Carly Simon Shades Ex-Husband James Taylor in Biting New Song: 'Maybe I Never Loved You'
Carly Simon Shades Ex-Husband James Taylor in Biting New Song: 'Maybe I Never Loved You'
Ereine Marie Aspera Thu, August 13, 2026 at 12:09 PM UTC
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Carly Simon appears to revisit her rocky marriage to James Taylor in a song from her new album.MEGA
Carly Simon appears to be revisiting her complicated relationship with ex-husband James Taylor in a deeply personal new song.
The singer-songwriter is set to release her first album in 18 years, Comes in Waves, on Friday, August 14. The star's 24th studio album includes a second track titled “Maybe I Never Loved You,” which seemingly looks back on her decades-old marriage to the legendary musician.
Carly Simon is releasing ‘Comes in Waves,’ her first album in 18 years, on August 14.MEGA
In the song, Simon appears to question what her relationship with Taylor really meant while reflecting on their marriage and the family they built together.
“Maybe I never loved you / But anyway, I thought I did,” Simon sings, per Page Six. “I married you, we had a kid / That counts for something.”
She continues to wrestle with the question of whether their feelings were ever truly mutual.
“Maybe I never loved you / Yes, and maybe I did,” she sings. “And maybe you never loved me / Although God knows, you said you did.”
The song doesn't paint their relationship in entirely negative terms, though. Simon also acknowledges the times the "How Sweet It Is" singer showed up for her when she needed him.
“You came for me those times I hid / I’m so glad you did that,” she continues singing on the track. “And maybe it’s wrong to wonder how everything kind became forbidden.”
‘Maybe I Always Will’
The album features ‘Maybe I Never Loved You,’ a song that appears to reflect on her marriage to James Taylor.MEGA
As the song unfolds, Simon appears to confront the complicated emotions that remained after their marriage ended.
She considers whether holding on to the past is worth it before seemingly deciding that some feelings may never completely disappear.
“And maybe it’s best to bury whatever it was we had our fill of,” she sings, before concluding, “Maybe I never loved you / Maybe I always will.”
Simon and Taylor were married from 1972 until 1983. The former couple share two children, Sally Taylor, 52, and Ben Taylor, 49.
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The pair separated in September 1981, with their divorce becoming official two years later.
'Our Love Became Bipolar'
The couple was married from 1972 to 1983 and share two children, Sally Taylor and Ben Taylor.MEGA
Carly has previously been candid about the ups and downs of her relationship with James.
In her memoir, she described their marriage as an emotional roller coaster.
"Our love became bipolar, switching from love to hate, lust to loathing, and back again, sometimes within a day,” she wrote.
Both musicians were unfaithful during their marriage, according to Carly's previous accounts. James was also involved with one of his dancers while he was still living with Simon and their children in New York.
Their separation came after they both realized "things were no longer really mendable," Carly later admitted.
Carly Wanted to Stay Friends
Carly Simon has previously described their marriage as an intense relationship that shifted between love and conflict.MEGA
Even after their divorce, Carly hoped they could maintain some kind of friendship for the sake of their family. James, however, did not feel the same way, and the two have reportedly remained estranged for decades.
Carly opened up about their distant relationship in a 2015 interview with Salon, particularly when discussing their children.
"I would say that the relationship is very resolved from James's point of view, which makes it clearly impossible for me to have a relationship with him because he's put down an iron curtain," she vented.
She added, "But it's been very hard to raise children without having their father to talk to."
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
