Early life
Thornton was born in Arkansas to Billy Ray Thornton, a high school history teacher and basketball coach, and Virginia R. Faulkner, a psychic. Thornton has three younger brothers, Jimmy Don, born in 1958 and now deceased, Jim Bean, and John David, born in 1969. Thornton lived in both Alpine, Arkansas and Malvern, Arkansas during his childhood, and also spent time with his grandfather, Otis Thornton, a forest ranger, in a small shack in the woods. He attended Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he studied psychology but dropped out after two semesters. Thornton is the cousin of noted professional wrestlers Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk, which Terry Funk notes in his autobiography Terry Funk: More Than Hardcore.
In the late 1980s, Thornton settled in Los Angeles to pursue his career as an actor alongside future writing partner Tom Epperson. Thornton initially had a difficult time succeeding as an actor, and worked in telemarketing, off-shore wind farming and fast food management while auditioning for acting jobs. He also played drums and sang with South African rock legend Piet Botha's band Jack Hammer. While Thornton worked as a waiter for an industry event, he served film director Billy Wilder and struck up a conversation with Wilder, who advised Thornton to consider a career as a screenwriter.
Career
Thornton first came to semi-prominence as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire with John Ritter and Markie Post. His role as the villain in 1992's One False Move brought him to the attention of critics. He also had small roles in the early 1990s films Indecent Proposal, On Deadly Ground, Bound By Honor, Grey Knight, and Tombstone.
Thornton put Wilder's advice to good use, and went on to write, direct and star in the independent film Sling Blade, which was released in 1996. The film, an expansion of a short film titled Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade, told the story of Karl Childers, a mentally retarded man. Sling Blade garnered international acclaim. Thornton's screenplay earned him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, a Writers Guild of America Award, and an Edgar Award, while his performance received Oscar and Screen Actors Guild nominations for Best Actor. Thornton adapted the book All the Pretty Horses into a 2000 film with the same name, starring Matt Damon and Penélope Cruz. Also in 2000 he and Tom Epperson wrote The Gift which starred Cate Blanchett, Hilary Swank, Keanu Reeves, Katie Holmes and Giovanni Ribisi.
During the late 1990s, Thornton, who has had a life-long love for music, began a career as a singer-songwriter. He released a roots rock album entitled Private Radio in 2001, and two more albums, The Edge of the World (2003) and Hobo (2005). Thornton was the singer of a blues rock band named Tres Hombres. Guitarist Billy Gibbons referred to the band as "The best little cover band in Texas", and Thornton bears a tattoo with the band's name on it.[2] He also performed the Warren Zevon song The Wind on the tribute album Enjoy Every Sandwich: Songs of Warren Zevon. Thornton also recorded a cover of the Johnny Cash classic Ring of Fire for the Oxford American magazine's Southern Music CD in 2001. As of September 2006, Thornton is working on another album.[3]
Thornton's screen persona has been described by the press as that of a "tattooed, hirsute man's man".[1] He appeared in several major film roles following Sling Blade 's success, including 1998's Armageddon and A Simple Plan, 2001's Monster's Ball and 2004's The Alamo, in which he played Davy Crockett. He played a malicious mall Santa Claus in 2003's Bad Santa, a black comedy that performed well at the box office and established Thornton as a leading comic actor. Thornton has stated that following Bad Santa's success, audiences "like to watch [him] play that kind of guy"[1] and "they [casting directors] call me up when they need an asshole. It's kinda that simple... you know how narrow the imagination in this business can be".[4] His most recent role is in the comic film School for Scoundrels, which was released on September 29, 2006. In the film, he plays a self-help doctor; the role was written specifically for Thornton.[1] His upcoming roles include The Astronaut Farmer, a drama scheduled for a February 23, 2007 release; another comedy, Mr. Woodcock, in which Thornton will play a sadistic gym teacher; and the drama Peace Like A River, which is scheduled to begin filming in early 2007. Thornton has also expressed an interest in directing another film, possibly a period piece about cave explorer Floyd Collins,[5] based on the book Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins by Robert K. Murray and Roger Brucker.
Thornton received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 7, 2004.
Personal life
Thornton has stated on several occasions that he has obsessive-compulsive disorder; he and rock singer Warren Zevon became close friends after sharing their common experiences with the disorder.[6] He is known for various idiosyncratic behaviors, well-documented in interviews with the actor. Among these is a phobia of antique furniture, something shared by the Dwight Yoakam character in the Thornton-penned Sling Blade. That trait was also added to Thornton's character in the 2001 film Bandits. Additionally, he has stated that he has a fear of certain types of silverware,[7] a trait which was included for his character in 2001's Monster's Ball, in which his character requests a plastic spoon each time he consumes his daily bowl of chocolate ice cream.
Thornton lives in Los Angeles. He has been married five times, perhaps most notably to actress Angelina Jolie. The pair were known for their eccentric behavior, including reports that they wore vials of each others' blood around their necks; he later clarified this to be that the two of them wore small lockets that contained a drop of blood from each of them inside.[1][8] Thornton and Jolie adopted a child from Cambodia renamed Maddox. Jolie's divorce petition named the child as being both hers and Thornton's offspring and requested the Court grant her custody and Thornton reasonable parenting time.[9] He is the father of four other children: Amanda Spence with his first wife, Melissa Gatlin; William Langston and Harry James with his fourth wife, Pietra Cherniak; and Bella, with Connie Angland, who is Thornton's current girlfriend. Thornton has also stated that he will likely not marry again; he has specified that he believes that marriage "doesn't work" for him.[1]
On September 11, 2003, Thornton had received word that his ex-Hearts Afire star, John Ritter had passed away, while filming the last movie Bad Santa, which was dedicated to him. He along with Markie Post attended Ritter's funeral four days after his co-star's death.
That Mountain
Billy Bob Thornton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been hearing all my life
Every night, at sundown
I hear its lonesome cry
When I look through the screen door
I see a rocking chair
My mama's sitting in it
She wants to go over that mountain
To see what's on the other side
She said, "I want to go over that mountain
Before the day that I die"
Well she's never set foot
Out of this poor valley holler
Though she talks about her dreams
Of some other way to fly
Eighty seven years of living
And never had much of anything
Is it asking too much to see
A damned old diesel train?
She wants to go over that mountain
To see what's on the other side
She said, "I want to go over that mountain
Before the day that I die"
Twenty years ago, today
My daddy left this holler
He said, "I'll be coming back
Tomorrow night"
I remember the sound
Of his boot heels in the gravel
Well, he ain't been back since
And he never said goodbye
She wants to go over that mountain
To see what's on the other side
She said, "I want to go over that mountain
Before the day that I die
Before the day that I die"
Billy Bob Thornton's song "That Mountain" is a mournful reflection on the unfulfilled dreams of a woman who spent her life in poverty and isolation. The song opens with the image of a train, a familiar motif in American folklore that represents both freedom and oppression. The singer hears the train's lonesome cry every night at sundown, a sound that has haunted him throughout his life. Through the screen door, he sees his mother sitting in a rocking chair, lost in thought. She yearns to see what's on the other side of the mountain, to escape the narrow confines of her home and her life. She speaks of her dreams of traveling and seeing the world, but has never had the opportunity to do so. Her poverty and isolation have left her stranded in a place where she feels trapped and unfulfilled.
The song also touches on the father's absence in the family. The father left the family twenty years ago and never returned. The singer remembers the sound of his boot heels in the gravel, but he has not seen him since. The father's departure created a void in the family that has never been filled. The mother's desire to see what's on the other side of the mountain takes on a deeper significance in light of the father's departure. She is searching for some way to fill the void in her life, to find a sense of purpose and meaning.
In conclusion, “That Mountain” is a poignant narrative that explores the themes of isolation, unfulfilled dreams, and the search for meaning in life. It's a song that speaks to the human desire for something more, for a life beyond the narrow confines of our circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a big black train
There's something ominous ahead
I've been hearing all my life
It's been a long-standing fear
Every night, at sundown
It's an unsettling time
I hear its lonesome cry
It's calling out to me
When I look through the screen door
I catch a glimpse of life
I see a rocking chair
And a sense of peace
My mama's sitting in it
But she's not content
Thinking 'bout that world out there
Wondering what else is out there
She wants to go over that mountain
She wants a new adventure
To see what's on the other side
To discover what else life has to offer
She said, "I want to go over that mountain
She's made up her mind
Before the day that I die"
Before it's too late
Well she's never set foot
She's stuck in this place
Out of this poor valley holler
In this isolated community
Though she talks about her dreams
She hasn't given up hope
Of some other way to fly
Of reaching her goals
Eighty seven years of living
She's lived a long life
And never had much of anything
Without much to show for it
Is it asking too much to see
Is it too much to want
A damned old diesel train?
Something that's just out of reach
Twenty years ago, today
A significant event happened a while ago
My daddy left this holler
My father left this place
He said, "I'll be coming back
He promised to return
Tomorrow night"
In the near future
I remember the sound
It's etched in my memory
Of his boot heels in the gravel
As he walked away
Well, he ain't been back since
He never returned
And he never said goodbye
He left without a proper farewell
Before the day that I die"
Before it's too late for me too
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY BOB THORNTON, MARTY STUART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Crow Whisperer
I’d love to sing with Billy Bob ❤️ this tune is kickass!!!!
KevsLemonade
I usually don't like actors' turn in music or country music for that matter but billy is that rare exception. Great actor, awesome song. Very passionate
Remington Riders
I'm just learning that Billy Bob sings and has an album. This is a wonderful song.
AHM-e Rudeness
I like it... sounds like real country, bluegrass music.🤘
Crazy Comanche
Love it
Bee Allen- Hine
Love this song, so many women can relate .
Stacey NG
Billy Has It All Going. Beautiful Voice
Xander doyle
You guys have a great sense of time. well done.
So Specially Me
this song is awesome and love the atmosphere of the video. more like this Billy Bob. 👍👍
Ms. A
I love this song to pieces.