Can someone explain the chorus of "Carolina in my Mind" by James Taylor?

[henslee]

What exactly does he mean by "just like a friend of mine, it hit me from behind?

(here's the chorus)

In my mind I’m goin’ to carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine
Can’t you just feel the moonshine
Maybe just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I’m goin’ to carolina in my mind

[November 2004]

1. Only James Taylor can explain, but my take

is that all those wonderful surprising things in the Carolina in his mind are being compared to a sudden appearance of a friend; or the wonderful surprise of a friend coming upon him being like daydreaming about his beloved Carolina.

:shrug:

[ET Awful]

2. the two phrases are separate thoughts. . .

The just like a friend of mine portion belongs with the thought stream of the previous three lines, saying he's so familiar with all those things that they are like friends of his. . .

The hit me from behind is describing how he was taken by surprise by how much he missed those things.

Also, I believe the correct wording is "Ain't it just like a friend of mine?"

[mmm]

3. maybe his friends smash him in the head

from behind with a big ax, just like Carolina!
Maybe it rhymed and he was too lazy to think of
good lyrics.

[leftofthedial]

7. "too lazy to think of good lyrics"

James Taylor?

sheesh.

[henslee]

4. Ahhhh, thanks for the feedback... kwanza love tot all.....

[demnan]

5. From what I remember

James Taylor lost a girlfriend to suicide right before his career got started. I think life hit his girlfriend from behind.

but my memory could be faulty.

[November 2004]

6. Yes. That is exactly what his song,

Fire and Rain, was about.

[Deesh]

8. James Taylor

Henslee -- the album with the original recording of "Carolina In My Mind" is on Apple Records. Paul McCartney is playing bass on that cut. JT has newer recordings of it, but I love the original.

It was the first LP I ever bought! I played it to death. I couldn't exactly understand the lyrics in the chorus either, but the people who've responded to you so far just totally get it right, I think.

Except the suggestion about the axe!

It was nice to know somebody else out there likes that song.

[11 Bravo]

9. I believe he sings

And ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind.