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.
Rock & Roll Lullaby
B.J. Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all alone when I came to be
So we grew up together
Our mama-child and me
Now things were bad and she was scared
But whenever I would cry
She'd calm my fear and dry my tears
With a rock and roll lullaby
And she'd sing
Sha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
It'll be all right
Sha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Just hold on tight
Sing it to me, mama
My, my, my, my, mama
Sing it sweet and clear
Oh mama, let me hear
That old rock and roll lullaby
We made it through the lonely days
But, Lord, the nights were long
And we'd dream of better mornin's
When mama sang a song
Now I can't recall the words at all
It don't make sense to try
'Cause I just knew lotsa love came through
In that rock and roll lullaby
And she'd sing
Sha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
It'll be all right
Sha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Just hold on tight
My, my, my, my mama
Nothin' moves my soul
Like the sound of the good old
Rock and roll lullaby
B.J. Thomas's song Rock & Roll Lullaby tells the story of a man who is away from the woman he loves and misses her terribly. He is at the railroad station in St. Paul and is thinking about her. He has been living a life he thought he loved until now, but realizes that he loves her most of all. The man admits that he promised to come home before, but always got sidetracked by foolish dreams and trains. He knows that tomorrow there will be snow in Minnesota, but he won't be there to see it because he will be heading to an old familiar station in the hopes that she still loves him most of all.
The song is a poignant reminder of the power of love and the struggles that come with it. The man in the song is torn between his love for the woman and his desire for a different life. He has tried to escape his feelings and the responsibilities of love in the past, but now he realizes that he can't. The lyrics are heartfelt and evoke a sense of longing and melancholy.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello darlin', my it's good to hear you
I am happy to be talking to you.
I'm at the railroad station in St. Paul
I am currently at the train station in St. Paul.
How are all the folks, I'd love to see 'em
How is everyone? I would love to see them.
But, girl, I'd love to see you most of all
But most importantly, I would love to see you.
Well I've been starin' at the rain
I have been staring at the rain.
And I've been thinking
I have been thinking.
Ever since the train left Montreal,
Ever since the train left Montreal, I have been thinking.
You know I thought I'd always love
I always thought I would love this life.
This life I'm living
The life I am currently living.
But now I know I love you most of all
But now I know I love you more than anything else.
Many times before
Many times in the past.
I know I swore
I made a promise.
That I'd come home to stay
That I would come home and stay with you.
But it always seems
But it always seems like.
That the foolish dreams
My foolish dreams.
And trains got in my way
And trains have prevented me from keeping my promise.
Tomorrow there'll be snow in Minnesota
Tomorrow in Minnesota there is expected to be snow.
But I won't be around to watch it fall
But I won't be there to see it.
Oh I'll be heading for an old familiar station
I will be heading towards a familiar station.
Just hopin' you still love me...most of all
And I am hoping that you still love me more than anything else.
And girl, you know I love you
And you know that I love you.
Most of all
More than anything else.
I miss ya baby, most of all
I miss you more than anything else.
Mm
Humming.
Mm
Humming.
Oh I miss ya baby,
Oh I miss you.
I miss ya most of all
I miss you more than anything else.
Mm
Humming.
Mm
Humming.
Oh I miss ya baby
Oh I miss you.
I miss ya most of all
I miss you more than anything else.
Mm
Humming.
Mm
Humming.
Mm
Humming.
Oh I miss ya baby
Oh I miss you.
I miss ya most of all
I miss you more than anything else.
Mm
Humming.
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUDDY BUIE, J COBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@barbarashapiro3776
This song is my favorite BJ thomas classic.
I always wondered if it was about his own Mother.
Regardless,It always makes me cry....l was older than 25 when l gave birth to my son,but l was alone and was always critized by my family.
I left home at 19 and moved out of state put my self through school with money l saved since 14 yrs old working 4 years straight through High school. I
became a Hairdresser/Barber.
Rented my own apartment in E.Village NYC....
Got a job in a famous shop in the Village made lots of money.
My son was born on my Birthday....
He is 39 now
š„¹ā¤......
@pbsandcspanwatchit
I was just just 16 and felt alone when this song started playing on radio
I had already fell in love with BJās voice earlier when Raindrops came on while walking to or from Jr high
Saw him for the first time later live
Free at the Knoxville Tn fair
Wow what a night. I gave my heart to Jesus att age seven didnāt know BJ was a Christian until that concert
But he was already my favorite voice ever. So much history over the years. BJ this is one of my favorites too. It always touches me deep inside. Although not in the condition your mom in the song was
I was in a sad situation. This song brought me so much comfort
Thanks so much for posting it
@jackcooper6889
I was born in February 1960 to a sixteen year old mom. She ended up having 5 boys before she turned 21. Life was tough and as a little guy, I never knew what she endured to feed and cloth us. As I grew older, I realized how my dad would come home drunk and knock her around. Finally after 17 years of marriage, they divorced and she never got beat up again. Today, she is 77 years old, fighting pancreatic cancer. I know not how long she has left, but I find myself listening to this song often, thinking of all the awesome things she did as a young mom of 5 boys trying to give her kids an enjoyable childhood. I love her and I know that I will miss her when she leaves this earth, but also know that myself and my brothers are the men we are because of her.
@60s70sTheBest
She is a HERO among HEROES.
@johndeannuntis9291
God bless HER
@rebeccawood459
She sounds like a very Strong woman Mama
@karenjoslyn4051
May she be received by angels!
@michaelswidorsky7147
Amen
@reannonprosser178
I had my son at 17 and I was scared as hell. I used to sing this song to my son when he was a baby. I think it made us both feel better.
@SkyGazerForever1111
Same!!! And so did my mother!! ššš i can picture my mom singing this jam
@j.a.allison8607
šā¤ā
@frankcorrenti5941
My daughter reminds me of songs and the guitar I was using I cain't myself remember now.