Tuesday is Epiphany, the day Christians mark the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. It’s known in some faith traditions as “Little Christmas,” although it’s worth noting that no one in the United States gets to take it as a holiday. (And, really, what would we do with it? Schedule a football triple-header? Return presents we didn’t like? “This frankincense and myrrh is not up to my standards.”)

This is a day when my thoughts typically stray to “Home by Another Way,” a little-known song off a relatively little-known James Taylor album, 1988’s “Never Die Young.” (“Sun on the Moon” and “First of May” are likely somewhat better-known songs from the album; at least, I’ve heard Taylor play both of those in concert.)

“Home by Another Way,” with lyrics by the late playwright Timothy S. Mayer, is a relatively straightforward retelling of the Epiphany story, with the Magi visiting Jesus (“They sure enjoyed their stay,” the song informs us). The story continues: “Then warned in a dream of King Herod’s scheme, they went home by another way.”

Listening again to the song this year, I was struck by these lines — which you may (or may not) find useful as you gird yourself for 2026:

Steer clear of royal welcomes
Avoid a big to-do
A king who would slaughter the innocents
Will not cut a deal for you

It always has baffled me that Taylor did not include the song on either version of his “James Taylor at Christmas” album — but maybe it’ll show up someday on another expanded version that’ll cost you a buck more. In the meantime, here’s a YouTube link to the song.

Happy Epiphany. No, you cannot take the day off.