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.
No Love At All
B.J. Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People breakin' up and just walkin' away from love and that's wrong
That's so wrong
A happy little home comes up for sale
Because two fools have tried and failed to get along
And ya know that's wrong
A man hurts a woman and a woman hurts a man
When neither one of them will love and understa-a-a-a-and
And take it with a grain of salt
Oh, now believe that
A little bit of love is better than no love
Even the bad love is better than no love
And even the sad love is better than no love at a-l-l
Got to believe that
A little bit of love is better than no love
Even the bad love is better than no love
And any kind of love is better than no love at all
Nah-nah-nah-nah
Nah-nah-nah-nah
Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah
No love at all is a poor old man
Standin' on the corner with his hat in his hand
And no place to go, he's feelin' low
No love at all is a child in the street
Dodgin' traffic and beggin' to eat on a tenement row
And that's a long row to hoe
No love at all is a troubled young girl
Standin' on a bridge at the end of the wor-or-or-or-ld
And it's a pretty short fall
A little bit of love is better than no love
Even the bad love is better than no love
And even the sad love is better than no love at a-l-l
Got to believe that
A little bit of love is better than no love
Even the bad love is better than no love
And any kind of love is better than no love at all
Nah-nah-nah-nah
Nah-nah-nah-nah
Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah
Oh you got to believe me
A little bit of love is better than no love
Even the bad love is better than no love
And even the sad is better than no love at a-l-l
Got to believe me
A little bit of love is better than no love
Even the bad love is better than no love
And any kind of love is better than no love at all
Got to believe me
Fade
A little bit of love is better than no love
Even the bad love is better than no love
And any kind
of love is better than no love at all.
The song No Love At All by B.J. Thomas speaks to the universal theme of the importance of love in human life. The lyrics open with the singer reading about the common occurrence of people giving up on love and walking away from relationships. The song seems to be judging these people, calling them "fools" for not being able to get along, and suggesting that they have made a mistake by not putting more effort into their love.
As the song progresses, the lyrics go on to describe the different ways that a lack of love manifests itself in the world - poverty, hunger, homelessness, and emotional turmoil. The refrain asserts that any kind of love is better than no love at all, even if it is bad or sad. The singer implores the listener to believe this message and not give up on love.
Overall, Thomas's message is that even though love can be painful and difficult, it is a necessary part of a fulfilling life. Rather than giving up on it, we should strive to embrace any kind of love that comes our way.
Line by Line Meaning
Read in the paper nearly day
Every day he reads about couples breaking up and giving up on love and he believes that this is the wrong thing to do.
A happy little home comes up for sale
A couple has failed in their attempts to work things out and have decided to sell their home.
Because two fools have tried and failed to get along
The couple that lived in the home were foolish and could not find a way to coexist peacefully.
And ya know that's wrong
It is not right for love to fail and for people to give up on each other.
A man hurts a woman and a woman hurts a man
Both men and women can hurt each other and cause pain in relationships.
When neither one of them will love and understa-a-a-a-and
A relationship will suffer when neither partner is able to love and understand their partner's needs.
And take it with a grain of salt
It is important for people to be able to accept and understand their partner despite their shortcomings.
Oh, now believe that
The singer wants people to understand that relationships can be difficult and require effort, but love is still worth it.
A little bit of love is better than no love
Even if love is not perfect, any amount of love is better than none at all.
Even the bad love is better than no love
Even when love has its problems, it is still better than not having love in your life.
And even the sad love is better than no love at a-l-l
Even when love is sad or difficult, it is still better than not experiencing love at all.
Got to believe that
The singer urges people to believe that love, no matter what form it takes, is always better than no love.
No love at all is a poor old man
A person with no love in their life can feel as alone and helpless as a poor old man begging on the street.
Standin' on the corner with his hat in his hand
Just like the poor old man, someone with no love can feel desperate and alone.
And no place to go, he's feelin' low
Without love, a person can feel lost and without direction.
No love at all is a child in the street
A child with no love or support can be left to fend for themselves in a dangerous environment.
Dodgin' traffic and beggin' to eat on a tenement row
This child may be forced to beg for food and struggle to survive in a poor neighborhood.
And that's a long row to hoe
This path is difficult and challenging, and it is much harder without love and support from others.
No love at all is a troubled young girl
A young girl with no love may turn to dangerous behaviors or even consider suicide.
Standin' on a bridge at the end of the wor-or-or-or-ld
This girl may feel like there is no hope and that her life is not worth living.
And it's a pretty short fall
This line is a metaphor for how quickly a life can be lost when someone is lacking love and support.
Now people believe me
The singer wants people to understand the importance of love and how it can impact lives.
Fade
The song fades away, emphasizing the importance of holding onto love.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JackiePhillipsTheSocialPet
What a treat!! He had the best voice on the planet!
@shyman99
I purchased this single in 1971 and this video marks the YouTube debut of any video of BJ singing this song around the time of its release. So what you are watching here folks is historic and oh so incredible. I only wish BJ was still here to enjoy it with us.
@barbaradunn1778
I just LOVE BJ's voice...and what a HUNK!! So great to listen to and look at!!! Miss him!!
@KellysClassics
Wow...I totally forgot about this song...I was 11 when this came out.. I love it...thank you so much
@brentluckhart6238
I forgot also. What a precious brother and astounding voice
@vrinda5303
Another gem from this gem of a singer. B. J. was mesmerizing to watch and hear.
@hnc52
Wow! That was certainly an abridged version of a great song. BJ really had one of the finest voices in popular music.
@JackiePhillipsTheSocialPet
Agreed!
@michaelrochester48
My favorite song of his. This song came out in 1971 so I assume this is one of the last episodes of Ed Sullivan
@bilingualservicesllcnelson2759
Lord we praise you