Suspect #2: James Taylor
Simon married James Taylor on November 3rd, 1972, which was the same year the song was released. Naturally, suspicions placed Taylor as the subject of the song. Simon put those rumors to rest pretty quickly, though. In 1972, shortly after the song came out, Simon told Rolling Stone Magazine that “it’s definitely not James.”
Carly Simon and James Taylor. Photo By Globe Photos/mediapunch/Shutterstock
She continued: “James suspected that it might be about him because he’s very vain. No, he isn’t, but he had the unfortunate experience of taking a jet up to Nova Scotia after I’d written the song. He was saved by the fact it wasn’t Lear.” It’s safe to say Taylor is most likely not the guy she is referring to in the song, although he seems to think otherwise.