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.
On This Holy Holy Night
B.J. Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
涙にねぎらいのキスを
何回歌った? 喜びの歌を 心の底から
出会ったばかりの北風の中
オンボロコートで君を包み
買ったばかりのグラスを合わせよう (hey, get close to me)
Yes, it's alright! この街は二人のため
乾杯 to you! Holy night kiss
さあ 腕組んで歩こう
別々に過ごした 今日まで僕ら
知らないことは 山ほどあるけど
魅かれあう 瞬間の魔法だけは いつまでも信じたい
忘れられない幾つかの夜に
君がいた時はまだないけれど
きっと始まってる 特別な夜が (don't hesitate, honey)
すべてが nasty!
Yes, it's alright! 世界は二人のため
乾杯 to you! Holy night kiss
さあ 腕組んで歩こう
すべてが sparkling! 飲み干そう
自己嫌悪も今のうちに
乾杯 to me! Holy night kiss
今夜は でかすぎる夢を語るよ
すべてが nasty!
Yes, it's alright! 宇宙も二人のため
乾杯 to you! Holy night kiss
さあ 腕組んで歩こう
すべてが sparkling! 飲み干そう
自己嫌悪も今のうちに
乾杯 to me! Holy night kiss
今夜は でかすぎる夢を語るよ
Sha ba da ba nasty!
これから何が起こるか分からないけど
悔いのないように holy night kiss
二度とない夜に 君を刻もう oh yeah yeah
The lyrics of B.J. Thomas's song "On This Holy Holy Night" describe a relationship filled with ups and downs, yet ultimately celebrating the magic and special moments shared between the two individuals.
The opening lines, "How many times have you cried? Up until now, you gave me kisses to comfort your tears" reflect the singer's understanding and support for his partner during tough times. It highlights their strong emotional connection and the power of their love to provide solace.
The song continues by expressing the joy and happiness they bring to each other. "How many times have we sung? Songs of joy from the bottom of our hearts." This line conveys the couple's shared enthusiasm for celebrating each other's victories and spreading happiness together.
The next verse describes a scene where they meet in the cold winter winds. The singer wraps his partner in his worn-out coat, symbolizing the protection and warmth he offers. They raise their new glasses to toast their love, emphasizing their commitment to one another.
Throughout the song, there are mentions of the world being "nasty," implying that life can be challenging and full of obstacles. However, the repeated lines, "Yes, it's alright! This city is for the two of us," suggest that despite these challenges, they find solace and support in each other's company.
The chorus encourages unity and togetherness. They walk arm in arm, cherishing the magical moments of their relationship. The lyrics depict a desire to believe in the enchantment that occurs during their shared moments, and to hold onto that magic forever.
As the song progresses, the lyrics express a longing for unforgettable nights spent together and the anticipation of a special night yet to come. It signifies the power of their love to create extraordinary experiences in their lives.
The song's conclusion emphasizes the magnitude of their dreams and the limitless potential of their relationship. They toast to a future filled with uncertainty, aiming to live without regrets and cherishing the uniqueness of every night they spend together.
Overall, "On This Holy Holy Night" explores the emotional depth, joys, and challenges of a relationship, emphasizing the importance of unity, support, and treasuring the magical moments shared between two individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
何回泣いた? 今まで君は
How many times have you cried? Up until now, my love
涙にねぎらいのキスを
I kiss away your tears, comforting you
何回歌った? 喜びの歌を 心の底から
How many times have I sung? The song of joy from the depths of my heart
出会ったばかりの北風の中
In the midst of the cold wind when we first met
オンボロコートで君を包み
I wrapped you in my tattered coat
買ったばかりのグラスを合わせよう (hey, get close to me)
Let's raise our newly bought glasses together (hey, get close to me)
すべてが nasty!
Everything is full of excitement and energy!
Yes, it's alright! この街は二人のため
Yes, it's alright! This city is made for the two of us
乾杯 to you! Holy night kiss
Cheers to you! A holy night kiss
さあ 腕組んで歩こう
Now, let's walk arm in arm
別々に過ごした 今日まで僕ら
Until today, we have spent our time apart
知らないことは 山ほどあるけど
There are many things we don't know, but
魅かれあう 瞬間の魔法だけは いつまでも信じたい
I want to believe in the magic of the moments when we are drawn to each other forever
忘れられない幾つかの夜に
On some unforgettable nights
君がいた時はまだないけれど
Even though you weren't there yet
きっと始まってる 特別な夜が (don't hesitate, honey)
Surely, special nights are beginning (don't hesitate, honey)
すべてが nasty!
Everything is full of excitement and energy!
Yes, it's alright! 世界は二人のため
Yes, it's alright! The world is made for the two of us
乾杯 to you! Holy night kiss
Cheers to you! A holy night kiss
さあ 腕組んで歩こう
Now, let's walk arm in arm
すべてが sparkling! 飲み干そう
Everything is sparkling! Let's drink it all
自己嫌悪も今のうちに
Let's get rid of self-loathing now
乾杯 to me! Holy night kiss
Cheers to me! A holy night kiss
今夜は でかすぎる夢を語るよ
Tonight, I will tell you about my grand dreams
Sha ba da ba nasty!
Sha ba da ba nasty!
これから何が起こるか分からないけど
I don't know what will happen from now on, but
悔いのないように holy night kiss
Let's have a holy night kiss without regrets
二度とない夜に 君を刻もう oh yeah yeah
On a night that will never come again, I will etch you into my heart, oh yeah yeah
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Koshi Inaba, Takahiro Matsumoto
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind