Songful Style: “Sweet Baby James”

“Sweet Baby James”

It seems like March had eleventy million days, and yet I can’t believe next week is April! Welcome to the last Monday in March and another edition of Songful Style. Suzy and Shelbee decided to riff (see what I did there) on Style Imitating Art only with music! Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Suzy of The Grey Brunette, Michelle of Funky Fashion Style, and I make up the bloggers in this group. You can find all of us on our blogs and Instagram.  Our ensembles (pun intended) may be inspired by the lyrics of a song, the artwork of the album cover, maybe the MTV video, or even a memory the song evokes. Shelbee chose this month’s selection. You can probably tell I’m a fan! Last month, Suzy picked “Love at First Sight.” You can see my look here. Oh, and there’s a link party, too!

The artist…

James Taylor was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 12, 1948 at the hospital where his father was a physician. His mother wanted to be an opera singer so one would think music was an important part of his life. Taylor began his musical career by learning to play the cello but switched to the guitar. The second of five children, James and his siblings were all involved at music at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, James’ oldest brother, Alex, passed on March 12, 1993. There have been times I’ve heard Livingston, a younger brother, singing on the radio and could swear it was James! Another brother, Hugh, now runs a bed and breakfast, the Outermost Inn, in Massachusetts. Kate, his only sister, is also involved in the music world.

A little more…

Taylor spent many summers on Martha’s Vineyard where he met Danny Kortchmar. The two, known as Jamie & Kootch, were soon playing in coffeehouses. In 1967, Taylor met Peter Asher, the head of the newly formed Apple Records. That would be Apple as in the Beatles not the iPhone! Asher eventually became Taylor’s manager and produced “Sweet Baby James” as well as “JT.” During these years, Taylor would battle depression and heroin addiction. Taylor said, “It’s (his mental health struggles) an inseparable part of my personality that I have these feelings.” One chilling side note…Taylor actually talked to Mark David Chapman on December 7, 1980, the day before Chapman would murder John Lennon. In fact, Taylor lived next door and heard the gunshots that claimed Lennon’s life.

Still more…

You can read lots more here. In a nutshell, James Taylor has received six Grammy Awards, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. The album, “Sweet Baby James,” was nominated for a Grammy award in 1971 and listed at 104 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The album, with the best-selling “Fire and Rain,” was Taylor’s second studio album but was more successful than the first, “James Taylor.” Taylor is still active and touring. He’ll be in Cincinnati later this year, but I doubt I can get Nigel to go!

The song…

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 he 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 dogies 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
Now the Berkshires seemed dreamlike
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 all 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

What does it mean…

There are many who think this song is about Taylor’s heroin addiction. Some have even said the moonlight ladies are hookers! I prefer Taylor’s explanation. This song was written as he drove to meet his new nephew, named after him. In the video below, you can hear him explain the song far better than I can.

The video…

There are many videos of James Taylor performing this song, but I wanted an older one. I’m going to have to ‘fess up. I just can’t get past his bald head in the other versions! The James Taylor I remember was a folk singer verging on being a hippie! I do wish he were wearing his denim shirt instead of this slight print mixing combo of shirt and vest…but check out that collar! Someone once referred to Taylor as a “cowboy Jesus” to which he replied, “I thought I was trying to look like George Harrison.”

Interesting covers…

The comments on this cover seem to imply this guy is related to the Frank Sinatra. I couldn’t find anything to back that up, but he reminds me just a bit of Bob Dylan if Bob Dylan could sing! This acoustic version has a bit of a country feel to it, but I really do like the guy’s voice. At first, I didn’t really like this cover, but when the sisters sing in harmony, it’s beautiful! I also like the use of the banjo and dobro. Here is another cover I didn’t like at first (too country for me), but the harmonizing won me over! OK, I double dog dare you not to go, “Awww!” when you watch this one! Well, now, this may be the strangest cover of all! I’m not into the Marvel or DC universe, but some of you may be so this version may make sense to you!

My interpretation…

My son asked me if I was going to go for a denim shirt look for this challenge! I suppose I could have done a denim dress, but I decided instead to focus on the “deep greens and blues” in the song. If you are from a certain era (cough, cough), you might remember soft denim jeans with a wide bell bottom. These WOW jeans from Old Navy might just be what you’re looking for! They are so soft and wide and just the right length to drag a bit on the ground. I would say they run just a tad small. I recently received this At Home kimono from Kantha Bae in shades of teals and blues. I consider teal to be in the green family, don’t you? I added a very old navy blue embroidered tee (you’ll have to take my word on the embroidery) from Talbots to create a column of color. Oh, who am I fooling? I didn’t set out to create a column of color; it just happened!

A tad more…

The album I’m holding? It’s the very first, and I do mean the very first, album I ever bought! I earned the money babysitting, I think. I paid $3.97 and peeled the dang orange sticker off as soon as I could! I probably shouldn’t have because that would make this look a lot cooler! I remember going into Key Drugstore to buy it. What, doesn’t everyone buy their music at the drug store? I am surprised that album still works because I played it day in and day out! James Taylor has a very unique voice which is hard to mimic when you’re a young girl! But, I tried, oh, gurlz, did I try! I knew each and every word on that album by heart. So, when I started thinking about this post, I kept thinking about asking my youngest if he had the album. Of course, that was always about 1:00 am! Finally, this past week, I remembered and texted him earlier in the evening. And, he definitely had it. So, I am “borrowing” it from him and am under strict orders not to damage it in any way!

The Lewk!

Aha! Here is some true green! I’m wearing my green L’Artiste Waterlily boots. They were the perfect height for the jeans (which are a short inseam…yay, Old Navy, for offering that). I then added this tagua shell necklace from J Jill and blue topaz earrings and cuff from eBay. Should I have worn a blue topaz necklace? I don’t know. I don’t have a long one so I guess the answer is nope! I kind of liked the mixing of media in my jewelry.

Wrap it up, Marsha!

I have spent hours writing this post. I just couldn’t seem to settle down to write about James Taylor. If you are familiar with him at all, you know of his struggles with mental health and addiction. I didn’t really want to dwell on that. I wanted to focus on him as a person, but I didn’t do that, either. I think, because he’s a part of my youthful zeitgeist, I couldn’t find the right words. So, can we talk? Do you remember your very first musical purchase? Does the story of a song matter much to you? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk! I promise I will respond as soon as possible. I do reply, but I don’t know if you are receiving notifications of that. Please check back in a couple of days, and you’ll see my response!

Affiliate links and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. As of right now, I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Thank you!

I am grateful to all of you…those of you who comment, read, subscribe, or follow me! I am truly appreciative. If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, and I do deClaire and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend with Michelle every Thursday. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!

And, now it’s your turn!

Please link up your favorite posts…cooking, baking, DIY, fashion, gardening…it really doesn’t matter as long as it’s family friendly! If you don’t have a blog, please poke around. You just may discover a new blog! My choice for next month is Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

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