James Taylor 1977 'I've wasted a lot of time on drugs'

James Taylor and Carly Simon discuss his drug habit on Dick Cavett's show in 1977. After spending his early career addicted to heroin, James Taylor gave up all drugs in 1984, and has remained clean and sober.

[mfwriter]

The power of this interview is the realization that, despite James’ insights, he did not give up drugs for another seven long years.

[OzTerri]

She totally nailed it about one of the reasons for drug use. I just finished reading her book. A class act.

[jdmarr]

Later on in life, James Taylor, (clean), said that doing drugs was like living the same day over & over again for 18 years & never realizing that all that time had passed.

[Michelle-zzno]

So true Carly!! I absolutely used drugs in order to be more comfortable and outgoing! I met my first boyfriend at a dance hall. He was adorable and I never would have had the nerve to talk to him without using alcohol first. It started me down a dangerous path where I actually overdosed and was pronounced dead but God brought me back!

[SRBrown]

We were experimenting a lot. With sex, politics, drugs, jobs, life styles, intimacy, all of it. We made mistakes, we changed and grew, sometimes we found ourselves, sometimes we lost ourselves. We found each other and loved freely, not always well. Carly and James were two of our icons, their songs and so many others became themes in our lives, to dance to, to live by. The civil rights movement, women's liberation, ending the Vietnam War, sex and drugs and rock 'n roll. So much that was hopeful and joyful, so much that was painful and disillusioning. I am very very glad to have lived through it the way I did. And to have folks like James Taylor and Carly Simon entertain and lead the way was a blessing beyone measure.

[Barbara-ldug]

Thank you James and Carly for being so honest

[tsopuaifa]

I spent 22 years drinking and I'm glad and thankful that I left that shit behind.
Today will be a great day.

[strangerspodcast]

Carly is brilliant to word it that way. Drugs don't set you free, they limit you, your potential, and your ability to appreciate the beauty of human to human connections.

[joshuatrees]

Carly really described the problem with drugs. Her explanation made more sense to me than someone just saying "Don't do drugs".

[Sharsung]

What a beautiful, amazing sweetheart of a woman Carly is. She was my go to female voice of the 70s and beyond. Remember her photo on the cover of Hotcakes, when she was pregnant? Never seen such a glowingly lovely, happy mother to be. Bless her forever with everything she needs to be joyful.

[CamKnoppMusic]

I think what Carly Simon said about it being valuable to feel tense with your friends is important. One realization for me is that if you always have to be drinking when around a certain group of people and you can't enjoy yourself otherwise, then its likely that they aren't your real friends.

[MrChrissyr]

Carly Simon is an exceptional brilliant and lovely person, , , much underestimated, and not given the credence, love, and appreciation she

[ranbo]

So much time wasted in my teens and early 20s with drugs. I totally feel him on that. Looking back some people say oh I had the best time. I look back with regret That I could have used that time to better myself. Live and learn.

[dawnscott]

I never knew that James Taylor overcame drugs . His music has always been very special to me and had a way of calming me down if I was down . My first love recently died of a heroin overdose I kept telling him if he didn’t stop he was gonna die . He said that nothing felt better to him then the drugs . He ultimately lost his life in June . He has done them his whole life . The drugs took everything from him in the end . I’m so glad James Taylor didn’t let the drugs win .

[thewallstreetwizard]

I just stumbled across this interview -- These are two of my favorite artists/singers/songwriters of all time. The talent between the two of them! Incredible. I dont know why the marriage didnt work - but I'm glad that JT kicked his habit and is still with us in 2020!

[updownstate]

James, you were great onstage in 73 and you're great now. You, Carly and Dick are all spot on in this little snip of tape.

[SloMo]

May 25 th. will be 33 years of being clean. I totally agree with James Taylor! Drugs are total flipping garbage! Just lost a great friend to drugs the other day. He was a kind man who always helped other people! RIP BIG JOE!!

[sugarspun]

Yep that definitely rings true here. Apart from a few mushroom trips and weed for the first six months I smoked it, the 20 odd years I messed around with drugs were a total misuse of my time and life. Luckily I woke up and now enjoy life for real and actually remember my experiences.

[carterlink]

Love James Taylor and his work and always really respected the way he put all that stuff behind him and managed to move on and lead a clean life. I reckon that took a lot of strength. Mind and body.

[Mandrake]

What they're saying makes so much sense. Being afraid of intimacy with others or getting to know your real self can be frightening, but definitely not as frightening as being a drug addict. I'm including alcohol as a drug. Once that begins to be #1 in your day, every day, you're really in trouble. I never thought I'd be happy being sober, but I am. No longer living in fear. No longer dreading the morning sunlight. There is hope for everyone who seeks help and recovery.