I'm sorry, but "Fire and Rain" is a great, original song, and though James has written drivel and repeats himself too much, he should be allowed credit for that, at least. Most people don't even get close to one song that powerful. He can repeat it forever as far as I am concerned.
This repetition of a tune through similar tune colours is obviously a matter of taste, (and not overdoing it) but that shouldn't necessarily be a bad thing: it is called a style. If you listen to Joni Mitchell's Blue, there is really only one tune (if by tune you mean a style, a shape, a recurring sound). That doesn't mean it isn't one of the great albums of the century. I have been listening to Neil Young for years, and I have always assumed that his style was a lack of tunes, i.e. all tune colour and nothing like a note anywhere. Has anyone found a tune in Neil Young yet? The Tune with no name?
Yours, Peter T.