Fort Worth Songwriters Association: Membership Profiles

James Michael Taylor

Music Clip
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
1974

I started picking on a banjo in 1958
The Kingston Trio had sung Tom Dooley and I thought they were great
So I lay aside my violin, my piano lessons too
And BELIEVE IT OR NOT, way back then I started learning how to pick for you

My mama didn't like it. She said it was too loud
She said if I would sing like Burl Ives she would be proud
So, I got myself a guitar. A Guild, just like Joan Baez
Singing at those Hootenanny. Those were the days

I sang with the Coachmen and the Sons of Thunder, just to name you two
Of course, you never heard of us. But then, we never heard of you
Then I got the word that was in the wind. My understanding grew
And BELIEVE IT OR NOT, it was way back then I began to think about you

Then somebody said, "Why don't you sing like yourself. I really think you can."
It had not occurred to me. I really thank the man
I had my own voice, my own thoughts, sure as one and one is two
And BELIEVE IT OR NOT, way back then I started being myself for you

I started throwing in a song or two. My words. My own voice.
But the way the world was coming down, I really had no choice
I'd think a thought. I'd write it down. Add a chord or two
And BELIEVE IT OR NOT, it was way back then, I started reaching out for you

Well, the more I wrote, the more I realized I had to quit
Singing say, a Dylan song. He was written all over it
Now there's Lyle Lovett and Timbuk III, just to name you two
And BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I'm still reaching out. Reaching out for you

There's a lot of things I really dig, that I could not write
There's a lot of different ways, you know, to make it thru the night
I got my way. You got yours. Just to name you two.
And BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I get a kick out of trying to explain it all to you
(C)1990 ROYAL T MUSIC

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- James Michael Taylor