Current members of Blue October include Justin Furstenfeld (lead vocals), Ryan Delahoussaye (violin/viola, mandolin, keyboards, and vocals), Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums, percussion), Matt Noveskey (bass guitar) and Will Knaak (guitar).
Popularized by their platinum-certified album Foiled (2006), which features the hit singles “Hate Me” and “Into the Ocean,” the group has continued to evolve… shifting from a far more pensive sound to one that is more optimistic and reflective of lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld’s transformation—which will also be the focus of his soon-to-be-released documentary film, I Want It.
Once known for their stormy dynamic and self-destructive tendencies, Blue October couldn’t be more distinct from the band it once was, which is why their latest studio album, I Hope You’re Happy, looks to push the envelope even further with a whole new approach. Justin Furstenfeld is quoted as saying "I think Blue October should never be limited to the instruments we have in the band. I’m always about bringing in whoever can play what’s best for the song in. I’m also a huge fan of Peter Gabriel, and if you were to him all you can have is a guitarist a bassist and a drummer, he’d go “what?!” That’s how I feel. We took all the tools we had gotten from working all these kinds of people over the twenty-year span and made a really good album and we’re super proud of it. It’s nice and colorful and positive and universally themed. It’s something you can really sink your teeth into and not get sick of. You can always discover little new secrets about it along the way."
Their latest album, I Hope You're Happy, was released on August 17, 2018 on the band's own Up/Down Records label and was produced by Justin Furstenfeld and engineer Eric Holtz.
Previous band members have included Liz Mulally, Brant Coulter, Dwayne Casey, Piper Dagnino, Julian Mandrake, CB Hudson and Matthew Ostrander.
Blue October has an official site www.blueoctober.com/.
For the British band, please see Blue October UK
Congratulations (Feat. Imogen
Blue October Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Congratulations
Would you like to take a walk with me
My mind it kind of goes fast
I try to slow it down for you
I think I'd love to take a drive
I want to give you something
My heart
My heart, my pain won't cover up
You left me... uh uh uh uh
(My heart)
My heart won't take this cover up
You left me... uh uh uh uh
I came to see the light in my best friend
You seemed as happy as you'd ever been
My chance of being open was broken
And now you're Mrs. him
My words they don't come out right
But I'll try to say I'm happy for you
I think I'm going to take that drive
I want to give you something
I've been wanting to give to you for years
My heart
My heart, my pain won't cover up
You left me... uh uh uh uh
My heart
My heart won't take this cover up
You left me... uh uh uh uh
And I can't change this
I can never take it back
But now I can't change your mind
(You left me... uh uh uh uh)
And I can't take this
I can never take this back
But now I can't change your mind
Can't change your mind
(You left me... uh uh uh uh)
Can't change your mind
(You left me... uh uh uh uh)
(You left me... uh uh uh uh)
(You left me... uh uh uh uh)
Go away
Make it go away
Please
The song "Congratulations" by Blue October featuring Imogen Heap is a heartfelt ballad that speaks to the pain of love and loss. The lyrics talk about a man who has had his heart broken after seeing his best friend marry someone else. The opening lines are an awkward attempt at small talk, as the man asks his friend's new wife if he can take a walk with her. The chorus speaks to the man's pain and inability to cover it up, as he tries to be happy for his friend but still feels the sting of rejection. He wants to give his heart to his friend's wife, but he knows it's too late.
Throughout the song, the man's thoughts race and he struggles to find the right words to say. He knows he can't change what's happened, and he begs for the pain to go away. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the man's hurt and despair. The song ends with the repeated plea to make the pain go away, a final cry for help and release from the pain of lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Is that seat taken?
Asking if someone is occupying a specific seat as a means to initiate a conversation or connection.
Congratulations
Expressing a genuine and positive sentiment towards someone in their accomplishments or good fortune.
Would you like to take a walk with me
Proposing an activity or offer to spend time with someone in an effort to foster a deeper connection.
My mind it kind of goes fast
Describing the feeling of having racing thoughts or a tendency to overthink things.
I try to slow it down for you
Making an effort to calm down one's mind or thoughts for the sake of being more present in the moment and attentive to others around them.
I think I'd love to take a drive
Expressing a desire to escape or take a break with someone for a change of scenery or environment.
I want to give you something
Expressing a desire to share or offer something of value to someone as a means to show appreciation or deepen a connection.
I've been wanting to give to you for years
Implying a long-standing desire or intention to share or offer something to another person, possibly indicating suppressed feelings or unmet needs.
My heart
Referring to one's innermost feelings, emotions, or desires.
My heart, my pain won't cover up
Acknowledging the existence of emotional pain or heartbreak that cannot be easily concealed or ignored.
You left me... uh uh uh uh
Suggesting that the singer has been rejected, abandoned, or left behind by someone they cared about deeply, causing emotional distress.
My heart won't take this cover up
Indicating that the artist cannot simply conceal or suppress their emotional pain or heartbreak, as it is too overwhelming.
I came to see the light in my best friend
Describing the singer's close relationship with someone who they considered a best friend, potentially revealing a shift in their dynamic or romantic feelings.
You seemed as happy as you'd ever been
Observing a positive change or improvement in someone's demeanor or happiness, possibly due to a new relationship or life event.
My chance of being open was broken
Implying that the singer had previously harbored feelings or intentions that could no longer be expressed due to the other person's involvement with someone else.
And now you're Mrs. him
Acknowledging that the other person is now married or committed to someone else, which has closed the door on any potential romantic connection between them.
My words they don't come out right
Expressing difficulty or frustration in communicating or expressing oneself effectively, potentially due to strong emotions or stress.
But I'll try to say I'm happy for you
Making an effort to express goodwill or positivity towards someone despite personal feelings or disappointments.
And I can't change this
Acknowledging that circumstances or events outside of one's control have led to a situation that cannot be altered or undone.
I can never take it back
Recognizing that certain actions or words have permanently affected a relationship or situation, and cannot be redone or retracted.
But now I can't change your mind
Accepting that the other person's decisions or emotions are not within the power of the artist to alter or influence.
Can't change your mind
Repeating the idea that the other person's thoughts or feelings cannot be altered by the artist, emphasizing a sense of resignation or finality.
Go away
Desiring to escape or remove oneself from an uncomfortable or distressing situation or feeling.
Make it go away
Expressing a wish or desire for a problem or pain to disappear or be resolved, indicating feelings of helplessness or frustration.
Please
An informal request for help or assistance, underscoring a sense of vulnerability or desperation.
Contributed by Penelope H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@silence433
Got this album when it first came out, I must've been only 14 or 15 at the time. I was too young to really know heartbreak but I had lost a close friend to suicide and this song always made me think of her.
I also always heard "you lift me up" instead of the "you left me" lyrics.
Love this album, thank you Blue October for such heartfelt music. I'm 28 now and still love hearing Foiled in its entirety.
@jakestein32
I HEARD THAT TOO for the longest time
@stephensmith3215
when you find a song by accident and it rocks you to the core damn what a fine piece of artistic talent
@ivansnegireff4765
miss u
@broadbandbooking4592
amen!
@shaxnax
No matter how many times I've heard this song.. every time the chorus starts my whole body gets goosebumps. :D I am in love with Blue October's art.
@paulk1888
He's fantastic I'm not really an emotional person but I've seen me sitting with tears running down my face because of him 😊
@trustfire
This has to be one of the emotional songs i've ever heard, you can hear the grief in his voice. Amazing song.
@RandomGenericComment
if not a "friend-zoned" song; it's a song about old loves and missed chances. Its hard to accept that you've lost someone forever, and takes a lot of time and repairing before you're able to love again. for most, anyways. The hard choice is whether its better to be a supportive friend to the person you love, or save yourself the immense pain of having to watch from the sidelines. What do you guys think?
@wendylamse9992
I personally believe that it depends on one's perspective. Love can be shown in many ways.