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.
Christmas Is Coming Home
B.J. Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The joy that filled our
House on Christmas Day
By the fire we loved to share the meaning
With songs we sang all through the holiday
Oh, and I long for that feeling
The one of peace on earth for everyone
No matter where you are you're not alone
Love will find you in December
'Cause Christmas is coming home
By the tree we welcomed back the memory
To talk about how fast the year's gone by
So blessed seeing all the family
For a moment, we just stop the world in time
Oh, how I long for that feeling
The one that keeps the Christmas dream alive
Home is in your heart, remember
No matter where you are you're not alone
Love will find you in December
'Cause Christmas is coming home
When the trees are covered up with snow
In your heart you'll know it's
Time to go home
Home is in your heart, remember
No matter where you are you're not alone
Love will find you in December
'Cause Christmas is coming home
Christmas is coming home
The lyrics to B.J. Thomas's song "Christmas Is Coming Home" evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for the joy and warmth of Christmas celebrations from childhood. The singer reflects on their past experiences, particularly as a child, and the belief and excitement that surrounded Christmas Day. The memories of gathering with loved ones by the fire, singing songs, and sharing the true meaning of the holiday bring a sense of peace and happiness.
The lyrics emphasize the message that home is not just a physical place, but rather a feeling that resides in one's heart. No matter where the person might be, they are not alone because love will always find them, especially during the month of December when Christmas is approaching. The song suggests that the true essence of Christmas lies in coming together with family and loved ones, relishing in the moments and memories created, and keeping the Christmas spirit alive.
Overall, "Christmas Is Coming Home" conveys a sense of longing for the comfort and happiness that the holiday season brings. It reminds listeners that the true joy of Christmas can be found in the love and togetherness we share with others, regardless of our physical location.
Line by Line Meaning
As a child I never stopped believing
Even as a child, I always held onto my belief and faith in the magic of Christmas
The joy that filled our House on Christmas Day
Our house was filled with immense happiness and delight on Christmas Day
By the fire we loved to share the meaning
We enjoyed gathering around the fireplace and sharing the true significance of Christmas
With songs we sang all through the holiday
We expressed our joy and celebration by singing songs throughout the entire holiday season
Oh, and I long for that feeling
I deeply yearn for the same heartfelt emotions and experiences
The one of peace on earth for everyone
Specifically, the feeling of peace and harmony spreading throughout the world, touching every individual
Home is in your heart, remember
Remember that you can find the essence of home within your heart, regardless of physical location
No matter where you are you're not alone
Even if you are far from your loved ones, remember that you are never alone
Love will find you in December
During December and the holiday season, love will embrace and surround you
'Cause Christmas is coming home
Because Christmas brings a sense of familiarity, belonging, and warmth back to our hearts
By the tree we welcomed back the memory
Next to the Christmas tree, we joyfully reminisced and brought back cherished memories
To talk about how fast the year's gone by
We discussed and reflected upon how quickly the year has passed by
So blessed seeing all the family
Feeling incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by loved ones and family members
For a moment, we just stop the world in time
In that moment, we pause the chaos of the world and savor the present moment
Oh, how I long for that feeling
Oh, how deeply I yearn for that indescribable emotion and ambiance
The one that keeps the Christmas dream alive
Specifically, the feeling that keeps the belief and magic of Christmas alive within us
When the trees are covered up with snow
During the time when the trees are coated in a blanket of snow
In your heart you'll know it's Time to go home
Deep down in your heart, you will feel a strong call to return to the comforting embrace of home
Christmas is coming home
Christmas signals the homecoming of love, warmth, and a sense of belonging
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind