James Taylor (Best Live)
Released: June 1994
This album pars the two-disc James Taylor Live album down to one album of selected highlights.
James Taylor (Best Live)
- Sweet Baby James
Sweet Baby James
There is a young cowboy lives on the range
His horse and his cattle they’re his only companions
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons
Just waiting for summer his pastures to changeYes, and as the moon rises he sits by his fire
Just thinking about women and glasses of beer
And closing his eyes as the dogies retire
He sings out a song which is soft but it’s clear
Just as if maybe someone could hearHe says good night all you moonlight ladies
Rockabye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues for the colors I choose
Won’t you let me go down in my dreams
Oh, and rockabye sweet baby JamesNow the first of December it was covered with snow
Yes, and so was the Turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Oh, the Berkshires seemed dreamlike
On account of that frosting
With 10 miles behind me and 10,000 more to go, you knowThere’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
Just that singing seemed to work fine for meSo, good night all you moonlight ladies
Rockabye my sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues for the colors I choose
Won’t you let me go down in my dreams
Oh, and rockabye my sweet baby James - Handy Man
Handy Man
Hey girls, gather ’round
Listen to what I’m putting down
Hey baby, I’m your handy man
I’m not the kind to use a pencil or rule
I’m handy with love and I’m no fool
I fix broken hearts, I know that I truly canIf your broken heart should need repair
Then I am the man to see
I whisper sweet things, you tell all your friends
They’ll come running to me
Here is the main thing that I want to say
I’m busy 24 hours a day
I fix broken hearts, I know that I truly canComma, comma, comma, comma, come, come, comma
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Comma, comma, comma, comma, come, come
Oh, they’ll come running to me
Here is the main thing I want to say
I’m busy 24 hours a day
I fix broken hearts, baby I’m your handy manComma, comma, comma, comma, come, come, comma
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Comma, comma, comma, comma, come, come, comma
Yeah, yeah, yeah
That’s me (comma, comma, comma, comma, come, come)
I’m your handy man (yeah, yeah, yeah)
That’s me (comma, comma, comma, comma, come, come)
I’m your handy man (yeah, yeah, yeah) - Your Smiling Face
Your Smiling Face
Whenever I see your smiling face
I have to smile myself
Because I love you
And when you give me that pretty little pout
It turns me inside out
There’s something about you, baby
I don’t knowIsn’t it amazing a man like me
Can feel this way
Tell me how much longer
If it grows stronger every day
Oh, how much longerI thought I was in love a couple of times before
With the girl next door
But that was long before I met you
Now I’m sure that I won’t forget youAnd I thank my lucky stars
That you are who you are
And not just another lovely lady
Sent down to break my heartIsn’t it amazing a man like me
Can feel this way
Tell me how much longer
If it grows stronger every day, yeah
How much longer?No one can tell me that I’m doing wrong today
Whenever I see you smile at me
No one can tell me that I’m doing wrong today
Whenever I see your smiling face my wayNo one can tell me that I’m doing wrong today
No one can tell me that I’m doing wrong today - Shed A Little Light
Shed A Little Light
Oh let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women, living on the earth
Ties of hope and love, sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
With a desire to see the world become
A place in which our children can grow free and strong
We are bound together by the task that stands before us
And the road that lies ahead, we are bound then we are boundThere is a feeling like the clenching of the fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
Though the body sleeps the heart will never rest(Shed a little light ohh lord) Shed a little light oh lord
(So that we can see) Ohh now
(Just a little light ohh lord) Just a little light oh lord
(Gonna stand it on up) Stand it on up
(Stand it up ohh Lord) Get down
(Gonna walk it on down) Gonna shed a little
(Shed a little light ohh lord)(Can’t get no light from a dollar bill)
(Don’t give no light from the TV screen) No No No No
(When I open my eyes, I want to drink my fill)
(From the well on the hill)
Then you know where I’ll be(Shed a little light ohh lord) Shed a little light oh lord
(So that we can see) Ahh yes
(Just a little light ohh lord) Just a little light oh lord
(We’re gonna stand it on up) Stand it on up
(Stand it up ohh Lord, Stand it up ohh lord)
(Gonna walk it on down) Gonna shed a little
(Shed a little light ohh lord)There is a feeling like the clenching of the fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
Though the body sleeps the heart will never restOh let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women, living on the earth
Ties of hope and love, sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
With a desire to see the world become
A place in which our children can grow free and strong
We are bound together by the task that ties before us
And the road that lies ahead, we are bound and we are bound - Steamroller Blues
Steamroller Blues
Well, I’m a steamroller for you, baby
I’ve got to roll all over you
Yes, I’m a steamroller for you, baby
I’ve got to roll all over you
Yeah, now, baby
I’d like to inject your soul with some rock and roll
Maybe shoot you full of rhythm and blues tonight, oh, yeahWell, I’m a cement mixer for you, baby
A churnin’ urn of that burnin’ funk, yeah
You’ve got to drop that thing and come back home to me, baby
A churnin’ urn of burnin’ funk
And I’m a demolition derby, mama
A hefty hunk of steamin’ junkOh, well, I’m a love bomb for you, baby
I’m guaranteed to just blow your mind
Yes, I’m a love bomb for you, baby, yeah
I’m guaranteed to just blow your mind
And if I can’t, and if I can’t, and if I can’t have your lovin’
There won’t be nothin’ ever left behind
Oh, no, no…
No, no, no…
Yeah, no, yeah…
But I never did seem
And I never did seem
In the far distant future
Someday to lose
I can’t seem to lose, baby, yeah
Somebody got to help me to lose
Got to help me lose
Yeah, yeah
Help me to lose my steamroller, yeah
Help me to lose my steamroller, darling
Help me to lose my steamroller, baby, yeah
Help me to lose my…
Now, my baby…
Yeah, yeah, yeah…
Steamroller, baby, ha!
My steamroller blues, ha! - Mexico
Mexico
(with Graham Nash and David Crosby)
Way down here
You need a reason to move
Feel like a fool
Running your stateside games
Lose your load,
Leave your mind behind, Baby JamesOh, Mexico
It sounds so simple I just got to go
The sun’s so hot I forgot to go home
Guess I’ll have to go now“Americano” got the sleepy damn eye
But his body’s still shaking
Like a live wire
Sleepy “Señorita”
with the eyes on fireOh, Mexico
It sounds so sweet with the sun sinking low
Moon’s so bright like to light up the night
Make everything all rightBaby’s hungry
Money’s all gone
The folks back home
Don’t want to talk on the phone
She gets a long letter,
Sends back a postcard; times are hardOh, down in Mexico
I never really been so I don’t really know
Oh, Mexico
I guess I’ll have to goOh, Mexico
I never really been but I’d sure like to go
Oh, Mexico
I guess I’ll have to go nowTalkin’ down in Mexico
- Walking Man
Walking Man
Moving in silent desperation
Keeping an eye on the Holy Land
A hypothetical destination
Say, who is this walking man?Well, the leaves have come to turning
And the goose has gone to fly
And bridges are for burning
So don’t you let that yearning
Pass you by
Walking man, walking man walks
Well, any other man stops and talks
But the walking man walksWell the frost is on the pumpkin
And the hay is in the barn
And Pappy’s come to rambling on
Stumbling around drunk
Down on the farmAnd the walking man walks
Doesn’t know nothing at all
Any other man stops and talks
But the walking man walks on by
Walk on byMost everybody’s got seed to sow
It ain’t always easy for a weed to grow, oh no
So he don’t hoe the row for no one
Oh for sure he’s always missing
And something is never quite right
Ah, but who would want to listen to you
Kissing his existence good nightWalking man walk on by my door
Well, any other man stops and talks
But not the walking man
He’s the walking man
Born to walk
Walk on walking man
Well now, would he have wings to fly
Would he be free
Golden wings against the sky
Walking man, walk on by
So long, walking man, so long - Country Road
Country Road
Take to the highway
Won’t you lend me your name
Your way and my way
Seem to be one and the same
Mama don’t understand it
She wants to know where I’ve been
I’d have to be some kind of natural born fool
To walk on the roads againBut you know I could feel it
Walking on a country roadSail on home to Jesus
Won’t you good girls and boys
I’m all in pieces
You can have my choice
‘Cause I can see a heavenly band full of angels
Coming just to set me free
No, I don’t know nothing ’bout the why or when
But I can tell you that it’s bound to beJust because I could feel it
Walking on a country railroadReckon my feet know where they want me to go
Walking on a country road
Walking on a dirt roadSo take to the highway
Won’t you lend me your name
Your way and my way
Seem to be one and the same thing tonight
Mama don’t understand it
She wants to know where the boy’s been
I’d have to be some kind of natural born fool
To walk on that road againBut you know I could feel it
Feel it, feel it, feel it, feel it
Walking on a country roadWalk on down
Walk on down
Walk on down
Walk on down a country road
La, la, la
Yeah, walk on down
I’ll be walking on a country road
See me walking down a country road
Oh, yeah - Fire and Rain
Fire and Rain
Just yesterday morning
They let me know you were gone
Suzanne, the plans we made put an end to you
I walked out this morning
And I wrote down this song
Just can’t remember who to send it toI’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days I thought they’d never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought I’d see you againWon’t you look down on me, Jesus
You’ve got to help me to make a stand
You just got to see me through another day
My body’s aching
And my time is at hand
And I won’t make it any other wayOh, I have seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days I thought they’d never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought I’d see you againSo I’ve been walking my mind to an easy time
My back turned towards the sun
Lord knows the cold wind blows
It’ll turn your head around
Well, there’s hours of time on the telephone line
Talkin’ about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines
in pieces on the groundOh, I have seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days I thought they’d never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought I’d see you somehow
one more time again
Thought I’d see you one more time again
There’s just a few things coming my way
this time around
Thought I’d see you, thought I’d see you,
fire and rain
Thought I’d see you just one more time,
Suzanne - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by youI needed the shelter of someone’s arms, there you were
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs,
there you were
With sweet love and devotion
Deeply touching my emotion
I just want to stop (stop) just to thank you baby
I just want to stop (stop) just to thank you babyHow sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by youI close my eyes at night
Wondering where would I be without you in my life
Everything I did was just a bore
Everywhere I went it seems I’d been there before
But you brighten up for me all of my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways
I just want to stop (stop) just to thank you baby
I just want to stop (stop) just to thank you babyHow sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by youYou were better to me than I was to myself
For me, there’s you and there ain’t nobody else
I want to stop (stop) so I could thank you baby
I just want to stop (stop) to thank you babyHow sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by youHow sweet it is…
And it feels just about right
Ohhh…..
Just to be loved
Just to be loved by you, baby, yeah - Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
Do me wrong, do me right
Tell me lies but hold me tight
Save your goodbyes for the morning light
But don’t let me be lonely tonightSay goodbye and say hello
Sure enough good to see you, but it’s time to go
Don’t say yes, but please don’t say no
I don’t want to be lonely tonightGo away then damn you
Go on and do as you please, yeah
You ain’t gonna see me getting down on my knees
Undecided and your heart’s been divided
You’ve been turning my world upside downDo me wrong, do me right right now baby
Go on and tell me lies but hold me tight
Save your goodbyes for the morning light, morning light
But don’t let me be lonely tonightI don’t want to, I don’t need to
I can’t stand it, I don’t have to
I don’t want to be lonely tonightI don’t want to be lonely tonight
No…..
- Shower The People
Shower The People
You can play the game
You can act out the part
Though you know it wasn’t written for you
Tell me how do you stand there
With your broken heart
All ashamed of playing the foolBut one thing can lead to another
It doesn’t take any sacrifice
Oh, father and mother and sister and brother
If it feels nice don’t think twiceJust shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna turn out fine
If we only will
If we only will
Just shower the people
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be much better
If you only willYou can run but you cannot hide
This is widely known
Yes, and what you plan to do with your foolish pride
When you’re all by yourself alone
Once you tell somebody the way that you feel
You can feel it beginning to ease
I think it’s true what they say about the squeaky wheel
Rascal’s always getting the greaseBetter to shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna turn out right
If we only will
If we only will
Oh, just shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be much better
If you only willShower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
(Shower the people you love with love)
Show them the way that you feel
They say in every life
(Shower the people you love with love)
They say that the rain must fall
(Show them the way that you feel)
Just like pouring down rain, pouring down rain, make it rain
(Show them the way that you feel)Make it rain
(Shower the people you love with love)
Make it rain
(Show them the way that you feel)Make it rain
(Shower the people you love with love)
Love, love, love is sunshine
(Show them the way that you feel)Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be much better
If you only will