Fire and Rain

James Taylor

About Fire and Rain

"Fire and Rain" is a folk rock song written and performed by James Taylor. Released on Warner Bros. Records as a single from his second album, Sweet Baby James, in February 1970, the song follows Taylor's reaction to the suicide of Suzanne Schnerr, a childhood friend, and his experiences with drug addiction and fame. After its release, "Fire and Rain" peaked at number two on RPM's Canada Top Singles chart and at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.


Year:
1969
3:20
559 
#6

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Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Susanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to

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

Won't you look down upon me, jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've 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 way

Oh, 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

Been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things
To come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground

Oh, 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, baby, one more time again, now

Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around, now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you fire and rain, now

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James Taylor

James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. more »

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Written by: James Taylor

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Background
"Fire and Rain" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter James Taylor. It was included in his second album, "Sweet Baby James,” released in 1970.
Song Inspiration
The song was inspired by Taylor's experiences with drug addiction, depression, and the tragic death of his friend Suzanne Schnerr.
Lyrics Meaning
The lyrics capture three stages of Taylor's life: "Fire" represents his struggles with addiction, "Rain" refers to his battle with depression, and "Flying Machines” reference to his original band The Flying Machine, which broke up due to his addiction.
Commercial Success
"Fire and Rain" became a breakout hit for Taylor, peaking at No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cultural Impact
The song has since been covered by countless artists, including John Denver, Marc Cohn, and Rumer, and used in various TV shows and movies, highlighting its enduring cultural impact.
Grammy Nominations
The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary Song.
Legacy
Rolling Stone magazine named "Fire and Rain" as one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.
Trivia
Taylor performed this song at the Concert for New York City in 2001, turning it into an anthem for those struggling with loss and grief following the September 11 attacks.
Singer’s Reflection
James Taylor has confessed that "Fire and Rain" is, for him, an emotional song to perform even today because it reminds him of the darker period in his life.
Song Interpretation
While many believe the song was written solely about Suzanne Schnerr, Taylor has argued that "Suzanne" is a representation of all the friends he lost to addiction or depression.

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    Fire and Rain

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1970

    Billboard #3


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