Songful Style: Sweet Baby James

Welcome to the March edition of Songful Style! Hosted by myself, Shelbee (Shelbee on the Edge), Marsha (Marsha in the Middle) and Michelle (Funky Fashion Style), Songful Style is a collaboration featuring outfits inspired by songs. We’re also inviting anyone who would like to join us, to post their own outfits in the link-up below. It doesn’t matter from what angle the song inspires the outfit, it can be from the lyrics, the title, the tune itself, the album cover, music video, etc. Last month our song was Love at First Sight by Kylie Minogue and was chosen by me. This month, our Songful Style song was chosen by Shelbee and is Sweet Baby James by James Taylor.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned it before on the blog, but my favourite genre of music is country. My love for it started in my teens when we first had satellite television installed and I discovered CMT (Country Music Television). I’m not sure if it still exists or not, but wow did I love that channel lol. Not that I had much chance to watch it, because none of my family members liked it, which drove me mad because I just couldn’t understand why not. I mean…it’s the most beautiful music ever! Michael (who I had met on my 16th birthday) didn’t like it either! It wasn’t until many years later that he finally realised what he’d been missing, and he now counts country music as one of his favourites too.

I have one long country music playlist on Spotify that makes me so happy whenever I listen to it. So when Shelbee chose a country song, Sweet Baby James, for this month’s Songful Style challenge, I was delighted to be able to add another song to my playlist! I was quite surprised that I hadn’t heard Sweet Baby James before but it certainly is a beautiful song. Here it is on YouTube. See below for lyrics.

But, on to the style challenge. How did I go about choosing an outfit based on Sweet Baby James? Well…that was easy. I had a read of Shelbee’s post last week, where she went into some detail about the song, the singer and the various covers, etc and I settled on James Taylor’s simple outfit from his 1970s album cover and immediately knew I would re-create it my way…

I decided to wear a pair of brown trousers with my old blue denim shirt—basically re-creating Taylor’s look. Initially I put on a pair of tan ankle boots but decided I wanted the look to be more ‘me’, so I changed the boots for a pair of white Skechers instead. To make the look pop a little more, I simply added some jewellery that has a western-vibe to it, some blue rings, a choker and a blue bracelet. I finished off the look with a tan fringed handbag.

We then went for a walk in the nearby town of Lagos with Luna, but I was absolutely boiling! I think I need to put those trousers away until next winter lol. Fortunately I had a white vest (tank) on beneath the shirt, so I was able cool down a little bit. I’m glad I didn’t wear the boots! But the second I got home, I changed into jeans and a t-shirt. Phew.

As for the outfit, I really like this look and will re-create again, for sure. How would you interpret the Songful Style challenge for Sweet Baby James? And if you have taken part in this month’s challenge, please add your posts to the link-up below. And don’t forget to check out Shelbee’s, Marsha’s and Michelle’s outfits! Oh…I almost forgot to tell you next month’s song!!! I’m so excited for that, it’s going to be such fun! It’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper and it was chosen by Marsha.

Sweet Baby James by James Taylor Lyrics

There is a young cowboy, he lives on the range
His horse and his cattle are his only companions
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons
Waiting for summer, his pastures to change

And as the moon rises, he sits by his fire
Thinking about women and glasses of beer
And closing his eyes as the dogies retire
He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
As if maybe someone could hear

Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rockabye, sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams?
And rockabye sweet baby James

Now the first of December was covered with snow
So was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Now the Berkshires seemed dreamlike
On account of that frosting
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go

There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it, if it helps you to sleep
But singing works just fine for me

So goodnight all you moonlight ladies
Rockabye, sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams?
And rockabye, sweet baby James