Carly Simon has released a new song, "Maybe I Never Loved You," which reflects on her past relationship with ex-husband James Taylor. The song is featured on her 24th studio album, "Comes in Waves," set to be released this Friday. The lyrics include lines such as, "Maybe I never loved you / But anyway, I thought I did," and "I married you, we had a kid / That counts for something."
Simon and Taylor, both prominent singer-songwriters, were married for 11 years and had two children, Sally and Ben. Their marriage reportedly ended due to infidelity on both sides. The new track also touches on their shared past with the lines, "And maybe you never loved me / Although God knows, you said you did."
Despite their reportedly difficult divorce, the two artists collaborated on several songs, including their 1974 duet "Mockingbird" and "Devoted to You" in 1978. The new song's lyrics also convey a sense of unresolved feelings, with Simon singing, "And maybe it's best to bury whatever it was we had our fill of / Maybe I never loved you / Maybe I always will."
Simon, 83, wrote and recorded her latest album at her Martha's Vineyard home, a place she once shared with Taylor. This marks her first album of original songs in 18 years.
In 2015, Simon expressed that she still cared for Taylor deeply, stating to People magazine, "I still want to heal him, I still want to make him all right. And I love him so much." She also spoke about the challenges of his past struggles with heroin addiction.
Taylor, 78, has been married to his third wife, Caroline "Kim" Smedvig, since 2001, and they have twin sons. He continues to tour, with upcoming dates scheduled in Vienna, Virginia.
Simon, who has also been romantically linked to figures such as Warren Beatty, Mick Jagger, and Jack Nicholson, recently announced her diagnosis with Parkinson's disease in July. She also underwent surgery for basal cell carcinoma. Despite these health challenges, she has stated, "I am still very much here."
Simon's career began in 1963, and she has since achieved significant recognition, including induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. She has sold over 50 million records worldwide and has influenced many younger artists.