Carolina in my Mind (2006) – Alison Krauss & Jerry Douglas (James Taylor song)

When God gets tired of listening to the angels and their harps, I am convinced he puts on Alison Krauss…

– Anonymous

There are certain female voices that, the moment I hear them, make my eyes go a little glassy – Christina Perri, Marcela Gandara, and now, Alison Krauss. I first heard Alison thanks to Christian’s Music Musings, where she was accompanying Jerry Douglas on I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby. It was love at first listen. She has that wholesome, girl-next-door beauty, can play a mean fiddle, and when she sings it feels like home – the whole package. That adoration hasn’t faded – in fact I can now declare she has hands down my favourite female country voice. Oh, and she also has 27 Grammys.

I first came across James Taylor’s Carolina in My Mind many moons ago – it’s one of his signature songs. It was around the same time I first heard his criminally underrated Never Die Young, which still sits firmly as my “Desert Island” track from him. Fast forward to my recent deep dive into Alison Krauss’ music, and YouTube blessed me with her and Jerry Douglas’ gorgeous tribute version of Carolina in My Mind. Yippee. They performed it at the 2006 A Musicares Person of the Year Tribute honoring James Taylor. Once again, I was floored by Krauss’ soft, pillowy voice, and Douglas’ lap steel guitar brought a timeless, atmospheric glow to the song. Krauss and Douglas go way back – both steeped in the traditions of bluegrass and Americana. Together, they’re just a class act.

As for the original Carolina in My Mind, James Taylor wrote it in 1968 while homesick in London, recording it with members of The Beatles’ inner circle – Paul McCartney and George Harrison even contributed bass and backing vocals. It’s been a touchstone of his career ever since. Released as a single in 1969, the song earned critical praise but not commercial success. Carolina in My Mind is one of the most covered contemporary folk songs of all time, including covers by American singer-songwriter John Denver and American rock music duo the Everly Brothers.

[Chorus]
In my mind, I’m gone to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine?
Now can’t you just feel the moonshine?
And ain’t it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind?
Yes, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind

[Verse 1]
Karin, she’s a silver sun
You best walk her way and watch it shine
Watch her watch the morning come
A silver tear appearing now I’m crying, ain’t I?
I’m gone to Carolina in my mind

[Verse 2]
There ain’t no doubt in no one’s mind
That love’s the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
And hey, babe, the sky’s on fire, I’m dying, ain’t I?
I’m gone to Carolina in my mind

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
Dark and silent late last night
I think I might have heard the highway call
Geese in flight and dogs that bite
And signs that might be omens say I’m going, going
Gone to Carolina in my mind

[Bridge]
Now with a holy host of others standing ’round me, no no
Still I’m on the dark side of the moon
And it looks like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me
If I’m up and

[Chorus]

References:
1. Carolina in My Mind – Wikipedia