Fire And Rain by OKSleeper

OKSleeper - Fire And Rain

OKSleeper

Nov 08, 2025 11:17pm

Just yesterday morning,They let me know you were gone......... Beloved folk singer from New England, James Taylor is considered one of America's greatest songwriters.There lies a heart-wrenching story behind Fire and Rain. Taylor is now an older man with a brilliant smile, and a head that lacks hair. Back in his so called "prime" which would be the 1970s, he rocks a mane of long black hair. Over the years, contrary to his head of hair, his vocals have not changed at all. As NPR stated, "Even in the saddest songs, it's always had a kindly nature to it." Although James hates to hear his songs on the radio and can't stand to listen to them when they come on, he prefers to sing live for an audience. He guesses he's sung Fire and Rain live well over a thousand times. Fire and Rain was initially written in 1968. Taylor was only 20 years old when he wrote the song, yet it hits upon three of the most defeating stories that played huge parts of Taylor's life. The song starts with a verse dedicated to the loss of his beloved girlfriend at the time, Susanne. At the time of her death, Taylor was recording with The Beatles in England, the first non-U.K. artist signed to their Apple Records. Being such an important time in his musical career, her death was kept a secret for a month after it happened. Susanne was in a dark place, and it was decided by her parents that she be taken to a ward. She was secluded in an isolation cell and her conditions became worse than before her parents placed her there. Sadly, Susanne ending up taking her own life. The second verse hits upon Taylor's addiction to heroin. Taylor had his first emotional breakdown at the age of 17 and wasted every last penny of his money when it happened. He recovered but later relapsed into a state of mental instability and brought himself back to a mental institution. Taylor has 4 siblings (3 brothers and a sister) who are also musicians.