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.
Back Against the Wall
B.J. Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All those people at my feet
Yeah
I was so smug in my prime
Up at the height of my conceit
Oh, I thought I would never fall
Oh, I got to tell you all
I got my back up against the wall
You know this ain't the first time
I got my back up against the wall
It's been a long fight
I didn't know I'd have to make no
And I'm so afraid
It's gonna be more than I can take now baby
You know what I mean
I thought I'd never fall
Oh, I got to you all
I got my back up against the wall
I ain't jokin' y'all
I got my back against the wall
Sometimes I find myself with my back against the wall
I got my back against the wall
Just like a lot of good people now
They love me all around the world
I can't understand you girl
I wonder why the pure in heart
Oh, they got to have a judgment day
I wonder why
And I wonder what the Lord has made
Now that he plans to throw away
I wonder, what did he really say
I thought I would never fall
Oh, I got to tell you all
I got my back against the wall
Sometimes you find yourself down on the street
Yeah you do
I got my back against the wall
Sometimes no matter how hard you try
You still take a fall, oh yeah
I got my back against the wall
Last night I started to cry
And I cried all night long
Yes I did
I got my back against the wall
Last night I started to pray
And I prayed all night long
And that's when I got that feeling y'all
Down in my soul
It's just a part of life
It's just a part of your life
The lyrics to B.J. Thomas's song "Back Against the Wall" portray a person who has achieved success and fame and has been living a comfortable life. However, they start experiencing challenges that threaten to bring them down. The first verse introduces the singer as someone who had people at their feet and was confident and conceited. They thought they would never fall, but now they've got their backs against the wall, and it's not the first time. The second verse reveals that the singer has been fighting a long battle that they didn't think they would have to make. They are now scared that what's to come might be more than they can handle. However, they insist that they are not joking and genuinely have their backs against the wall.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the phrase "I got my back against the wall" several times to emphasize their predicament. They also acknowledge that sometimes life can be challenging, and no matter how hard one tries, they still take a fall. In the third verse, the singer reflects on their success and wonders why the pure in heart must have a judgment day. They also wonder what God has planned to throw away and what he might have meant by it. The last verse reveals that the singer has been praying and has found solace in their faith. They believe that the challenges they are experiencing are just a part of life, and they will eventually overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
They held up as long as they could
Those people tried to endure as much as they could
All those people at my feet
Those individuals offered their support to me
I was so smug in my prime
I was quite arrogant during the peak of my success
Up at the height of my conceit
At my most egotistical phase
Oh, I thought I would never fall
I believed that I would never fail
Oh, I got to tell you all
But I have to admit
I got my back up against the wall
I am now in a difficult situation
You know this ain't the first time
This is not the initial instance
It's been a long fight
I have been battling for a long time
I didn't know I'd have to make no
I was unaware of the extent of the ordeal
And I'm so afraid
I am really scared
It's gonna be more than I can take now baby
I feel that it will be more than I can cope with
You know what I mean
You understand what I'm trying to say
I ain't jokin' y'all
I am definitely not kidding
Sometimes I find myself with my back against the wall
At times, I am faced with a difficult situation
Just like a lot of good people now
Similar to numerous decent individuals at present
They love me all around the world
People all over the world admire me
I can't understand you girl
I am unable to comprehend your motives
I wonder why the pure in heart
I am curious why righteous individuals
Oh, they got to have a judgment day
Are destined for an assessment
I wonder why
I am curious
And I wonder what the Lord has made
And I ponder what God has created
Now that he plans to throw away
Now that he intends to dispose of it
I wonder, what did he really say
I am curious about what he really meant
Sometimes you find yourself down on the street
Occasionally, you might end up in a precarious position
Sometimes no matter how hard you try
Sometimes, despite your best efforts
You still take a fall, oh yeah
You still stumble and fail
Last night I started to cry
Last night, I began to weep
And I cried all night long
And I wept the entire night
Last night I started to pray
Last night, I began to pray
And I prayed all night long
And I prayed throughout the night
And that's when I got that feeling y'all
And that is when I experienced that sensation
Down in my soul
Deep in my inner-being
It's just a part of life
It is simply a component of life
It's just a part of your life
It is just a part of your life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, PFIVE Entertainment Mexico, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRANDON HOLLEMON, AHMAD BALSHE, BRIAN HONEYCUTT, DANNY SCHOLFIELD, WINSTON THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kelso1947
Wow! BJ was really at the top of his game in this performance...just amazing.
Kerry Martin
There is so much to love about BJ Thomas. His humility has always struck me. Such a humble and kind guy - and he stayed that way throughout his career. RiP
Anne Rotella
So sad to hear of BJ's passing today. He's one of my favorite performers. Sending condolences to his family.
Joe Culpepper
I’ve been in this business for 50 of my 60 years ,, BJ by FAR has THE BEST CONTROL and tone of any singer past or present. I’d love to sing a harmony with him someday. Wow. Then and now BJThomas IS!
Rima Anabtawi
He had pure and perfect chops ! Rest his soul .
Ruth Kahler
So sad he’s left us but praise God he’s with Jesus! ♥️
kelso1947
B.J. can literally sing anything he wants … always giving us 100%%. Love him always.
Mary Ellen Bunney
WOW...BJ should have recorded more songs with this kind of beat. Sounds really great!
Rita McNabb
When you hear this clip from B.J., there is no doubt why he was Elvis' favorite singer! He is definitely one of the greatest!
Jeffery Bernard
Rita McNabb a southern girl on a summer night is in his top 3