Er zijn veel gitaristen fan van James Taylor om zijn weergaloze gitaarspel. Veel songwriters prijzen hem om zijn prachtige liederen en veel zangers en zangeressen om zijn prachtige stem die je raakt.

Tijdens een Tribute To James Taylor in November 2006 traden ondermeer op Alison Krauss, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, David Crosby, The Dixie Chicks, Dr John, Jackson Browne,  Sheryl Crow, Sting en Taj Mahal. Maar de mooiste cover werd gezongen door India Arie met haar versie van Secret O’ Life. Zij is een groot fan van de meester.

Secret O’ Life
The secret of life
is enjoying the passage of time.
Any fool can do it.  
There ain’t nothing to it.
Nobody knows how we got to
the top of the hill.
But since we’re on our way down.  
We might as well enjoy the ride.

The secret of love
is in opening up your heart.
It’s okay to feel afraid.  
But don’t let it stand in your way.
Everyone knows
that love is the only way.
And since we’re only here for a while,
we might as well show some style.
Give us a smile.

Isn’t it a lovely ride.
Sliding down and gliding down.
Try not to try too hard.
It’s just a lovely ride.

Now the thing about time
is that time isn’t really real.
It’s all your point of view.
How does it feel to you?
Einstein said that he
could never understand it all.
Planets spinning through space.
The smile upon your face.
Welcome to the human race.

Isn’t that a lovely ride.
Sliding down and gliding down.
Try not to try too hard.
It’s just a lovely ride.

Isn’t that a lovely ride.
See me sliding down and gliding down.
Try not to try too hard.
It’s just a lovely ride.

Now the secret of life is
enjoying the passage of time.