Tuesday, December 1, 2009

James Taylor: Sweet Baby James

When I worked in radio (and the format was conducive), I would sneak in today’s feature song into the mix on my birthday. It got to be a December 1st tradition to play James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James.” Although it is not a traditional song, James Taylor got his start by singing folk music. Here’s a live version of the title cut from the “Sweet Baby James” LP.



Now, I know you are wondering why on earth I featured this song,  Well, it mentions “the first of December was covered with snow . . .” It also has "James" in the title and I happen to be the youngest of my family. The song was actually written about James Taylor’s namesake nephew who was leaving out of Boston to head back to North Carolina on December 1.


The best one of only three pictures of me with my dad, July 4, 1957
Family Picnic at Renziehausen Park, McKeesport, PA


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 doggies retire
He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
As if maybe someone could hear

Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rock-a-bye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
And rock-a-bye sweet baby James

Now the first of December was covered with snow
And so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Lord, 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

Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rock-a-bye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
And rock-a-bye sweet baby James

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