Tom Jones: “I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall”
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It’s not every day that an 82-year-old crooner breaks your heart with a song of devotion. But then not everyone—indeed no one else—is Tom Jones.
He took his stage name from the famous 1963 film about a loveable, irresistible ne’er-do-well. He’s been singing for the world ever since, first as the leading voice of Tommy Scott and the Senators, a Welsh Rock/Blues band, and later as a solo act. He recorded the theme song for the Bond film Thunderball—and reportedly passed out in the studio on the final note.
These were early acts in a very public life. But Jones was less in the spotlight in recent years. Until one night in 2022, that is, when as a coach on The Voice UK, he agreed to fill a little airtime with an impromptu cover of Bernice Johnson Reagon’s “I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall.” And brought the house down. His rendition quickly became one of the top songs in the country, and was heard and loved around the world.
Reagon’s song is about showing strength for our Loved Ones when they’re down, about giving them the gift of persevering even when they cannot. And Jones’ explanation of why it matters so much to him is a tear-jerker par excellance. But it’s also greatly uplifting. Enjoy.