James Taylor — Copperline
Album: New Moon ShineAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 546
Length: 4:10
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Even the old folks never knew
Why they call it like they do
I was wonderin' since the age of two
Down on Copperline
Copperhead, copper beech
Copper kettles sitting side by each
Copper coil, cup o' Georgia peach
Down on Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
Leanin' heavy on the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline
We were down on Copperline
One summer night on the Copperline
Slip away past supper time
Wood smoke and moonshine
Down on Copperline
One time I saw my daddy dance
Watched him moving like a man in a trance
He brought it back from the war in France
Down onto Copperline
Branch water and tomato wine
Creosote and turpentine
Sour mash and new moon shine
Down on Copperline, down on Copperline
First kiss, ever I took
Like a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook
Down on Copperline, down on Copperline, yeah
Took a fall from a windy height
I only knew how to hold on tight
And pray for love enough to last all night
Down on Copperline
Day breaks and the boy wakes up
And the dog barks and the birds sings
And the sap rises and the angels sigh, yeah
I tried to go back as if I could
All spec house and plywood
Tore up, tore up good
Down on Copperline
It doesn't come as a surprise to me
It doesn't touch my memory
Man, I'm lifting up and rising free
Down over Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
I'm only living for the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline, yeah
Take me down on Copperline
Ohhh, down on Copperline
Take me down on Copperline
Why they call it like they do
I was wonderin' since the age of two
Down on Copperline
Copperhead, copper beech
Copper kettles sitting side by each
Copper coil, cup o' Georgia peach
Down on Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
Leanin' heavy on the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline
We were down on Copperline
One summer night on the Copperline
Slip away past supper time
Wood smoke and moonshine
Down on Copperline
One time I saw my daddy dance
Watched him moving like a man in a trance
He brought it back from the war in France
Down onto Copperline
Branch water and tomato wine
Creosote and turpentine
Sour mash and new moon shine
Down on Copperline, down on Copperline
First kiss, ever I took
Like a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook
Down on Copperline, down on Copperline, yeah
Took a fall from a windy height
I only knew how to hold on tight
And pray for love enough to last all night
Down on Copperline
Day breaks and the boy wakes up
And the dog barks and the birds sings
And the sap rises and the angels sigh, yeah
I tried to go back as if I could
All spec house and plywood
Tore up, tore up good
Down on Copperline
It doesn't come as a surprise to me
It doesn't touch my memory
Man, I'm lifting up and rising free
Down over Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
I'm only living for the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline, yeah
Take me down on Copperline
Ohhh, down on Copperline
Take me down on Copperline
Comments (56)add comment
There's some quality about James Taylor's voice that makes me smile every time I hear him singing.
NEVER EVER get tired of the voice of Sweet Baby James! What a hole in music history there would have been had he not Mud Slide Slimmed along!
I think Steve Earle's Copperhead Row is a lot more edgy.
James's take is a bit too smooth for my tastes IMHO
James's take is a bit too smooth for my tastes IMHO
ahhhh, there's a melodic voice that I miss and Love so!
I never realized he was singing about Chapel Hill, NC in this tune. "Copperline" is a name for the area he grew up in, and Morgan Creek runs through that area. Looks like Reynolds Price co-wrote this song with him.
"Hercules and a hog-nosed snake." Our Carolina brothers when we were all young and strong and stupid and fearless and reckless. Mostly drunk. What a beautiful JT song. Never heard it until just now. The RP King/Queen sure do abide.
Never really cared much for JT. Not quite sure why. But I must admit this song flowed very nicely after Pink Floyd's "A Pillow of Winds".
I hadn't listened to James for awhile when this came out, bought it based on good reviews and didn't regret it. Good song off of a good album.
JT's sound seems so, I don't know, 'easy', but his life story is anything but. Some don't survive that stuff.
('easy' is not meant derogatorily. His music just flows somehow. Instantly recognizable, and kind of soothing.)
c.
('easy' is not meant derogatorily. His music just flows somehow. Instantly recognizable, and kind of soothing.)
c.
Bittersweet song,,,that evokes so many memories from when it came out. Boston's Children's Hospital,,,P6 ,,,,Long Live Austen
STILL 
sounds good to a New England girl!!!STLBubbles wrote:
Makes a New England girl feel great...
sounds good to a New England girl!!!STLBubbles wrote:Makes a New England girl feel great... CawCat wrote:
Hit the website link at the top and all will be revealed..
Is he still living?
Hit the website link at the top and all will be revealed..
NewdayDawning wrote:
JT's voice is so instantly identifiable - which some people might think is not a good thing, but they're just wrong ;-) I faintly heard this track playing on RP from the other end of the house - I had to break off what I was doing and simply sit and listen.
His music was the romantic background to my student years (1970s) and has drifted in and out of my life, at the right moments, ever since. A highlight was seeing him play at the Hammersmith Apollo (London, for those who may not know where Hammersmith is) - beautiful voice, beautiful music, and a beautifully relaxed, low-key and amusing presentation style in between the songs.....one of the world's great, class acts, seemingly without effort.
His music was the romantic background to my student years (1970s) and has drifted in and out of my life, at the right moments, ever since. A highlight was seeing him play at the Hammersmith Apollo (London, for those who may not know where Hammersmith is) - beautiful voice, beautiful music, and a beautifully relaxed, low-key and amusing presentation style in between the songs.....one of the world's great, class acts, seemingly without effort.
JT's voice is so instantly identifiable - which some people might think is not a good thing, but they're just wrong ;-) I faintly heard this track playing on RP from the other end of the house - I had to break off what I was doing and simply sit and listen.
His music was the romantic background to my student years (1970s) and has drifted in and out of my life, at the right moments, ever since. A highlight was seeing him play at the Hammersmith Apollo (London, for those who may not know where Hammersmith is) - beautiful voice, beautiful music, and a beautifully relaxed, low-key and amusing presentation style in between the songs.....one of the world's great, class acts, seemingly without effort.
His music was the romantic background to my student years (1970s) and has drifted in and out of my life, at the right moments, ever since. A highlight was seeing him play at the Hammersmith Apollo (London, for those who may not know where Hammersmith is) - beautiful voice, beautiful music, and a beautifully relaxed, low-key and amusing presentation style in between the songs.....one of the world's great, class acts, seemingly without effort.
Huge fan when Sweet Baby James (a sometimes-brilliant album) was released, but then not at all again until I saw a good friend of mine perform a long set of Taylor's music live at a cafe. Since then, I have been enjoying Taylor's music again — until this song this morning. Sorry, but this is really not doing it for me.
Bill, perhaps I am missing other plays of JT... all I ever hear is Copperline. While it is a great tune, so many more every bit as good if not better. I'm sure you knew that, but had to say something. Several on "In the Pocket.
dpvest wrote:
well put & I so agree
I've always been a fan. early work w/ apple, 70's when he hit it big w/ his greatest hits LP, going into the 80's & his split w/ carly (dad loves his work), and the 90's w/ copperline. I really appreciated october road too. w/ james you always know what your going to get. nothing ground breaking. just that same old warm soothing baritone vocals and his ever present acoustic guitar. and his pitch is always perfect. when he tours he is accompanied by a tight band (w/ backup singers capable of great live hamonies). I learned to play guitar w/ his music sheets. I think it's safe to say that james taylor has made my life better.
well put & I so agree
funkyalfonso wrote:
Bravo.
couldn't agree more
Bravo.
couldn't agree more
dpvest wrote:
Bravo.
I've always been a fan. early work w/ apple, 70's when he hit it big w/ his greatest hits LP, going into the 80's & his split w/ carly (dad loves his work), and the 90's w/ copperline. I really appreciated october road too. w/ james you always know what your going to get. nothing ground breaking. just that same old warm soothing baritone vocals and his ever present acoustic guitar. and his pitch is always perfect. when he tours he is accompanied by a tight band (w/ backup singers capable of great live hamonies). I learned to play guitar w/ his music sheets. I think it's safe to say that james taylor has made my life better.
Bravo.
Amazing voice.
Makes a New England girl feel great...First kiss, ever I took
Like a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook...
Yup.
Like a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook...
Yup.
Derecho wrote:
Off the top of my head I can think of at least one: "Dude Looks Like A Lady" by Aerosmith.
Does any other song include its title in its lyrics more often than this one?
Off the top of my head I can think of at least one: "Dude Looks Like A Lady" by Aerosmith.
Ick, vomitrocious. My gawd, I thought I was free of JT way back in the '80's. Nearly forty years later, this sunken log has worked itself back up to the surface. RP, please, please, please bury this...again.
Does any other song include its title in its lyrics more often than this one?
Mr. Taylor...smooth to the bone !
I've always been a fan. early work w/ apple, 70's when he hit it big w/ his greatest hits LP, going into the 80's & his split w/ carly (dad loves his work), and the 90's w/ copperline. I really appreciated october road too. w/ james you always know what your going to get. nothing ground breaking. just that same old warm soothing baritone vocals and his ever present acoustic guitar. and his pitch is always perfect. when he tours he is accompanied by a tight band (w/ backup singers capable of great live hamonies). I learned to play guitar w/ his music sheets. I think it's safe to say that james taylor has made my life better.
JT > 1985 = Rating < 5
I hated this guy for years. Too soft rock AOR for me. This tune changed it for me.
Great song from a great album. When I think of a lifetime of listening to James Taylor, and all of the great pieces to choose from, I find it surprising, but true, but this is the track that I instinctively go to when I want to hear just one.
Great god in heaven how much do I love James Taylor!
neuticle wrote:
It's a tough call. Who do I like the least? Neuticle or Stingray...can't decide.
It's a tough call. Who do I like the least? Steely Dan or James Taylor..can't decide.
It's a tough call. Who do I like the least? Neuticle or Stingray...can't decide.
michaelgmitchell wrote:
This is such a perfect comment. Thanks. I'll just repeat it.
Couldn't repeat it better myself! More JT, please!
This is such a perfect comment. Thanks. I'll just repeat it.
Couldn't repeat it better myself! More JT, please!
neuticle wrote: Or yourself...just saying
It's a tough call. Who do I like the least? Steely Dan or James Taylor..can't decide.
THE FIRST TIME I've heard JT on RP!!!!!!!!!!! Thx Wm.
mellyp wrote:
This is such a perfect comment. Thanks. I'll just repeat it.
Thank you for playing this - hearing a JT song that doesn't get regular radio play ... it's like running into an old friend I haven't seen in awhile.
This is such a perfect comment. Thanks. I'll just repeat it.
lshinkawa wrote:
agreed!
This is a good one. Thank you for playing this.
agreed!
This is a good one. Thank you for playing this.
It's a tough call. Who do I like the least? Steely Dan or James Taylor..can't decide.
Love this...
thank you for playing this - hearing a JT song that doesn't get regular radio play...it's like running into an old friend i haven't seen in awhile.
Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!
bsemion wrote:
And mine is of my dear departed brother——when we first heard JT sing this song at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
Memories of a long-ago love in Michigan's Pine Knob, on the Hill.
And mine is of my dear departed brother——when we first heard JT sing this song at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
Memories of a long-ago love in Michigan's Pine Knob, on the Hill.
Amazing segue from the Energy 52 tune — lovely. And this tune is a solid "9". Saw him from the front row in a small venue in Texas and I realized how much I've taken him for granted as an artist all these years. He's actually not simply a solid and talented performer; he brings a really human element to his songs. And he knows how to play that guitar in a way that makes you kind of gently swoon...
CawCat wrote:
Yes he is. Something like 40 years clean now.
Is he still living?
Yes he is. Something like 40 years clean now.
NeuroGeek wrote:
I was thinking the same thing.
I think this may be the first JT tune I've heard on RP- which is absolutely beyond my comprehension, given some of the other classic (and newer) folkish artists in constant and heavy (over-) rotation. More JT, please.
I was thinking the same thing.
My favorite song by J.T., and the only one I own.
Hell ya! CawCat wrote:
Is he still living?
Is he still living?
Wow. That was really nice.
I think this may be the first JT tune I've heard on RP- which is absolutely beyond my comprehension, given some of the other classic (and newer) folkish artists in constant and heavy (over-) rotation. More JT, please.
Haven't heard this in forever. great song