Claim: James Taylor made an album.

`` Fire and Rain '' is a folk rock song written and performed by James Taylor . Released on Warner Bros. . Records as a single from his second album , Sweet Baby James , in February 1970 , the song follows Taylor 's reaction to the suicide of Suzanne Schnerr , a childhood friend , and his experiences with drug addiction and fame . After its release , `` Fire and Rain '' peaked at number two on RPM Canada Top Singles chart and at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 .