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.
Take a Walk Through Bethlehem
B.J. Thomas Lyrics
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All the stores are open late tonight
People hurry through the frozen streets
I take a walk
Every child has a thousand wishes
Every window has a thousand lights
Every soul has a need for peace
There's a star that still outshines the night
You can find it if you close your eyes
And see the light
Take a walk through Bethlehem
Come and kneel before the lamb
Good news for every man
Walk through Bethlehem
Every night another T-V special
Merchants counting down the shopping days
But something's missing underneath the tree
I take a walk
'Cause every heart longs for more than tinsel
Something more than just a holiday
Come and celebrate the baby King
Let's take a walk
You don't have to travel anywhere
Faith and hope and love will bring you there
Bring you there
Take a walk through Bethlehem
Come and kneel before the lamb
Good news for every man
Walk through Bethlehem
The song "Take a Walk Through Bethlehem" by B.J. Thomas captures the essence of the Christmas spirit. The lyrics describe the bustling city during Christmas time, with people rushing to buy presents and the stores that stay open late at night. However, in the midst of the chaos, the song suggests that there is something missing, and that is peace. The lyrics suggest that every soul needs peace and that the search for peace is the ultimate aim of every human being. Against this backdrop of chaos, the song encourages people to take a walk through Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, and to come and kneel before the Lamb.
The song asks the listener to search for the star that still shines through the darkness, which one can see by closing their eyes and seeking the light. The lyrics suggest that one does not have to travel anywhere to find Bethlehem, but the journey to Bethlehem can be found within faith, hope, and love. The song offers a deeper meaning to the celebration of Christmas, which is not just about the shopping, parties, and presents but also about finding and celebrating the birth of Jesus. Overall, the song encourages the listener to take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and the need for peace in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
The city's decorated up for Christmas
The entire city is decorated with various Christmas decorations, depicting the festive season and joyous spirit.
All the stores are open late tonight
On this special occasion of Christmas, retail stores are open for longer hours to enable people to finish purchase of Christmas essentials.
People hurry through the frozen streets
Despite the chilly weather, people are rushing down the streets with their shopping bags, feeling excited and joyous on this momentous occasion.
I take a walk
Amidst all the hustle and bustle, the singer goes for a walk, to cherish, reminisce and enjoy the true essence of Christmas.
Every child has a thousand wishes
Children are the happiest on this occasion, with a list of wishes for Santa Claus to make their wish come true.
Every window has a thousand lights
The city is lit up with decorative lights, creating a vibrant and colourful atmosphere.
Every soul has a need for peace
People seek inner peace and serenity on this day, to resolve conflicts and differences, and imbibe the true spirit of this special occasion.
I take a walk
The singer continues to experience the moments of joy and peace on his walk, taking in every experience of the season.
There's a star that still outshines the night
Despite the presence of bright, colourful lights, there is still an aura about Christmas night that illuminates everything. A star brings such light, just as it did over Bethlehem many years ago.
You can find it if you close your eyes
If you try to feel the essence of Christmas, you can find that light emanating even in your mind's eye, taking you back to historic moments of joy and happiness.
And see the light
As you close your eyes, you tend to see the bright glow of light, the guiding star that takes you on a journey of faith, love, and peace.
Take a walk through Bethlehem
The essence of Christmas is embedded in the historic city of Bethlehem, and the singer suggests that experiencing it is the true essence of Christmas.
Come and kneel before the lamb
Visit the city of Bethlehem, where you can kneel before the lamb, an important Christmas symbol, and seek blessings for a joyful and happy life.
Good news for every man
The message of Christmas is that of hope, positivity, and goodness, spreading joy to every person on this planet.
Walk through Bethlehem
The singer reiterates the importance of taking a walk through Bethlehem and experiencing the true essence and spirit of Christmas.
Every night another T-V special
Christmas television specials are very popular, showcasing the essence of the holiday season in different forms, and this happens every year.
Merchants counting down the shopping days
Merchants are happy too, looking at the number of increased sales over the Christmas period by capitalizing on the opportunity presented by Christmas shopping.
But something's missing underneath the tree
Despite the excitement around Christmas and Christmas shopping, the true essence of the holiday may not always be found in the materialistically derived euphoria of gifts.
I take a walk
The singer repeats the concept of taking a walk to reinforce the significance of the experience.
'Cause every heart longs for more than tinsel
Christmas is more than just a materialistic festival, as everybody desires something deeper, more profound, and significant, such as love, peace, and serenity.
Something more than just a holiday
People are looking beyond the commercialization of Christmas, realizing that something much more significant lies beyond, when we celebrate the true essence of Christmas.
Come and celebrate the baby King
The singer encourages people to celebrate the birth of the baby King Jesus, who signifies the birth of a new era of peace, love, and harmony.
Let's take a walk
The artist concludes with a final thought, yet again emphasizing the importance of taking a walk, finding faith, hope, and love in Bethlehem, and experiencing the true purpose and spirit of Christmas.
You don't have to travel anywhere
The message of Christmas lies so close to home that we do not need to travel far and wide to experience the essence of the holiday. It can be found in our everyday lives and surroundings.
Faith and hope and love will bring you there
Through the values of faith, hope, and love, one can find the true essence of Christmas, and by cherishing family and loved ones, we can bring joy and happiness to ourselves as well as others.
Bring you there
Christmas is not simply a time for festivities; it helps us discover our deeper selves and experience the essence of how important faith, love and hope are redemptive forces for life itself.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLEVELAND, JARVIS, WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind