At the age of 17, she recorded a duet with her father Rufus Thomas, "Because I Love You", which became a Southern hit and gave the Satellite label (later Stax Records) its first real success.
In 1961 she rose to national prominence with "Gee Whiz (Look in His Eyes)", which reached the Top Ten in both the R&B and Pop categories, becoming the first Memphis soul record to have an impact nationwide and ensuring the success of the Stax Records label.
In the next ten years, she had 22 singles on the national charts, including "I'll Bring It on Home to You" (an answer to Sam Cooke's "Bring It on Home to Me"), "Let Me Be Good to You", and Isaac Hayes' "B-A-B-Y".
She is well-known for her duets with Otis Redding, from the album King & Queen, including the recordings of the Lowell Fulson composition "Tramp" and the Steve Cropper/Eddie Floyd song "Knock on Wood".
In 1993 Carla Thomas received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
Pick Up The Pieces
Carla Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We keep breaking each other's hearts
Tell me how long can things go on
Before all our love is gone
Tell me now
Can we pick up the pieces
Can we pick up the pieces
I don't want to lose you now
We keep acting like little children
Playing games that's so unfair
We keep stepping on each other's feelings
When deep down, deep down
We really, really care
Got to pick up the pieces
Got to pick up the pieces
And start all over
Start all over
I know we can make it
This time we can go all the way
Cause I realized now
The cost of losing you
Is too high a price
Oh, for me to pay
Ooh, baby
I don't ever wanna lose you now
Start all over
Start all over
Got to pick up the pieces
Got to pick up the pieces
I don't ever, I don't ever
Wanna lose you, baby
We're gonna pick 'em up
Pick up the pieces
Ooh, baby, your love
You don't know
How much you means to me
And we're gonna
do it
We're gonna pick up the pieces
Carla Thomas's song "Pick Up The Pieces" is a plea to save a relationship that's falling apart. Throughout the song, she acknowledges the difficulties they face and their relationship problems but believes it's not too late to fix. However, they can only achieve this by putting aside their childish behavior and coming together as adults. Thomas sings "we keep breaking each other's hearts" and "playing games that's so unfair" which highlights a relationship that has been hurt by petty arguments and childish behavior.
Moreover, the song's chorus constantly repeats the words "pick up the pieces, and start all over" emphasizing that it's not too late for saving their relationship. Thomas believes they can overcome their problems if both parties are willing to make a conscious effort to change. She ends the song saying "Ooh, baby, your love, you don't know how much you mean to me, and we're gonna do it, we're gonna pick up the pieces," which is an expression of her desire to keep the relationship going despite everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, boy, we're drifting apart
The relationship is falling apart.
We keep breaking each other's hearts
Both parties are getting hurt in the relationship.
Tell me how long can things go on
Wondering how much longer the relationship can last.
Before all our love is gone
It feels like all the love in the relationship is fading away.
Can we pick up the pieces
Asking if they can fix the relationship.
And start all over
Starting fresh with a new beginning.
I don't want to lose you now
Expressing how important the other person is to them.
Playing games that's so unfair
Acting immature and causing unnecessary conflict.
We keep stepping on each other's feelings
Harming each other emotionally.
When deep down, deep down We really, really care
Despite the issues, they still have strong feelings for one another.
I know we can make it
Believing in the possibility of saving the relationship.
This time we can go all the way
Feeling confident that the relationship can reach its full potential.
The cost of losing you Is too high a price Oh, for me to pay
Saying they cannot bear the thought of losing the other person.
Ooh, baby, your love You don't know How much you means to me
Acknowledging the importance of their partner in their life.
We'll pick up the pieces, baby And start all over again
Reiterating their commitment to repairing the relationship and starting anew.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDRE HARRIS, VIDAL DAVIS, DOMINI QUINN, PHILLIP A. WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
soln4suhreborn
The Big 6 ( Booket T & The MG's,Issac Hayes and David Porter) may have resented the fact that Don Davis came to Memphis from Detroit and altered the "Stax Sound" significantly but you cannot deny that his contributions made Stax even a bigger force to be reckoned with than it was before. And yes it was recorded at United Sound in Detroit. This recording was the first session Davis recorded for Stax.
Michael Hinchcliffe
My all-time favourite Carla Thomas track. Still got the original 7" vinyl. Johnny Taylor also did a good version.
Fred Grier
A much under-appreciated song by Carla Thomas! Should have been a mega hit if it had been promoted properly. This song still sound great some 50 years later. It should have been at least 30 to 60 seconds longer but during that era so many great songs were limited to 3 minutes or less.
Gwendolyn Thomas
This is my girl, all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Love me some Carla Thomas
Gwendolyn Thomas
I love me some Carla Thomas! Pick up the pieces and start all over, because I know that we can make it!
Weaver
WONDERFUL MUSIC
discolarry124
I just heard this on waxstax, I remember this song wayyyyy back in the day. This is a lovely song, has nice meaning... lovely voice, foxy looking lady too.
Tiare Wheeler
Lovely song
soln4suhreborn
I would love to have an instrumentsl version of this because let's face it...the track is HOT!! The drums are smackin' and the bass is deep and the guitar is cracklin'! Add the strings and horns for icing and the results are golden!
Gwendolyn Thomas
Scroll down on utube, Frank E. Thomas, Ph.D., Stax off Branch