In September, 2019, for Friday’s Finest I presented an article about a Sidney Lumet’s film called Running on Empty which showcases a stellar performance by River Phoenix in the prime of his youth. One of my favourite scenes in the movie is where Phoenix’s character and his family launch into their homespun version of James Taylor ‘Fire and Rain‘ (see the end of this post). To me today’s featured song feels more akin to a spiritual hymn; or a music sanctuary that draws me back down the road from whence I came. The duality in the feelings it elicits between ‘somber’ and ‘joyful’ has always resonated in me. Songs like Fire and Rain ordinarily don’t just appear out of thin air, but this one feels like it did in its tranquil, timeless and seamless condition. As a listener I’m grateful for that.
[Verse 1]
Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone
Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can’t remember who to send it to
[Chorus]
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I’d see you again
[Verse 2]
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
James Taylor explained the song in an interview with David Mikkelson this way:
Fire and Rain has three verses. The first verse is about my reactions to the death of a friend. The second verse is about my arrival in this country with a monkey on my back, and [Won’t you look down upon me,] Jesus is an expression of my desperation in trying to get through the time when my body was aching and the time was at hand when I had to do it. The third verse of that song refers to my recuperation [beating the heroin addiction] in Austen Riggs which lasted about five months.”
The “Flying Machine in pieces on the ground” is a reference to the depression he’d been in about the demise of his band, The Flying Machine.
Fire and Rain was released in August 1970 as the second single from Taylor’s second studio album, Sweet Baby James. As expressed above the song follows Taylor’s reaction to the suicide of Suzanne Schnerr, a childhood friend, and his experiences with drug addiction and fame. After its release, Fire and Rain peaked at number two on Canada Top Singles chart and at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
References:
1. Fire and Rain (song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
That is James Taylor’s masterpiece…yes he had some good songs but this one is hard to top. I love that scene as well….
Yeh, I remember us speaking about that scene in the movie. A fantastic, but hugely underrated movie. This song is wonderful, isn’t it? It’s what I consider more of a contemporary spiritual realisation, than a conventional song per se.
It’s not like anything else he does or many people do…
It is a one off. It is a really good movie I agree. Any thing Judd Hirsch is in I usually like.
Yeh, he’s a fine actor.
Very cool
It’s actually between Fire and Rain. ‘Cool’ probably isn’t a long way off.
Lol I love it Matt!
I absolutely love “Fire and Rain” and next to James Taylor’s great rendition of Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend” it is my all-time favorite by Taylor.
If I had to break it down to one just song from his to take away with me, it would be a song I wrote about last year, ‘Never Die Young’.
I don’t believe I had heard “Never Die Young” before and can definitely see why you feel excited about this song. I’ve always found James Taylor’s smooth voice puts you at ease, even if he sings about serious topics.
Off the bat, Fire and Rain is the winner to most ears and still resonates so strongly with me. Never Die Young is something gradual, like an artist painting away. It’s a step by step appreciation. I’m glad you heard it. I see what you mean about how his voice waters down tough topics.
Perhaps a little bit of a stretch, it does remind me somewhat of Marvin Gaye’s approach on “What’s Going On”.
Lets get it plain and simple. You are saying that ‘Never Die Young’ is not so grandiose. Or did I misread you. But that’s fine if you didn’t resonate with it like I didn’t ‘What’s Going On’. I like that song a lot, but I’ll tell you how shallow I am about that song. The only time I really dug it was in Jerry Maguire. Lets get down to brass tacks.
I like “Never Die Young” but not as much as “Fire and Rain.” And I do love “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye. That’s the beauty of music. It’s a very individual experience! 🙂
But ‘Never Die Young’ as I said is like an artist’s painting. Tell me you didn’t like it more the second time.
That’s it, it’s an individual experience. You would take ‘What’s Going On’ away with you and I ‘Never Die Young’. You could do worse.
A true icon. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome. Thanks for commenting.