I agree with (and paraphrase) those who have said:
"The subject of "Her Town, Too" is the aftermath of a breakup of a long term relationship. James Taylor described it as "a tender, well-meaning song about how difficult it was to be friends" with both parties after the breakup.[...] Taylor also said that the song was about "the ex-wife of a mutual friend," [presumably] Betsy Asher, who had then recently divorced from Taylor's long-time manager and producer, Peter Asher.
"...The Rolling Stone Album Guide called it a "gently incisive divorce song" that was "among [Taylor's] finest pieces of writing." [...] Montreal Gazette critic John Griffin praised "...the way lyrics such as "she always figured that they were her friends but maybe they can live without her" resonates with people who have had friendships with one or the other partner disintegrate after a relationship ends."
(On a personal note, this song certainly resonates with me after my 33 year marriage ended in divorce. The man I counted as one of my two very best friends in the world dropped me after 25+ years, explaining that he had to choose between a continuing friendship with me or my ex, and he chose her due to her greater 'emotional need' for such a friendship. That wounded me almost as much as the divorce itself, which had already cut me off at the knees...)
I agree with (and paraphrase) those who have said:
"The subject of "Her Town, Too" is the aftermath of a breakup of a long term relationship. James Taylor described it as "a tender, well-meaning song about how difficult it was to be friends" with both parties after the breakup.[...] Taylor also said that the song was about "the ex-wife of a mutual friend," [presumably] Betsy Asher, who had then recently divorced from Taylor's long-time manager and producer, Peter Asher.
"...The Rolling Stone Album Guide called it a "gently incisive divorce song" that was "among [Taylor's] finest pieces of writing." [...] Montreal Gazette critic John Griffin praised "...the way lyrics such as "she always figured that they were her friends but maybe they can live without her" resonates with people who have had friendships with one or the other partner disintegrate after a relationship ends."
(On a personal note, this song certainly resonates with me after my 33 year marriage ended in divorce. The man I counted as one of my two very best friends in the world dropped me after 25+ years, explaining that he had to choose between a continuing friendship with me or my ex, and he chose her due to her greater 'emotional need' for such a friendship. That wounded me almost as much as the divorce itself, which had already cut me off at the knees...)