Copperline
James Taylor · New Moon Shine [1991]
Why they call it like they do
I was wonderin since the age of two
Down on Copperline
Copper head, copper beech
Copper kettles sitting side by each
Copper coil, cup o'Georgia peach
Down on Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
Leanin heavy on the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline
We were down on Copperline
One Summer night on the Copperline
Slip away past supper time
Wood smoke and moonshine
Down on Copperline
One time I saw my daddy dance
Watched him moving like a man in a trance
He brought it back from the war in France
Down onto Copperline
Branch water and tomato wine
Creosote and turpentine
Sour mash and new moon shine
Down on Copperline
Down on Copperline
First kiss, ever I took
Like a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook
Down on Copperline
Down on Copperline, yeah
Took a fall from a windy height
I only knew how to hold on tight
And pray for love enough to last all night
Down on Copperline
Day breaks and the boy wakes up
And the dog barks and the birds sings
And the sap rises and the angels sigh, yeah
I tried to go back, as if I could
All spec house and plywood
Tore up, tore up good
Down on Copperline
It doesn't come as a surprise to me
It doesn't touch my memory
Man I'm lifting up and rising free
Down over Copperline
Half a mile down to Morgan Creek
I'm only living for the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake
Down on Copperline, yeah
Take me down on Copperline
Ohhh, down on Copperline
Take me down on Copperline
About Copperline
James Taylor's "Copperline" serves as a standout track on her 1991 album *New Moon Shine*, reflecting her enduring commitment to acoustic storytelling and melodic simplicity. Released during a period where Taylor revisited her signature folk-pop style, the song exemplifies her ability to craft intimate narratives through minimal instrumentation. As part of her extensive discography spanning several decades, this recording maintains the lyrical clarity and emotional resonance that defined her earlier work, such as the classic "Daddy's Baby" and "The Highway Song." The track continues to resonate with listeners who appreciate her nuanced vocal delivery and the timeless quality of her songwriting, cementing her status as a pivotal figure in the folk revival era.