". All gorgeous and they hit you in the heart.

[@MoonChild-1994]

Angela, James Taylor - You're Smiling Face is my fave. I would love it if you did a reaction. He sings this with enthusiasm and sincerity that will make you also smile. Fun fact: James Taylor did an awesome cover of Marvin Gaye's song How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You!

[@unclejohn1053]

Cant tell you what. I'VE heard this 500 times in the past 50 whatever years and I get something new each tine

[@johnclibbens6803]

You’d enjoy the title track from this album, Sweet Baby James (which he wrote for his baby nephew, who was named after him).

[@mark5820]

Favorite song all time

[@jamessumita5193]

The song you reacted to … You got a friend which was written by James Taylor friend songwriter/singer Carol King was a response to Fire and Rain.., the verse…. There were times when I could not find a friend….btw Carol King played piano on the studio recording of Fire and Rain…

[@jamesbyersmusic]

A painfully beautiful song. I've just watched your Carole King reaction - Fun fact, Carole King is playing piano on this track! :-)

[@gravitypronepart2201]

Lovely song for a lovely woman. Not flirting. Say I thought I heard you mention a lullaby? He sang one. SWEET BABY JAMES". Take a listen. Its a cowboy lullaby.

[@italianray69]

You're a very intuitive lady, Angela. He lives through a Heroin addiction, and made it through the fire, and and into the cleansing rain. A little aside;he was discovered by Raul McCartney and George Harrison of the Beatles in the Troubadour Club in West Hollywood.

[@jamie_finnegan]

He was discovered by Paul and George in London. He also recored his debut album in the same studio the beatles were doing the white album in at the same time.

[@SalManila1]

The second line "Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you" refers to Suzanne Schnerr, a childhood friend of his who died by suicide while he was in London, England, recording his first album.

[@willieboy3011]

Beautiful song sung with a beautiful voice.

[@peterjones4621]

A girl he loved, Susanne, committed suicide when he was away in England taping his first songs at the Beatles Abbey Road studio.

[@koen8185]

Yeah , just heard this story in a interview with him . And they didn't tell him only after the recordings , to not disturb his flow.... And after he wrote this song , Carole King wrote 'You've got a friend' especially for him , which became his greatest hit , it was all in the stars....

[@billofalltrades2633]

Taylor wrote this in 1968 at three different times. He started it in London, where he auditioned for The Beatles' Apple Records. He later worked on it in a Manhattan Hospital, and finished it while in drug rehab at The Austin Riggs Center in Massachusetts. In a 1972 Rolling Stone interview, Taylor explained: "The first verse is about my reactions to the death of a friend (that would be Suzanne - explained below). The second verse is about my arrival in this country with a monkey on my back, and there Jesus is an expression of my desperation in trying to get through the time when my body was aching and the time was at hand when I had to do it. And the third verse of that song refers to my recuperation in Austin Riggs which lasted about five months." This song is about the high and low points of Taylor's life. He was only 20 when he wrote it in 1968, but was battling depression and drug addiction. This was the song that took Taylor from little-known troubadour to star of the '70s singer-songwriter movement. His first label deal was with Apple Records, the label owned by The Beatles. He recorded his self-titled debut album for Apple in London in the same studio where The Beatles were recording The White Album, and although it produced some Taylor classics like "Carolina in My Mind" and "Something In The Way She Moves," it sold poorly due to a combination of Taylor's heroin addiction (he had to seek treatment and couldn't promote the album) and Apple's implosion as the label fell apart. Taylor was dropped from Apple and picked up by Warner Bros. Records, where he released his second album, Sweet Baby James. The "title track" was issued as the first single but failed to chart. Taylor, however, was on the road promoting the album, and when "Fire and Rain" was released as the second single, it took off. The stark lyrics about Taylor's depression stand out on Sweet Baby James, which contains mostly lighter, uplifting songs. Taylor was surprised that such a deeply personal song would appeal to listeners, as he didn't think people were interested in his life. The line, "Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground" is a reference to a band Taylor was in called The Flying Machine, which he formed with Danny Kortchmar in 1966. The band recorded some songs and released one single, but split up without issuing an album. Taylor went to England, where his demo got the attention of Beatles associate Peter Asher, who arranged an audition with Paul McCartney and George Harrison. They liked what they heard, and signed Taylor to their label, Apple Records. By 1971, Taylor was on a new label and "Fire and Rain" was a hit. The enterprising (some would say exploitative) folks at the label that controlled The Flying Machine's recordings suddenly became interested in the band, and cobbled together an album from those recordings which they released in 1971 as James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine. Report ad The lyrics, "Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone. Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you" have been the subject of a great deal of speculation, with rumors that Suzanne was Taylor's girlfriend who died in a place crash. In a 1971 interview with Petticoat, Taylor explained: "It concerned a girl called Susanne I knew who they put into an isolation cell and she couldn't take it and committed suicide." Her name was Susie Schnerr, and Taylor also explained that it was months before he found out about her death, as his friends withheld the news so it wouldn't distract Taylor from his burgeoning music career. In a 1972 Rolling Stone interview, Taylor added: "I always felt rather bad about the line, 'The plans they made put an end to you,' because 'they' only meant 'ye gods,' or basically 'the Fates.' I never knew her folks but I always wondered whether her folks would hear that and wonder whether it was about them." This was one of the first big singer-songwriter hits of the early '70s. Before this, most hits were either written by one person and performed by another, or written and performed by a group like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. Artists like Carly Simon, Billy Joel and Elton John followed the trend of writing and performing their own songs. In his interview with Petticoat Taylor said that he stole the chord sequence from something his brother Alexander wrote. Alexander, who was the oldest of the four Taylor siblings, was also a musician. He died in 1993. Sweet Baby James was produced by Peter Asher, who was looking for a stripped-down sound to showcase Taylor's songs. That sound was established on this track when he called in the musicians Danny Kortchmar (guitar), Russ Kunkel (drums) and Carole King (piano) to rehearse the song in his living room. Kunkel was a rock drummer, but Asher asked him to play with brushes during the rehearsal so as not to disturb the neighbors. When he played with brushes instead of sticks, it brought out a new dimension in the song and established the sound they were looking for. Kunkel and Kortchmar became part of Taylor's touring band and went on to play on classic '70s albums by Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, and Carole King, who soon established herself as a solo artist. A session musician named Bobby West played the upright bowed bass on this track, which is sometimes mistaken for a viola or cello. In a Songfacts interview with Peter Asher, he told the story: "We didn't have a bass on the track and it was James' idea to try bowed upright bass to create the drone of the bottom note. So, we asked the studio for a player because I was not familiar with most of the LA musicians. I'd put together a little rhythm section already, which was Carole King, who I'd got to know and loved her piano playing, and a drummer called Russ Kunkel, who I had found. But at that point, we had not found the perfect bass player, so we used different bass players on different songs. And, on that one, James' idea was to use a bowed upright bass, so we asked around and they recommended this guy called Bobby West. Bobby 'Wild Wild' West, we discovered he was known, which clinched it for us. We thought that was such a cool name. So, we hired him and put the bass on and then I doubled the bass to give it that weird, slightly flangey effect, playing the exact same notes. And, those are the only strings on that whole album, I think." The Isley Brothers recorded this on their album Givin' It Back, which contained all cover songs. When Taylor performed this in 2015 on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he and Colbert had some fun, with Taylor explaining that he was still working on it. "I wrote that song in 1970, and I just hadn't seen that much back then - mostly fire and rain, so that's why I keep saying it over and over again in the song," he said. Taylor then explained that he had never seen a calzone at the time, but if he had, he would have definitely added it to the lyric. Taylor and Colbert then performed an updated version of the song with new lyrics. A sample: "I've seen man buns, Myspace and the Baha Men, but I never thought I'd see a new Star Wars again" "I've seen grandmas reading 50 Shades of Grey" "Quidditch teams and skinny jeans cutting blood off from my thighs" Taylor guest starred in The Simpsons episode "Deep Space Homer" where he performs for a space shuttle that Homer is aboard from NASA's mission control. He plays this, but after singing the line "Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground," he gasps, due to the irony of that line relating to the mission, and sings it with the revised lyrics: "Sweet dreams and flying machines flying safely through the air." >>

[@jchampboston]

Austin Riggs? He was at McLeans Hospital in Belmont, just outside of Boston

[@billofalltrades2633]

@@jchampboston I copied this from songfacts

[@kenrk]

James Taylor - what a great singer/songwriter. Some more of his songs: You Can Close Your Eyes Up on the Roof Copperline In a similar vein, his ex-wife Carly Simon, was a great singer as well. Some of her songs: You're so Vain Anticipation

[@dontworrybehappy8080]

JT Greatest Hits. Oh mexico, I never really been but I'd sure like to know...

[@wahoo056]

This song from what I gather is about a very good friend(Suzanne) whom it happened to be was from a prominent family who pressured her to become what they wanted to her to be instead of her being herself or living her life. while he was recording in Great Britain she committed suicide. I don't know who decided to not tell him about his friends death until a few days after because they wanted to finish the whatever recordings. When he "found about her he wrote down this song". Afterwards, imagine the hurting, sadness, shock of hearing about his friend dying several days before hearing the news of her death.

[@nt3833]

True, but I heard it was actually months later.

[@Falconer1128]

This is why your reactions are so special and so unique. You deeply take in the lyrics and watching you really ponder them and work them out in your head is an amazing thing. That just shows a whole new level of respect for this music from a reactor. Thank you again for your channel.

[@DayOneReacts]

Thanks so much for the kind words 😘

[@martiniddison7127]

James Taylor, Carole King, and Carly Simon all hung out in a brownstone in Brooklyn in the sixties. Other musicians came and made music. People like Neil Sedaka, Gene Pitney, and even Paul Simon.

[@laapache1]

He did marry Carly

[@bzbzob]

Pure class, the song, and you listening to it...

[@stevencharnock4028]

Amazingly Talented Man Who Had To Suffer For His Art..But Came Back Stronger.. That's Not Easy..Great Choice 🇬🇧

[@alangriggs6355]

Something in the Way She moves, has always meant the most to me

[@gregscupholm254]

You would love "Something In The Way She Moves" from his Greatest Hits album. Man, this guy's wonderful music is like an old, comforting friend.

[@dvsreed]

Carly Simon..... "You're So Vain". She was married to James Taylor

[@mikeferris408]

Wow.. nice song to do! He's 1 of the greats from the 70's... i love his stuff.

[@randallshaw9609]

Give 'Shower the People' a listen. One of this great songwriter's greatest.

[@viacrucis2509]

But it’s gotta be that live version where his backup singer goes off!

[@brianbrown2266]

It really is a deep dive into heartbreak and sorrow and lost

[@johnsmith-ub7vr]

Music peaked in the 70s then had a steady decline until 2000 then it fell off a cliff, sadly we will not hear the likes of James Taylor ever again.

[@miltonslocum8957]

Yes, it's certainly a heavy song. And others have commented on possibly the reasons why. James Taylor's a truly gifted and artist. If you haven't already, you should react to Smooth by Santana featuring Rob Thomas. It'll make you want to dance! Always enjoy your reactions.

[@joeschmoe8264]

Just subscribed. You have a great heart ❤️ and I actually feel you are being honest. Plus you are easy on the eyes for sure 🙏🏻

[@douglasennis7291]

Carol King on piano.... Check out "Carolina in my Mind" on James Taylor's Greatest Hits

[@patrickbousum]

I’ve always loved James Taylor’s music ever since I heard Fire and Rain for the first time back in the 70s. There’s no one quite like him. Of the many hits over the years, probably “Copperline” is my all-time favorite. There are many different live versions of it out there. They are even better than the album. Please react to Copperline live by James Taylor. You will love it!

[@allendesalme197]

This song was huge when I was 15 - heard it several times a day on the radio. This is what set James off and this entire album is excellent. Then there is his voice and guitar - he can do blues too...(Steamroller Blues). Tons of huge hits

[@NathanThurberMusic]

He plays guitar on the song "a case of you" by Joni Mitchell. She plays dulcimer and sings. It's one of the most beautiful songs ever.

[@josephjohnson7256]

“Suzanne the plans we made put an end to you” she was flying out to see James

[@StewartUSAF]

Carole King wrote "You've Got a Friend" in response to this song. Also, as others have noted, "Sweet Baby James" is him writing a lullaby to his nephew.

[@chrscmo]

She died in a plane crash. "flying machines in pieces on the ground". I thought it was his wife or GF but I should have googled it..LOL

[@quincee3376]

No i'm almost positive she took her own life. The band took 6 months to tell him because he was using heroin and they were worried how he would take it. He was in England and i'm not sure how but for some reason he thought she died in a Plane crash. Hence the " flying machines" like u mentioned but really she was committed to a mental asylum. Not sure if she took her own life there or if it was after. Not really sure where the plane crash story came from. Maybe his bandmates. Idk really.

[@JJN259]

This song was NOT a reaction to the death of a girlfriend. He was interviewed by Rolling Stone Magazine in 1972 about the meaning of the song and this is what he said: "Fire and Rain" has three verses. The first verse is about my reactions to the death of a friend. The second verse is about my arrival in this country with a monkey on my back, and there Jesus is an expression of my desperation in trying to get through the time when my body was aching and the time was at hand when I had to do it ... And the third verse of that song refers to my recuperation in Austin Riggs which lasted about five months".

[@onefoot7]

There's no meaning, he just channels songs.....mean it with what you want it to mean, JT writes and doesn't particularly attach a meaning to it

[@jamesstone9213]

​@@onefoot7 horse apples

[@nt3833]

Suzanne was a former girlfriend of his - he may have just referred to her as friend in that interview.

[@douglasennis7291]

Was about a friend and fellow mental hospital patient (heroin addiction) who committed suicide.

[@profdg7945]

We have a winner! This is what James said when he was asked.

[@susanherrig437]

Like everyone else has mentioned, James Taylor struggled with heroin addiction. A woman he met in treatment he became friends with died.

[@cmnslcf]

It's a legend.

[@LOAFEMB]

The male version of Karen Carpenter perfect pitch etc

[@robsutherland5744]

Achingly beautiful song. Thanks for this video.

[@jamespasifull3424]

I reckon you'd really appreciate the 1970's English singer/songwriter, Clifford T Ward. He was more like a poet, who recited his poems to music, than a 'conventional' singer, & his 'Home thoughts from abroad' is probably one of the most thought-provoking, & deep lyrics, ever written. Yes, he WAS that good!!

[@jamesrobertson2361]

If you want to hear him sing a lullaby, Sweet Baby James, same album written for his nephew.

[@Peter-oh3hc]

The lullaby would be "sweet baby james" written as a lullaby for his nephew who was named after him

[@marshabailey772]

Sweet Baby James, I Feel Fine....love love LOVE James.

[@hansjolen6087]

Some don't like his music because of his voice. I love his voice. But his lyrics remain great. And that reveals he's a real star.