Up Er Mei by James Taylor - Lyrics and Translation

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Up Er Mei

James Taylor

Up Er Mei

Song byJames Taylor

in AlbumHour Glass

Notes:

JT on Sony.com: Er Mei is a mountain in China (Sechuan province). Before the cultural revolution there were maybe 100 Buddhist shrines, temples, etc. on the way to the summit which usually pokes through the clouds like an island in the sea.

Sally and I went there to meet Ben in '93 (he was traveling out of Tibet). It took three days to climb the many miles of stone steps carved centuries ago into the living rock of the mountain. At the time, I might as well have been on the Stairmaster at Jack LaLane on Broadway and 76th.

We were walking in paradise

Never did notice

Blind in the Buddha land

Looking for solace

We had been told of a place

Far beyond this vale of tears

We could never have guessed

We were already blessed

There we were, where we are

In the garden

Didn't we climb on up er mei

Temple to temple

Yes and all and all along the way

The day was simple

Didn't we reach the top

Didn't we gain our goal

Did we finally stop

Surprised by the cold

We were walking in paradise

Never did tumble

Blind in the Buddha land

Looking for trouble

We had been told of a place

Far beyond this vale of tears

We could never have guessed

We were already blessed

There we were, where we are

In the garden

LanguageEnglish

Translated byAllen Morningstar

About this Song

Up Er Mei by James Taylor is a soulful song that explores themes of nostalgia, loss, and the passage of time. Taylor reminisces about past experiences and places, conveying a sense of longing for simpler times. Key themes include memory, reflection, and the bittersweet nature of aging. Poignant moments in the song are found in Taylor's evocative descriptions of landscapes and moments that have slipped away, capturing a universal feeling of yearning for days gone by.