Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter James Taylor was born in Boston, but grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where the family moved in 1951. "Carolina on My Mind" was released in 1968 on Taylor's self-titled first album. It is considered a classic song by many.
The hub of Chapel Hills is the University of North Carolina, where Taylor's father worked. The coordinates of this waymark are at the North Carolina State Historic Marker on the UNC campus, just off of Franklin Street.
Taylor didn't attend UNC, so "Carolina" in the song isn't Carolina the University. It's the state of North Carolina where he grew up. This waymark is a good representation of his former home town.
To log your visit to this waymark, post your own photo of the waymark (the historic marker or the campus view) and leave some brief comments. Logs without photos will be archived. Thanks.
State Historic Marker:
UNC Campus from the Marker:
Full lyrics follow:
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
Karen she's a silver sun
You best walk her way and watch it shinin
Watch her watch the mornin' come
A silver tear appearing now I'm cryin'
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind
There ain't no doubt it no ones mind
That loves the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
And hey babe the sky's on fire, I'm dyin'
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind
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
Dark and silent late last night
I think I might have heard the highway calling
Geese in flight and dogs that bite
Signs that might be omens say I going, going
I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind
With a holy host of others standing 'round me
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon
And it looks like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me
If I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind
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