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The Real Story Behind James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”

By Larry Philpot on April 19, 2025

James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” released in 1970, is a deeply personal song reflecting three traumatic events in his life. Written in 1968, it captures his struggles with addiction, loss, and mental health. The song’s three verses each address a specific experience:

The Loss of Suzanne Schnerr: The first verse (“Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone…”) mourns the suicide of Suzanne Schnerr, a childhood friend from New York City. Taylor learned of her death while recording his debut album in London in 1968, but his friends delayed telling him to protect his focus. The news devastated him, and “Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you” reflects her struggle with depression and the failure of others’ attempts to help her.
Struggles with Heroin Addiction: The second verse (“Won’t you look down upon me, Jesus…”) details Taylor’s battle with heroin addiction, which began in his teens and worsened during his time in New York and London. The “flying machines in pieces on the ground” symbolizes his failed attempts to stay clean and the collapse of his early band, The Flying Machine. This verse expresses his desperation and plea for strength to overcome addiction.
Mental Health and Institutionalization: The third verse (“Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground”) refers to Taylor’s time at McLean Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Massachusetts, where he sought treatment for depression and addiction in 1968. The “lonely times when I could not find a friend” reflect his isolation, though he found solace in writing the song.

The refrain, “I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain,” symbolizes the extremes of his experiences—intense highs and devastating lows, from drug-fueled moments to grief and despair. Contrary to popular myths, the song is not about a plane crash (despite the “flying machines” imagery) or the death of a girlfriend. Taylor has clarified in interviews, such as one with Billboard in 2015, that the song is a raw account of these personal losses and struggles, written during a low point in his life.

File Photo: James Taylor performs in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 11, 2024. (Copyright 2024 Larry Philpot,/ Soundstage Photography.com)

The song’s emotional depth resonated widely, becoming a hit and cementing Taylor’s reputation as a confessional songwriter. Its recording at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, with contributions from Carole King on piano and a sparse arrangement, amplified its raw intimacy. Taylor would collaborate with Carole King throughout the next 50 years, more on that in a later post.