Artist: James Taylor Album: Sweat Baby James Song: Fire and Rain Year: 1971 Top Chart Position: unknown

Just yesterday mornin' they let me know you were gone Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you I walked out this mornin' and I wrote down this song I just can't remember who to send it to Refrain: 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 Won't you look down upon me Jesus, you've gotta help me make a stand You just got to see me through another day My body's aching and my time is at hand I won't make it any other way. Repeat Refrain I've been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned toward the sun Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around Well there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground Repeat Refrain

This song is based on some bad times in James Taylor’s life. The first verse refers to a friend of his, named Suzanne, who he met when he was in drug rehab. She later committed suicide right before she was to be released. The second verse is about James Taylor trying to get out of the New York City drug scene, and asking Jesus for help. The third verse in the song refers to Taylor leaving New York to escape his heroin addiction. An interesting footnote to this song is that the line "Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground" does not refer to any type of plane crash, which is a common interpretation. Rather, it refers to Taylor’s first band, The Flying Machine, which broke up after being together slightly longer than a year.