He rose to fame in the mid-1960s, with an exuberant live act which included wearing tight breeches and billowing shirts, in an Edwardian style popular amongst his peers at the time. He was known for his overt sexuality, before this was as common as it became in subsequent years.
In 1963 he became the frontman for Tommy Scott and the Senators, a local beat group. Clad all in black leather, Tom soon gained a reputation in the South Wales area. The Senators were still all unheard of in London.
In 1964 they laid down a few tracks with maverick Telstar producer Joe Meek, and took them to various labels in an attempt to get a record deal. The plan was to release a single, Lonely Joe / I Was A Fool, but the ever-flighty Meek refused to release the tapes. The group returned to South Wales and continued to play gigs at dance halls and working mens clubs. One night, at the Top Hat in Cwmtillery, Tom was spotted by Gordon Mills, a London-based manager originally from South Wales. Mills became Tom's manager, and took the young singer to London. He also renamed him Tom Jones. The Senators became the Playboys, and later still the Squires.
Jones was awarded the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for 1965. It's Not Unusual, after the song having first been offered to Sandie Shaw. Jones recorded what was intended to be a demo for Shaw, but when she heard it she was so impressed with Jones' delivery that she declined the song and recommended that Jones release it himself. The record was the second Decca single Jones released, reaching number one in the UK charts in 1965. It was also the first hit for Jones in the US, peaking at #10 in May of that year. The single was released in the US on the Parrot label and also reached #3 on Billboard's easy listening chart. Jones used this song as the theme for his late 1960s-early 1970s musical variety series This Is Tom Jones. It has since become Jones' signature song.
In 1965 Tom sang the theme tune to the James Bond film Thunderball.
Jones' recording career slumped on the pop charts during the 1970s and 80s, although he placed 16 singles on the Billboard Country Music charts between 1976 and 1985, the biggest of which was "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" (# 1 Country, # 15 pop) in 1977, and his touring continued successfully. When his son Mark became his manager in 1987, his musical style was taken in a different direction. His recording career was revived with his first major hit single in over a decade, "A Boy From Nowhere", taken from the musical Matador. In 1988 he collaborated with The Art of Noise to record Prince's popular song "Kiss". Following this, he started to record in collaboration with a younger generation of musicians
His Reload album, released in 2000, became the biggest hit of his career. An album of cover versions recorded as duets with contemporary artists, using their record producers, and utilising their recording methods, it reached number one in the United Kingdom, and sold over 4 million copies worldwide.[1] In 2002, he released the album Mr. Jones, which was produced by Wyclef Jean and included the singles "Tom Jones International" and "Black Betty". In 2003, he was honored with a BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004, his "Sex Bomb" single became a major club hit.
On New Year's Eve 2000 President Bill Clinton invited Tom to perform at the Millennium Celebrations in Washington. Throughout 2000, Tom garnered several honours for his work, including a Brit Award for Best Male. In 2001 Tom toured throughout the Middle East and Europe. In subsequent years Tom recorded albums in collaboration with such artists as Wyclef Jean and Jools Holland.
In celebration of his 65th birthday, on 28 May 2005 Tom returned to his homeland to perform a spectacular concert in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd. This was Tom's first performance in Ponty since 1964.
For his contribution to the recording industry, Tom Jones has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6608 Hollywood Blvd.
In 2005 the album Together In Concert, was recorded live with John Farnham and his band.
He has collaborated with Chicane for "Stoned in Love", a dance track that was released 24 April 2006. It entered at number eight in the UK charts the following Sunday.
In 2007, he signed to New York-based independent label S-Curve, owned by music executive Steve Greenberg.
The singer was awarded an OBE in 1999 and a Knight Bachelor in the 2006 New Years Honours list for his services to music and was subsequently knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, London on 29 March 2006.[7]
On 1 July 2007, Jones was one of the invited artists who performed at Wembley Stadium at the Concert for Diana, joined on stage by guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith and British soul singer Joss Stone. He sang the British National Anthem before Ricky Hatton's fight against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas on 8 December 2007. On 19 April 2008 he sang the Welsh National Anthem at the Calzaghe-Hopkins fight in Las Vegas.
Although his manager and public relations staff have attempted to change his sex-bomb image and neutralize the knicker-throwing fans, to the delight of his audiences Jones has never felt the need to tone down his behavior in the shows. Tom Jones has remained highly respected by other singers and continues to attract audiences of all ages. As of 2008, Jones continues to tour and record. A major portion of the year he regularly performs his show at the MGM Grand hotel, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, USA. His show at the MGM is performed in a cabaret-style theater. Other venues on his yearly schedule include numerous shows at Atlantic City, NJ and appearances in the USA, United Kingdom and Canada. In February 2007, Jones made a long-awaited South American tour.
On 17 September 2008, Jones announced the release of his retro-tinged album "24 Hours" on S-Curve Records, his first for 15 years in the US; notably, this is the first record in which he's had a direct song-writing input. It was produced largely by drum'n'bass stalwarts Future Cut.
"It's all very well just singing songs," says Jones, "but for this record I really wanted to get properly personal. I've been getting reflective recently, looking over my journey through life, and I wanted to get that down on song. This time I wanted to make something that was all about me, my stories, my life. In other words, you listen to this album and you get the real me."
Detroit City
Tom Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I dreamed about them cotton fields of home
I dreamed about my mother, dear old pappy, sister and brother
And I dreamed about the girl who's been waitin' for so long
I want to go home
I want to go home
Oh, how I want to go home
Home folks think I'm big in Detroit City
From the letters that I write they think I'm just fine, yes they do
But by day I make the cars and by night I make the bars
If only they could read between the lines
('Cause you know I rode a freight train north to Detroit City)
(And after all these years I find I've just been wastin' my time)
(You know what I'm gonna do)
(I'm gonna take my foolish pride)
(Get it on a southbound freight and let it ride)
(I'm gonna go back to the loved ones)
(The ones I left waiting so far behind)
I want to go home, yeah
I want to go home
Oh, how I want to go home (can't you hear me)
I want to go home
Whoa, baby I want to go home
Oh, how I want to go home (somebody help me)
I want to go home, yeah
I want to go home, whoa oh
Oh, how I want to go home
The song “Detroit City” by Tom Jones depicts the struggles and homesickness of a man who moved to Detroit in search of work. The song starts with the singer dreaming of his hometown and family members while in Detroit. He misses his mother, father, sister, brother, and a girl who has been waiting for him for a long time. He wants to go back home where he feels he belongs. The second stanza reveals that his family thinks he is doing well in Detroit based on his letters. However, he is living a dual life where he works in a car manufacturing company by day and frequents bars at night. The singer is using this song to express his desire to leave Detroit and his life there for a better life at home, where he believes his real happiness lies.
One can interpret the song as an expression of the complex realities of life. The singer chose to move to Detroit for a better life and to make something of himself, but found himself caught between the hard work of manufacturing cars and the pressure to spend money on entertainment. He initially comforts himself with the idea that his family thinks he is doing well in Detroit, but his true desire is to go back home, where he thinks he belongs.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I went to sleep in Detroit City
Tom went to bed in Detroit city last night.
I dreamed about them cotton fields of home
Tom dreamed about his hometown and the cotton fields he is familiar with.
I dreamed about my mother, dear old pappy, sister and brother
In his dream, Tom thinks of his parents and siblings whom he misses dearly.
And I dreamed about the girl who's been waitin' for so long
Tom thinks of the girl whom he left behind in his hometown.
Home folks think I'm big in Detroit City
Tom's hometown folks think he is doing well in Detroit City.
From the letters that I write they think I'm just fine, yes they do
Tom writes to his family and they think he is doing well from the content of his letters.
But by day I make the cars and by night I make the bars
Tom is a factory worker by day and a bar goer at night in Detroit City.
If only they could read between the lines
Tom wishes his family could see the struggles he is facing in Detroit.
('Cause you know I rode a freight train north to Detroit City)
Tom travelled to Detroit City by freight train.
(And after all these years I find I've just been wastin' my time)
Tom thinks he's been wasting his time in Detroit City for all these years.
(You know what I'm gonna do)
Tom plans to do something.
(I'm gonna take my foolish pride)
Tom wants to leave his foolish pride behind.
(Get it on a southbound freight and let it ride)
Tom plans to take a southbound freight train back home.
(I'm gonna go back to the loved ones)
Tom wants to go back to his family whom he misses.
(The ones I left waiting so far behind)
Tom is sad that he left his family behind.
I want to go home, yeah
Tom wants to go back home.
Oh, how I want to go home (can't you hear me)
Tom expresses his urgency to go back home.
I want to go home
Tom reiterates his desire to go back home.
Whoa, baby I want to go home
Tom wants to go back home so bad.
Oh, how I want to go home (somebody help me)
Tom pleads for help in getting back home.
I want to go home, yeah
Tom cannot wait to go back home.
I want to go home, whoa oh
Tom cannot emphasize enough how much he wants to go back home.
Oh, how I want to go home
Tom's desire to go back home is strong.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANNY DILL, MEL TILLIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patrick Stocks
Last night I went to sleep in Detroit city 🏙
And I dreamed about those cotton fields at home 🏠
I dreamed about my mother
Dear old Papa 👴 Sister & brother
I dreamed about that girl
Who’s been waiting for so long
I wanna go home 🏡 I wanna go home 🏠
Oh, how I wanna go home!
Home, folks think I’m big in Detroit city 🌆
From the letters that I write, they think I’m fine
But by day I make the cars 🚗
And by night I make the bars
If only they could read between the line!
I rode a fright train north to Detroit city 🌃
After all these years
I find that I’ve just been wastin’ my time
So I just think I’ll take my foolish pride
Put on a south bound freight and ride
Goin’ back to the love ones
The ones I left waitin’ so far behind
I wanna go home I wanna go home 🏡
I wanna go home 🏡 I wanna go home 🏡
Oh, how I want to go home 🏡
SB OFFICIAL
Detroit City"
Last night I went to sleep in Detroit City,
I dreamed about them cotton fields at home.
I dreamed about my mother,
dear old Papa, Sister and brother,
And i dreamed about the girl
who's been waiting for so long.
I wanna go home, I wanna go home,
Ooh, how I wanna go home!
Home, folks think I'm big in Detroit City.
From the letters that I write, they think I'm just fine, yes they do
But by day, I make the cars,
and by night I make the bars,
If only they could read between the lines!
[Spoken]
Coz You know,
I rode a freight train north
to Detroit City.
And After all these years,
I find I've just been wastin' my time.
You know what I'm gonna do
Im gonna take my foolish pride,
Get it on a south bound freight and let it ride,
I'm gonna go back to the love ones,
The ones I left waitin' so far behind.
I wanna go home, Yeah... I wanna go home,
oh, how I want to go home.
Can you hear me
I wanna go home, oh baby... I wanna go home,
oh, how I want to go home.
Somebody help me
I wanna go home, Yeah... I wanna go home,
oh, how I want to go home.
the king
I have always been a tom Jones fan since I was a kid. My late father always use to play his songs. My first ever album was the green green grass of home. My father gave it to me when I was a small child. Been a fan ever since. God bless you tom.
Paul Brown
Same here. I've got some decca LPS and cds of Tom Jones. He's a fantastic singer. Clarity. Powerful voice. He sound good on my powerful technics stereo. Outstanding.
Rico T
This cover of a Sonny James by Tom Jones reached No.8 in the UK charts in March 1967 and was the UK's 99th best seller of that year.
Sandburg Martin
With ALL due respect Rick this is a cover of a Bobby Bare song. Check out his older tunes also. You may be surprised at all he recorded and wrote. He and Sonny James did have a vaguely similar sound.
Windsong1a
Super cool guitar instrumental and super soulful vocal delivery of this song!!
Fernando barbedo
No one beats the killer but the instrumental on this one is just perfect. Great
Mike Kaatman
As good as it will ever get...this is as perfect a performance as you will ever hear in all it's aspects.
Powerfull..skilfull...timeless.
Sesh Charran
The beginning of this song is so perfect that guitar is a killer
Michael Clayton
A great song and a great singer.
Patrick Stocks
Last night I went to sleep in Detroit city 🏙
And I dreamed about those cotton fields at home 🏠
I dreamed about my mother
Dear old Papa 👴 Sister & brother
I dreamed about that girl
Who’s been waiting for so long
I wanna go home 🏡 I wanna go home 🏠
Oh, how I wanna go home!
Home, folks think I’m big in Detroit city 🌆
From the letters that I write, they think I’m fine
But by day I make the cars 🚗
And by night I make the bars
If only they could read between the line!
I rode a fright train north to Detroit city 🌃
After all these years
I find that I’ve just been wastin’ my time
So I just think I’ll take my foolish pride
Put on a south bound freight and ride
Goin’ back to the love ones
The ones I left waitin’ so far behind
I wanna go home I wanna go home 🏡
I wanna go home 🏡 I wanna go home 🏡
Oh, how I want to go home 🏡