It’s amazing how when things happen in your life, it changes your perspective on so many things. This song by James Taylor, it now has a new meaning for me. The myth about the song is that Suzanne was his girlfriend and she got killed in a plane crash going to one of his concerts. This is not true. Suzanne was a friend of his, (not his girlfriend, but a friend), that killed herself. The line “….the plans they made put an end to you” refers to the plans of fate. The rest of the song is about his own depression, his time in a psychiatric unit, and problems with drugs and worrying about his career. Since Kaitlyn’s death, certain lines of songs I never paid attention to hit me in a different way. The part about his friend committing suicide is what hit me.
Fire and Rain
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
James Taylor
My Bright Shining Star 
Dagny, I’ve always loved this song and I never knew the true story behind it. Thank you for sharing. The lyrics are incredibly moving.
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I listened to this song and cried for a bit this afternoon.
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I know Neal. Back years ago when this song came out, I just thought it was about a girl that left him. Then when Kaitlyn died I heard the song playing sometime afterward and the words hit me differently. Then I started investigating it and sure enough, it was about a girl who took her own life. A friend of his in real life.
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You’re welcome!
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