Carly Simon details how James Taylor divorce affected family, says kids had to ‘drown out all the noise’

The musicians were married from 1972 until 1983.

Key Points

Carly Simon gives rare insight into her divorce from James Taylor on her new album Comes in Waves.

“I can see you at 7, a child of divorce / How can it be that we gave you no choice? / It was your job and Ben’s to drown out all the noise,” she sings on the track “Mother of Pearl.”

Comes in Waves is available to stream.

Carly Simon is giving fans insight to a turbulent time with James Taylor.

The fifth track from Simon’s latest album Comes in Waves takes a personal turn, where she directly addresses her and Taylor’s daughter and gives fans a glimpse into their family life amid their divorce in the early ’80s. The musicians share daughter Sarah “Sally” Maria and son Ben.

“Sally, oh, Sarah, another song with your name,” Simon croons in the song’s opening. “You’ve gone around the roses, a mustang became / A boat in the harbor that’s called Sally Mae / And oh girl, my girl, to me you’re my goddess, you’re my mother of pearl.”

Carly Simon with daughter Sally and son Ben on Martha’s Vineyard in July 1987

Later in “Mother of Pearl,” Simon gets more specific, singing, “I can see you at 7, a child of divorce / How can it be that we gave you no choice? / It was your job and Ben’s to drown out all the noise.”

Entertainment Weekly contacted reps for James Taylor and did not receive an immediate response.

Per Rolling Stone, the former couple met in 1971 at one of Simon’s concerts.They wed in 1972 in Manhattan and divorced 11 years later amid Taylor suffering from substance abuse and infidelities on both sides.

Throughout their marriage, Simon sang backup vocals for several of Taylor’s songs including the 1978 track “Devoted to You” and an acoustic version of Taylor’s “You Can Close Your Eyes.”

She told PEOPLE in 2015 that she and Taylor don’t speak, but said, “I still want to heal him, I still want to make him all right,” adding, “And I love him so much.”

Simon continued, “My incredible loyalty to him, in spite of the fact that he has treated me without any regard, has been so painful to me for so long.”

She concluded, “But, through the course of writing the book [her memoir Boys in the Trees], I really started to understand that I could love and not be loved. And that was the big realization for me, that it doesn’t have to be a two-way street.”

Comes in Waves is Simon’s first album in 18 years, last releasing This Kind of Love in 2008.

The 12-track record was recorded with her children. “I’ve been living with these songs for a long time. Most of them were written and recorded here on Martha’s Vineyard, surrounded by the water, the weather, family, memories, and all the things that have a way of finding their way into a song,” she wrote on Instagram on Friday.

“The title comes from a line in ‘Slowly,’ but also from something I’ve come to understand: feelings come in waves. Love does. Memory does. Grief, forgiveness, longing, joy,” she added. “They arrive, they retreat, and sometimes they come back when you least expect them.”

Where Do Carly Simon and James Taylor Stand Now?

It’s been over 40 years since the marriage between singer-songwriters Carly Simon and James Taylor came to an end, but fans and the internet are newly abuzz about them. Following the release of Simon’s 24th studio album and her first since 2008, Comes in Waves, everyone is wondering whether she is finally sharing some insight into their marriage and eventual divorce.

Simon and Taylor first met on April 6, 1971, backstage at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, where Simon had just played a show and Taylor was about to open for Cat Stevens. It wasn’t until the fall of that year that the two reconnected, began dating seriously and moved in together. A little over a year later on November 3, 1972, the couple married in Simon’s New York City apartment and they stayed together for 11 years until their 1983 divorce.

Now, with the release of Simon’s new album, fans are pulling details of what they believe are about the couple’s marriage, wondering where they stand today. Learn more about the song causing a public stir and what kind of relationship they have now.

This song has fans in a frenzy

The 12-track album, Comes in Waves, features one song in particular that has piqued the interest of fans everywhere. Titled “Maybe I Never Loved You,” the song’s lyrics suggest that Simon’s unsure whether she loved Taylor and vice versa. Although Simon was married twice and could have been singing about either of them, another lyric mentions that they had children, which she only did with Taylor.

The particular lyrics of the song sparking a reaction are:

“Maybe I never loved you / But anyway, I thought I did / I married you, we had a kid / That counts for something / Maybe I never loved you / Yes, and maybe I did / And maybe you never loved me / Although God knows, you said you did.”

Many of the lyrics are a question as to whether the former couple truly loved each other, while also pointing out specific moments they supported each other. However, the final line is a feeling that many feel after the end of a relationship, especially one this publicized and talked about. It says, “Maybe I never loved you / Maybe I always will.”

Where do Simon and Taylor stand today?

Despite their marriage coming to an end in 1983, nearly 43 years ago, their relationship is often a subject of discussion. During their 11-year union, Simon and Taylor welcomed two children together: daughter Sally in 1974 and son Ben in 1977. Both went on to follow in their parents footsteps, releasing music of their own. However, having children together didn’t mean Simon and Taylor maintained a close bond.

Simon largely raised Sally and Ben on her own, though Taylor is close with his children. The two artists have not spoken or visited each other in decades and they are currently estranged. But their lack of a personal relationship doesn’t mean Simon avoids their time together altogether. Simon has frequently talked about their time together in interviews, memoirs and, of course, her music. Taylor, on the other hand, is famously tight-lipped about their relationship.

While fans may not see a reconciliation in real life or even a friendship between the two, they can always turn to Simon’s music for some insight, including her newly released album.

Post Views: 9

Step into a world dedicated entirely to man's best friend - dogs. Our website is a treasure trove of heartwarming news, touching stories, and inspiring narratives centered around these incredible creatures.
We invite you to join us in spreading the joy. Share our posts, stories, and articles with your friends, extending the warmth and inspiration to every corner.With a simple click, you can be part of this movement.