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.
When Tomorrow Comes
Carla Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, yes, it is
For you to be thrilled just one time
Then want no more
Oh, darling, when tomorrow comes
Will you still want the love I got
Oh, tell me, when tomorrow
Will my kisses still be hot
Now will your love for me be
The kind of love that lasts
When you reach out to hold me
Tomorrow, will you reach out that fast
Oh, I want to know
When tomorrow comes
Will the need still be there
Oh, my lover
When tomorrow comes and find us
Tell me will you, will you still care
What I'm trying to say is
I don't want just a one day lover
Today with me, tomorrow with another
What I want is an everyday man
To prove that loving over and
Over again, oh, yeah, uh huh
Darling, when tomorrow comes
Will the need still be there
When tomorrow comes and finds us
Tell me, will, will you still care
I wanna know when tomorrow comes
I wanna know will, will you still need me
When tomorrow comes
Will your kisses be the way
They're supposed to be
I wanna know, know, know
In Carla Thomas's song When Tomorrow Comes, she reflects on the fleeting nature of love, expressing her fears that the passion she and her lover currently share may not last. She questions if their love will withstand the test of time; if he will still want the love she has to offer, if her kisses will still be hot, and if his love will be the kind that lasts. She is worried that he may be just a one-day lover who will move on to someone else tomorrow, and she desires an everyday man that will prove his love over and over again. Thomas's lyrics are insightful and relatable to anyone who has ever experienced the uncertainty of a new relationship.
The lyrics of When Tomorrow Comes are straightforward and touching, which is what made the song a popular hit in the 1960s. Given the time period, her feelings may have been particularly resonant with women at that time, as women's rights and roles were shifting considerably. This song may have been emblematic of that shift, highlighting women's desire for stable relationships and the kind of love that lasts.
Interestingly, the song was co-written by Isaac Hayes, who later went on to become a successful solo artist in his own right. It was produced by Jim Stewart, who co-founded Stax Records, and the arrangement is typical of Stax's soulful style, with a brass section providing backing instruments. The song also features Thomas's powerful vocals, which serve to convey the deep emotions that underlie the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
It's easy for a love to come and go
Love is something that may come in your life very easily but may go away sooner than we expect.
Oh, yes, it is
The singer agrees that it is easy for love to come and go.
For you to be thrilled just one time
It's common for people to feel the excitement of love just one time and then move on to something else.
Then want no more
People tend to lose interest in love when the excitement fades away.
Oh, darling, when tomorrow comes
The artist addresses their loved one and wonders what will happen when tomorrow comes.
Will you still want the love I got
The singer is asking their loved one if they will still want to be together when tomorrow comes.
Oh, tell me, when tomorrow
The singer is pleading to their loved one to tell them what they will do when tomorrow comes.
Comes and find us
The artist is referring to the arrival of tomorrow which may reveal what their future holds.
Will my kisses still be hot
The artist is asking if their loved one will still be passionate and affectionate towards them when tomorrow arrives.
Now will your love for me be
The artist is questioning whether their loved one truly loves them or if it's just a fleeting feeling.
The kind of love that lasts
The singer is hoping for a love that can withstand the test of time and remain for a long period of time.
When you reach out to hold me
The artist is referring to the physical touch which is often an expression of love.
Tomorrow, will you reach out that fast
The singer is curious if their loved one will still reach out to touch them when tomorrow comes or if they will hesitate.
Oh, I want to know
The singer is eager to find out what their loved one will do when tomorrow comes.
Will the need still be there
The singer is asking if their loved one will still feel the need to be with them when tomorrow arrives.
Oh, my lover
The artist is referring to their loved one in an affectionate way.
Tell me will you, will you still care
The artist wants to know if their loved one will still have feelings for them when tomorrow arrives.
What I'm trying to say is
The singer is signaling that they are about to give an explanation.
I don't want just a one day lover
The singer is expressing that they don't want someone who only loves them for a short amount of time.
Today with me, tomorrow with another
The artist is referring to the fleeting nature of love and how someone may leave them for someone else tomorrow.
What I want is an everyday man
The artist is seeking someone who will love them everyday and not just in a fleeting moment.
To prove that loving over and
The artist is hoping to find someone who will demonstrate their love for them over a long period of time.
Over again, oh, yeah, uh huh
The singer is demonstrating enthusiasm and agreement with their own statement.
I wanna know will, will you still need me
The artist is asking if their loved one will still need and want them when tomorrow arrives.
When tomorrow comes
The singer is referring to the arrival of tomorrow which has a sense of uncertainty associated with it.
Will your kisses be the way
The singer is asking if their loved one's kisses will still retain the same level of passion and excitement when tomorrow arrives.
They're supposed to be
The singer is hoping that their loved one's kisses will still express the same level of tenderness and affection as they are supposed to.
I wanna know, know, know
The artist reiterates the desire to know what their loved one will do when tomorrow comes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID PORTER, ISAAC HAYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind