Fire And Rain (3:25)
530,696 plays (135,105 listeners)
“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”).
Video
Added by dfensty
James Taylor singing fire and rain at the Allentown Fair. It rained the whole show but it was still a great one! Feel free to leave comments if you were there. I was fifth row center stage with my…
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Shouts
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HydroSymphony wrote:
Susanne the plans "they"-("ye gods"/"the FATES") made put an end to you. . . . . . 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.
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jennica_med_c wrote:
"Seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you again.." Aaww. That's beautiful, James Taylor.
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happygonutty wrote:
heavenly... on studio version he sounds diff ... this is live, mabe that's why
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heavenlyblues wrote:
Love this song... but this doesn't sound like James Taylor. It is his song though.
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Marjo47 wrote:
great singer.
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kloclee wrote:
Very inspirational song. Like it alot.
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shawntunes wrote:
Like it
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waterbug5331 wrote:
Life and Love.Great Song
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alfredo3000 wrote:
A fine song, a fine singer, touching me!
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estherbcn wrote:
con esta cancion me enamore de tí
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ChasingStrange wrote:
It sounds like him to me. I think it's just a different version than the one most of us are used to. lol
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marianman48 wrote:
This is not the great JT, no idea who it is.... perhaps the el cheapo version sold in chinese markets.
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ren_man wrote:
Who the heck is singing on this track? It's like "music minus one" - someone else is singing over the original tracks! I just banned it for that reason. Hope the original comes up instead!
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lastfmted2009 wrote:
Version I'm hearing is NOT the Original. Maybe you will be lucky?
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annawesson wrote:
I didn't understand when I was 14, and this song was released. Now I do. It's so sad, and he'd lived through so much by the time he was 22, it makes one think of how hard life is. How much we lose.That we never believed would end
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goarmy1210 wrote:
my favorite JT song. it has so much meaning behind it.
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tommypmusic wrote:
Yeah James... he's just so smooth.
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veronikesilva wrote:
Linda!!!
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brooklynboy99 wrote:
It's a great song alright, but since I have been hearing this since I was knee high to a carberator,...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
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dazmusic wrote:
maravilloso !!!
James Taylor
Fire And Rain
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