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About This Track
“Fire and Rain” is a folk/rock song written and performed by James Taylor. As a song on his second album, Sweet Baby James, the song engendered widespread attention for him. The album was released in February 1970, with the song being released as a single the following February. “Fire and Rain” quickly rose to number three on the Billboard hot 100 charts. It was soon covered by Anne Murray, on her album Honey, Wheat and Laughter, also in 1970.
Moody and introspective, “Fire and Rain” became something of a prototype for the singer-songwriter genre that would boom in the few years following its release. Its apocalyptic imagery proved provocative to would-be interpreters. The sparse arrangement, centered around Taylor’s ringing acoustic guitar figures, also became a signature sound for Taylor and was influential among other performers.
“Fire and Rain” is in the 227th position on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Origin of the song
Taylor has related different versions of what the song is about.
In a BBC interview he stated that the song chronicled his experiences in mental institutions and the suicide of a friend.
On the VH1 series Story Tellers, Taylor said that the song was, indeed, about Suzanne Schnerr, a friend of his who died suddenly while he was away from home (the second line of the song is “Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you”).
Moody and introspective, “Fire and Rain” became something of a prototype for the singer-songwriter genre that would boom in the few years following its release. Its apocalyptic imagery proved provocative to would-be interpreters. The sparse arrangement, centered around Taylor’s ringing acoustic guitar figures, also became a signature sound for Taylor and was influential among other performers.
“Fire and Rain” is in the 227th position on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Origin of the song
Taylor has related different versions of what the song is about.
In a BBC interview he stated that the song chronicled his experiences in mental institutions and the suicide of a friend.
On the VH1 series Story Tellers, Taylor said that the song was, indeed, about Suzanne Schnerr, a friend of his who died suddenly while he was away from home (the second line of the song is “Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you”).
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Albums featuring this track
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Greatest Hits
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The Best of James Taylor
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Live
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Live (disc 1)
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Shouts
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knotweed wrote:
:)
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vspeedoflight wrote:
人 * 人“. “人 * 人“. “人 * 人“. “人*人“. “人 * 人“. “人 * 人“. “人 *
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staklee2002mj wrote:
paul i know i'll see you again not long now
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RioDomingo wrote:
great song, but not the best version.
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RocketmanPaul wrote:
What a classic from a great singer-songwriter
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r-iman wrote:
love it
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Marjo47 wrote:
such a beautiful song.
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Murphybeach wrote:
Still an amazing LP...scratches and all...
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Derek_f wrote:
This is still one of the best songs from one of the best singer/songwriters of all time.
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ldpazos wrote:
marvellous music from a marvellous artist
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r-iman wrote:
nice
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mifil2 wrote:
so cooool
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oldiesfanjohn wrote:
Pittsburgh,Pa 06/26/10...James w/Carole King closed down the ``Mellon Arena``(nee Civic Arena) with a final concert...many good times were spent in that Arena by me...although the accoustics for concerts weren`t that great in there,(high ceiling)it`s like losing a family member(40+ yrs)
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msparthasarathi wrote:
awesome
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backscab wrote:
well i heard this one when i took a stupid fb quiz titled 'what's your 70's song?'. thats the only good thing I've got of fb till now!
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Im2Jazzy4U wrote:
to each a special and private memory....feel the warmth of a hand...can you find the face...one more time again...?
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smugglerride wrote:
he's always in that awkward phase. great stuff.
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iLoveDUB wrote:
Such a beautiful song.
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scientist4u wrote:
awesome ,
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marijolee wrote:
Sang this in choir as a 7th grader and loved it. Now graduated, I've recently rediscovered it... wonderful song!
Track Stats
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231,577 Listeners
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