Carly Simon's new album, "Comes in Waves," delves into the complexities of her past relationships, with particular focus on her marriage to musician James Taylor. On the album's second track, titled "Maybe I Never Loved You," Simon questions the nature of their past affection, singing, "Maybe I never loved you / But anyway, I thought I did." She further reflects on their shared history, noting, "I married you, we had a kid / That counts for something."
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The lyrics extend to a contemplation of Taylor's feelings, with lines such as, "And maybe you never loved me / Although God knows, you said you did." Taylor is not named in the song.
Simon and Taylor were married from 1972 to 1983. Their relationship was a subject of public interest for decades. The song touches on difficult periods, with lyrics like, "You came for me those times I hid / I’m so glad you did that," and "maybe it’s wrong to wonder how everything kind became forbidden."
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The album concludes with a sense of unresolved reflection: "And maybe it’s best to bury whatever it was we had our fill of / Maybe I never loved you / Maybe I always will."
In a 2015 interview with People magazine, Simon stated that she and Taylor had not spoken in over a decade. Despite the distance, she expressed enduring care, saying, "I still want to heal him, I still want to make him all right. And I love him so much."
Simon's memoir, "Boys in the Trees," published in 2015, also addressed their relationship, describing it as far from idyllic. She noted the pain caused by Taylor's treatment of her, but through writing, she came to understand loving without being loved in return, describing it as a significant personal realization.
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"Comes in Waves" marks Simon's return to releasing original music after an 18-year hiatus. This period of reflection comes as Simon has also been managing personal health challenges. She revealed in July 2026 that she has Parkinson's disease and has undergone surgery for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. She cited these health issues as reasons for her reduced public presence, explaining the need to understand and adjust to the diagnoses.
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Simon and Taylor's romance began in 1971 when she visited his dressing room at New York's Carnegie Hall. Their relationship quickly progressed, leading to their marriage on November 3, 1972. The couple had two children, Sally and Ben Taylor, before separating in 1981 and finalizing their divorce in 1983. Both artists have publicly acknowledged infidelity during their marriage, and Taylor has spoken about how his struggles with addiction impacted their relationship.