Thomas was raised in and around Houston, Texas, graduating from Lamar Consolidated High School in Rosenberg. Before his solo career, he sang in a church choir as a teenager, then joined the musical group The Triumphs. During his senior year he made friends with Roy Head of Roy Head and The Traits. The Traits and the Triumphs held several Battle of the Bands events in the early 1960s.
In 1966, B.J. Thomas and The Triumphs released the album I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (Pacemaker Records). It featured a hit cover of the Hank Williams song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". The single sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. The follow-up single, "Mama", peaked at No. 22. In the same year, Thomas released a solo album of the same name on the Scepter Records label.
Thomas came back to achieve mainstream success again in 1968, first with "The Eyes of a New York Woman", then five months later with the much bigger "Hooked on a Feeling", which featured the sound of Reggie Young's electric sitar and was first released on the album On My Way (Scepter Records). "Hooked on a Feeling" became Thomas's second million-selling record. A year later Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid featured Thomas performing the Bacharach/David song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head", which won the Academy Award for best original song that year and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1970. Sales of it also exceeded one million copies, with Thomas being awarded his third gold record. The song was also released on an album of the same name. Other hits of the 1970s were "Everybody's Out of Town", "I Just Can't Help Believing" (No. 9 in 1970, covered by Elvis Presley), "No Love at All", "Mighty Clouds of Joy", and "Rock and Roll Lullaby".
Thomas's earlier hits were with Scepter Records, his label for six years. He left Scepter Records in 1972 and spent a short period, in 1973 and 1974, with Paramount Records, during which time he released two albums, Songs (1973) and Longhorns & Londonbridges (1974).
In 1975, Thomas released the album Reunion on ABC Records, which had absorbed the Paramount label; it contained "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (the longest titled No. 1 hit ever on the Hot 100). It was Thomas's first big hit since 1972 and secured him his fourth gold record. It won the 1976 Grammy Award for Best Country Song, awarded to its songwriters, Larry Butler and Chips Moman.
In 1976, Thomas released Home Where I Belong, produced by Chris Christian on Myrrh Records, the first of several gospel albums. It was the first Christian album to go platinum, and Thomas became the biggest contemporary Christian artist of the period.
On MCA Records, Thomas and Chris Christian recorded what would be his last Top 40 hit single, "Don't Worry Baby", on his last pop album, which also included the Adult Contemporary hit "Still the Lovin' Is Fun".
During the 1980s, his success on the pop charts began to wane, but many of his singles reached the upper regions on the country singles chart, including two 1983 chart toppers, "Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned Love" and "New Looks from an Old Lover" (see 1984 in music), as well as "Two Car Garage", which reached No. 3. In 1981, on his 39th birthday, Thomas became the 60th member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Thomas scored another hit, recording "As Long As We Got Each Other", the theme to Growing Pains, with Jennifer Warnes. A later version, used for the show's fourth season, was recorded with British singer Dusty Springfield. Thomas first released this track on his 1985 album Throwing Rocks at the Moon (Columbia Records).
Thomas has also authored two books including the autobiography Home Where I Belong, and starred in the movies Jory and "Jake's Corner". Several commercial jingles including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Bell, have featured his singing voice and music. On December 31, 2011, Thomas was the featured halftime performer at the 2011 Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
On April 2, 2013, Thomas released The Living Room Sessions, an album with acoustic arrangements of well known hits. It features guest appearances with established and emerging vocalists accompanying Thomas on seven of twelve tracks.
On December 3, 2013, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences announced that his 1969 single "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" would be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Thomas was married to singer-songwriter Gloria Richardson since December 1968. They had three daughters: Paige (born 1970), Nora (adopted from Korea in 1978), and Erin (born in 1979). Shortly after Thomas's career began, he became dependent on drugs and alcohol which led to his marriage nearly ending and himself even coming close to death. Gloria became a Christian in 1975, and less than a month later, so did B.J.; most press sources indicate that Thomas had been sober since their separation was reconciled in 1976.
Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
B.J. Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the feelin' just got right for a brand new love song
Somebody done somebody wrong song
Hey, wontcha play another
Somebody done somebody wrong song?
And make me feel at home
While I miss my baby, while I miss my baby
So please play for me a sad melody
So sad that it makes everybody cry
A real hurtin' song about a love that's gone wrong
'Cause I don't want to cry all alone
Hey, wontcha play another
Somebody done somebody wrong song?
And make me feel at home
While I miss my baby, while I miss my baby
So please play for me a sad melody
So sad that it makes everybody cry
A real hurtin' song about a love that's gone wrong
'Cause I don't want to cry all alone
Hey, wontcha play another
Somebody done somebody wrong song?
And make me feel at home
While I miss my baby, while I miss my baby
(Hey), wontcha play (wontcha play) another
Somebody done somebody wrong song?
And make me feel at home
While I miss my baby, while I miss my baby
(Hey), wontcha play (wontcha play) another
Somebody done somebody wrong song?
And make me feel at home
While I miss my baby
The lyrics of B.J. Thomas's "Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" describe the feeling of loneliness and heartbreak that comes after a romantic relationship has ended. The singer is asking for a sad love song to be played so that he can feel less alone in his misery. He wants to listen to a song about a love that has gone wrong, one that is so sad it will make everybody cry. He does not want to cry by himself, and he wants to feel like he is at home, even though his lover is no longer by his side. Throughout the song, he repeats his plea to "play another somebody done somebody wrong song" as a way of coping with his heartbreak.
The lyrics of "Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" capture the essence of country music, which is known for its themes of heartbreak and lost love. The song was released in 1975 and became an instant hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was written by songwriters Larry Butler and Chips Moman, and it was produced by Chips Moman. The song is a classic example of the "Nashville sound," which combines country music with elements of pop and rock.
This iconic song was covered by a number of other artists, including Kenny Rogers, Ray Conniff, and Dionne Warwick. B.J. Thomas had a long and successful career, with hits such as "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head", "Hooked on a Feeling", and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". Thomas was known for his smooth voice, which was perfect for singing love songs and ballads.
In addition to being a hit song, "Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" has been referenced in popular culture numerous times. It has been featured in movies and TV shows, including the TV series Friends and The Simpsons. The song has also been parodied in various forms, showing its lasting impact on popular culture.
Line by Line Meaning
It's lonely out tonight
I'm feeling alone tonight
And the feelin' just got right for a brand new love song
My emotions are in the perfect place for a new love song
Somebody done somebody wrong song
I want to hear a sad love song about someone being hurt
Hey, wontcha play another Somebody done somebody wrong song?
Can you please play another sad love song for me?
And make me feel at home while I miss my baby, while I miss my baby
Listen to the song with me and make me feel less homesick and miss my loved one less
So please play for me a sad melody
I ask that you play a sorrowful tune for me
So sad that it makes everybody cry
So sad that it brings tears to everyone's eyes
A real hurtin' song about a love that's gone wrong
A true song about heartbreak and lost love
'Cause I don't want to cry all alone
I don't want to be the only one crying
Hey, wontcha play another Somebody done somebody wrong song?
Can you please play another sad love song for me?
And make me feel at home while I miss my baby, while I miss my baby
Listen to the song with me and make me feel less homesick and miss my loved one less
(Hey), wontcha play (wontcha play) another Somebody done somebody wrong song?
Can you play one more sad love song for me?
And make me feel at home while I miss my baby
Help me feel comfortable and at home while I long for my loved one
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Larry Butler, Chips Moman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@djtblizzle
A little black kid growing up on the south side of Chicago is 50 now, and regards this song as a huge part of his childhood! ❤️❤️❤️
@mangojulie123
Make that two little black kids. And I grew up in the Caribbean!
@dongray6834
Make that 3 little black kids . Urban jungle of Philly .
@raveon09
😥💔
@baddmatt1
Make that 4 grew up on the west side of Chicago 53years old
@cathydocimo9224
This 61 year old white woman, does not care about skin color. It's what in our hearts that count.
This song still gets to my heart. Making me miss the one who got away 15 years ago. I still love him like it was yesterday. I wish it would go away.😔
@jimhan8490
As a Chinese kid growing up in the middle of Taiwan this song got me though some tough times. Thank you BJ
@dawhoda1
😆
@MBWell-jn5hq
Lol
@Sparky62764
God I just wish I could go back in time when life was much simpler