James Taylor - Carolina in my mind

First performance: 19/04/2014


Coverinfo

Bruce soundchecked the song only once :  
 
 
2014-04-19 Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC 
 
The soundcheck also includes James Taylor's "Carolina In My Mind". 
 
  
  

Songinfo

"Carolina in My Mind" is a song written and performed by singer-songwriter James Taylor, which first appeared on his 1968 self-titled debut album. Taylor wrote it while overseas recording for the Beatles' label Apple Records, and the song's themes reflect his homesickness at the time. Released as a single, the song earned critical praise but not commercial success. It was re-recorded for Taylor's 1976 Greatest Hits album in the version that is most familiar to listeners. It has been a staple of Taylor's concert performances over the decades of his career. "Carolina in My Mind" has been called an unofficial state anthem for North Carolina. It is also an unofficial song of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, being played at athletic events and pep rallies and sung by the graduating class at every university commencement. The association of the song with the state is also made in written works of both fiction and non-fiction. It has become one of Taylor's most critically praised songs and one that has great popularity and significance for his audience.
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

2006-02-06 - LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER, LA
 
intro to "Millworker"
 
"Thank you…thanks…I guess I’m not gonna be announced because I think I’m supposed to be a surprise or something ….but I personally, I personally am surprised, I thought this was gonna be a very small dinner and I was the only one playing….I tend to be a little on the reclusive side so it’s…but, uh, tonight is kind of filled with resonance, I’m glad to be here with James and, uh, also the first gig I ever had after I made an album was opening in Pennsylvania for Cheech and Chong so ….But I'm glad to be here tonight for James. James to me was always uh... for me he was always an authentic southern voice. And uh... I guess you, you grew up in Massachusetts but you lived– you were born in Carolina, am I right? (James Taylor signals Springsteen that it's the other way around) The other way around? Thank god, that makes sense for my story here because, uh, it was always something deeply southern in James' voice. One night we played New York and he sand, uh, he sang "The River" and it was just uh... he just did such a beautiful thing with it. And, uh, besides being an incredible songwriter and, and musician, he's also the star of my all-time favorite films, "Two-Lane Blacktops". Uh was that– that was that the only one? There was never another one? That was it? That's a cool one though. That was a good one to choose. If you haven't see "Two-Lane Blacktop", see "Two-Lane Blacktop". He's, he's fabulous, you know. Alright, this is "Millworker".
 
Bruce had 6 performances with James Taylor:
 
2016-12-14 Carnegie Hall, New York City
Bruce performs at the 27th Rainforest Fund Concert.  
 
 
 
2004-10-11 MCI Center, Washington
Finale of the Vote For Change concert series 

1995-04-12 Carnegie Hall, New York City
The sixth annual Rock for The Rainforest benefit for the Rainforest Foundation. With various artists. "The River" is a duet with James Taylor 

1990-01-17 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City
Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame all-star jam. 
 
1987-12-13 Madison Square Garden, New York City
All Star Benefit for the Homeless Children. Bruce backs Dion on "A Teenager In Love", along with Paul Simon, Rubén Blades, Lou Reed, James Taylor, and Billy Joel. "Born To Run" is the solo acoustic version. "Glory Days" is with Paul Simon and Billy Joel, backed by David Letterman's house band, The World's Most Dangerous Band. The Chuck Berry classic "Rock And Roll Music", which features all of the evening's performers, with Bruce, Billy Joel, James Taylor, and Paul Simon taking verses. The lineup for the night was Paul Simon, Paul Shaffer and The World's Most Dangerous Band, Lou Reed, Dion, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Laurie Anderson, Rubén Blades, James Taylor, Nile Rodgers with Chaka Khan, and Billy Joel; also joining in were Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Debbie Harry, Grace Jones, Chevy Chase, Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Cosby, Kevin Nealon, Lorne Michaels, and the baseball stars Don Mattingly and Ron Darling, who introduced Bruce. 

1978-03-17 Trax, New York City
Springsteen, along with James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther, Dickey Betts (of the Allman Brothers Band) and legendary promoter Bill Graham attend a performance by Warren Zevon at this tiny club then-located at 100 West 72nd Street. Zevon had just begun his Excitable Boy tour and this show (which didn't start until 3am and lasted for nearly two hours) may have been of an invitation-only or promotional nature. At some point during the show some of the under-noted musicians/celebrities took the stage as a troupe to perform the "werewolf howls" background vocals on "Werewolves Of London". Springsteen was definitely present but there are conflicting accounts if Bruce was part of the on-stage troupe or not. Springsteen also performed at another Zevon concert three months later on June 23). Warren Zevon / David Landau / Rick Marotta / Stanley Sheldon  / Waddy Wachtel / Dickey Betts (Guest) / Bill Graham (Guest) / Linda Ronstadt (Guest) / J.D. Souther (Guest) / Bruce Springsteen (Guest) / James Taylor (Guest) 
  

Lyrics

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
Karen she's a silver sun
You best walk her way and watch it shinin'
Watch her watch the mornin' come
A silver tear appearing now
I'm cryin' ain't I
Gone to Carolina in my mind
There ain't no doubt it no ones mind
That loves the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
And hey babe the sky's on fire,
I'm dyin' ain't I
Gone to Carolina in my mind
In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind
Dark and silent late last night
I think I might have heard the highway calling
Geese in flight and dogs that bite
Signs that might be omens say I going, going
I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
With a holy host of others standing around me
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon
And it seems like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me
If I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind
In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
Gone to Carolina in my mind
Then I'm on to Carolina in my mind
Gone to Carolina in my mind
Gone - I'm gone - I'm gone
Say nice things about me
'Cause I'm gone south
Carry on without me
'Cause I'm gone