Have you heard James Taylor’s Fire and Rain?
Of course you have. Everyone has.
The first verse is about the suicide of his friend Suzanne Schnerr.
The second verse is about him kicking his heroin addiction, and the third verse is about the end of his band, “James Taylor and the Flying Machine.” The line isn’t about an airplane crash.
There is much pain and suffering in the song, which makes it easy for people to connect with.
We all have loses and regrets.
Imagine singing night after night about some of the deepest pain you’ve ever experienced.
I wonder how he does it. Did the pains heal to scars and the scars grow so thick that he can share the experiences, without feeling the hurt of them?
Recovery programs are effective because they allow people the space to give voice to their pains and hurts. By recognizing and talking out loud about pain and sadness, we release the power of the hurtful hold they have over us.
Perhaps James Taylor reinforces his recovery and releases his pain every night, on stage in the spotlight.
“Even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and strength for the journey that still lies ahead.” – Frederick Buechner
None of us ever gets over pain, we simply get through it, and move forward.
Everyone has seen fire and rain. Everyone carries some sort of pain.
“Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart
until, in our own despair, against our will,
comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.” — Aeschylus
Fire and Rain
by James Taylor
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
[Chorus]
Oh, 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 3]
Been walking my mind to an easy time, my back turned towards 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
[Chorus]
Oh, 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 baby, one more time again, now
[Outro]
Thought I’d see you one more time again
There’s just a few things coming my way this time around, now
Thought I’d see you, thought I’d see you, fire and rain, now.
