Carolina In My Mind - James Taylor cover

Carolina In My Mind - James Taylor cover

James Taylor is a singer/songwriter who has earned 40 gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards for his songs and albums. He's a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriter's Hall of Fame, and has received Billboard magazine's Century Award for distinguished creative achievement.

In 1971, Time magazine featured him on its cover and called him the harbinger of the singer/songwriter era.

Some of his most well-known songs include "Fire and Rain," "Country Road," "Something In The Way She Moves," "Mexico," "Shower the People," "Walking Man," "Sweet Baby James," "Never Die Young," "Copperline," and of course, "Carolina In My Mind."
Life in Chapel Hill

Born in Boston in 1948, James Taylor came to Chapel Hill with his family when he was three years old. He began writing music in the mid 1960's while a student at a New England boarding school, far removed from his family and friends in Chapel Hill. He eventually graduated from Chapel Hill High School. Isaac Taylor, James' late father, was for a time Dean of the UNC-Chapel Hill medical school.
The James Taylor Bridge over Morgan Creek

The recently-dedicated James Taylor Bridge spans Morgan Creek, down a steep slope from the house on Morgan Creek Road in Chapel Hill where James grew up. The museum lobbied the state to name the bridge in Mr. Taylor's honor.

(Text below is excerpted from an article by David Perlmutt of the Charlotte Observer and life-long friend of James and the Taylor family. Thanks to Mr. Perlmutt for allowing us to reprint portions of his article here)

Morgan Creek, down a steep slope from the former 11-room Taylor home on Morgan Creek Road, was mostly wooded and overgrown when Taylor was a boy. It crawled with snakes and lizards and poison ivy, with few houses in sight atop the slopes above.

Years later, "the creek" - as it was simply known - inspired the hit song "Copperline," which Taylor wrote with Duke University professor and author Reynolds Price.

The refrain goes: "Half a mile down to Morgan Creek, Leaning heavy on the end of the week, Hercules (the family dog) and a hog-nosed snake, Down on Copperline, We were down on Copperline."

Before co-writing the song, Taylor visited his old home and found "spec houses" lining the hills that overlook the creek.

As the song continues: "I tried to go back, as if I could, All spec houses and plywood, Tore up and tore up good, Down on Copperline."
Chapel Hill Influences

Many of Taylor's confessional songs provide glimpses of his abundant boyhood surroundings. In a 2000 interview with The Charlotte Observer, he attributed much of his creative energy to those surroundings.

"What I remember most about Chapel Hill is the landscape," he said shortly before his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "I tell my kids that we were pre-TV and there was a lot of empty time there, slow weekends when you just walked into the woods and found whatever you could to kill time.

"There was this long, uninterrupted time to let your imagination grow. I believe that was an important part of whatever creative life I've had."

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[Schutzstaffel2015]

Nice job!but lose the tye dye ect !i lived thru that garbage ,it was the ruin of our great country.but keep rocking!

[strat2caster]

@Schutzstaffel2015

thanks for the compliment.

i must disagree about the tie dye tho

you can thank the Hippie culture for ending the VietNam war.

through protests and community activism they created awareness of the masses which led to political presssure that forced the hands of our leaders to stop the war, no small feat.

[101minicoop]

I must have been in the sixtees in another life.... hippies do rule! Love it. Have you done any Townes Van Zandt?

[strat2caster]

@101minicoop

thanks very much, i think so too!

actually do have a Townes tune posted on my channel, Poncho and Lefty

[trublgrl]

Man, this is a great video! So well payed! Can you tell us about your guitar? It has bottom like a Takamine, but brightness like an Ovation, it sounds SO GOOD!

[strat2caster]

@trublgrl

thanks! its a Taylor 414ce. its made with a sapele top and ovangkol back and sides which give it the great tone. ebony fretboard and saddle.

[GenaralHartman]

respeckt! °°°°°

[asf6720]

Actually, the counter-culture revolution did nothing historically to end the Vietnam war. Take it from a history teacher.

[Rattles1993]

@strat2caster couldnt agree with you more and the tie die is awesome dnt listen to the guys saying tht its garbage since its the hippies that made the 60's great peace love and kindness keep the 60's alive man

[131Jayboy]

Ummm, say um less

[musclekid13]

@Schutzstaffel2015 damn hahaha

[yescandles]

@strat2caster Yes we did! (And I am proud of it)

[patrikklingborg]

nice! tnx man!

[Sameu37]

Wonderful cover. Your voice is beautiful and your guitar sounds amazing. Go tye-dye!! :) I loveee everything about this video!

[BieberDeathSquad666]

Good cover

[MeganDeVasure]

Right on man!

[plentifulceaser]

Wow... When i first saw the hippie i was like wtf... Now i respect this man.. Great job