Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
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There is a young cowboy, he lives on the range His horse and his cattle are his only companions He works in the saddle and sleeps in the canyons Waiting for summer, his pastures to change And as the moon rises he sits by his fire Thinking about women and glasses of beer And closing his eyes as the doggies retire He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear As if maybe someone could hear Goodnight you moonlight ladies Rockabye sweet baby James Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose Won't you let me go down in my dreams And rockabye sweet baby James Now the first of December was covered with snow So was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston The Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go There'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 But singing works just fine for me So goodnight you moonlight ladies Rockabye sweet baby James Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose Won't you let me go down in my dreams And rockabye sweet baby James
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Written by: JAMES TAYLOR, JAMES V TAYLOR
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Origin Story"Sweet Baby James" was written by James Taylor as a cowboy lullaby for his baby nephew James, who was also named after him.
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Album SuccessThe song was initially released as part of James Taylor's second album, also titled "Sweet Baby James,'' which topped the Billboard 200 chart in 1970.
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Cultural ImpactThe song is considered a classic and has been covered by numerous artists. It's one of James Taylor's most popular and enduring tunes.
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InspirationsBesides using a traditional lullaby structure, the song also drew heavily from American country and folk music, which was quite distinct from Taylor's usual pop-rock style.
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Not a SingleDespite its popularity, "Sweet Baby James" was never released as a single. However, it helped to establish James Taylor as one of the leading singer-songwriters of his generation.
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Lyrical ProfundityThe lyrics of "Sweet Baby James" are renowned for their depth and poignant storytelling. The song beautifully paints the picture of a cowboy's life in winter.
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AwardsThe album "Sweet Baby James" was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Male Pop Vocal category.
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Prominent PerformanceDespite not being a single, "Sweet Baby James" has been performed frequently in Taylor's concert tours.
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All-Star TributeIn 2010, an all-star tribute to James Taylor at the Kennedy Center included a performance of "Sweet Baby James" by Kris Kristofferson, Darius Rucker, and Sheryl Crow.
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Listed in Rolling StoneIn 2012, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the album "Sweet Baby James" at number 103 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
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Relationship to Fire and Rain"Oh, Susannah," the lead-off track from the album, references the song "Fire and Rain," another hit song from James Taylor. But interestingly, "Sweet Baby James" was written before "Fire and Rain."
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Citation
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"Sweet Baby James Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1213566/James+Taylor/Sweet+Baby+James>.
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