Staton sang with the Jewell Gospel Trio and as teenagers, they toured the traditional gospel circuit in the 1950s with The Soul Stirrers, C. L. Franklin, and Mahalia Jackson. They recorded several sides for Nashbro, Apollo[disambiguation needed ], and Savoy Records between 1953 and 1963, before launching a solo career in 1968.
She had 16 R&B hits for Fame Studios and received Grammy nominations for cover versions of country standards. In 1975 she started working with disco producer Dave Crawford and had hits "Young Hearts Run Free" and "Victim". Also, The Mighty Majors ("You Can Never Go Back") was her backup band once on the road.
In 1982 she returned to gospel forming Beracah Ministries with her husband John Sussewell. In 1991 she had a top 10 UK hit as The Source featuring Candi Staton with dance track "You Got The Love".
In 2004 when Sex and the City ended its successful six-year run, the last song played on that show was "You Got the Love" with Sarah Jessica Parker walking down New York City streets and talking about the endless relationship with herself.
The Best Thing You Ever Had
Candi Staton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With your new love
I hope she brings you joy
Into your world
But just leave on baby
Time is gonna prove
I was the best thing you ever had
I know I was
I don't hold
Nothing against you
For you to destroy my mind
Take my whole life too
But leave on baby (time is gonna prove)
Time is gonna prove
I was the best thing you ever had
(yes I was the best thing you ever had)
I know I was
How many tears have to fall?
Oh lord I don't believe you have no heart at all
How many hearts must be broken in two?
For your conscience starts working on you
I suffered, I suffered so long
You get your pleasure out of doing me wrong
But leave, leave, leave, leave (time is gonna prove)
Time is gonna prove (I was the best thing)
The best thing, the best thing you ever had
Oooh
Live on baby
I just want you to live on (live on baby, baby live on)
You live on baby
I want you to live on (live on baby, baby live on)
Leave on baby (time is gonna prove)
Time is gonna prove (I was the best thing) you ever had
(Yes I was the best thing you ever had)
I know I was Oooh
You made me suffer, so I want you to live on (live on baby, baby live on)
You made me stay home all night long (live on baby, baby live on)
So I want you to live on I want you to live on baby (time is gonna prove)
Time is gonna prove I was the best thing you ever had
Yes I was the best thing you ever had
In "The Best Thing You Ever Had," Candi Staton sings about a past lover who has moved on with someone new. She hopes that her former partner finds happiness with his new love, but she is also confident that he will realize that she was the best thing he ever had. Staton harbors no ill will towards the ex, despite the pain he caused her in the past. She acknowledges that over time, her worth and value will become more apparent to him, and he will regret the mistake he made in letting her go.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of karma, with Staton wondering how many tears need to be shed and how many hearts need to be broken before her ex realizes the error of his ways. She has clearly suffered a great deal due to his actions, but still prefers that he find happiness in the end rather than face the same pain she has. The song ends with Staton encouraging him to live on and move forward, as she knows that time will eventually prove that she was indeed the best thing he ever had.
Line by Line Meaning
I hope you are happy
I wish the best for you and hope that you are content.
With your new love
In your current romantic relationship.
I hope she brings you joy
I hope that your new partner brings happiness to your life.
Into your world
In your life and your experiences.
But just leave on baby
It's time for you to move on and leave my life for good.
Time is gonna prove
As time passes, the real truth will reveal itself.
I was the best thing you ever had
I was the best partner you ever had and you will realize this in time.
I don't hold
I do not harbor any negative feelings.
Nothing against you
I do not blame you.
For you to destroy my mind
For you to cause me so much mental anguish.
Take my whole life too
To completely break me.
How many tears have to fall?
How much pain must I endure?
Oh lord I don't believe you have no heart at all
I doubt that you are incapable of feeling empathy or compassion.
How many hearts must be broken in two?
How many individuals will you emotionally harm?
For your conscience starts working on you
Eventually, your guilt will catch up with you.
I suffered, I suffered so long
I endured so much emotional pain for a significant period of time.
You get your pleasure out of doing me wrong
You found enjoyment and satisfaction in hurting me.
But leave, leave, leave, leave
It's time for you to depart from my life.
Live on baby
Keep living your life without me.
I just want you to live on (live on baby, baby live on)
I wish you the best, despite our past and current differences.
You made me stay home all night long
You caused me to feel trapped and isolated within our relationship.
So I want you to live on
I want you to continue with your life without me.
I was the best thing you ever had
I was the best romantic partner you ever had and you will eventually regret your actions.
Oooh
Musical interlude.
Contributed by Mila R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Willman Musicman
so much pain in her voice,authentic soul music straight out of Muscle Shoals,her best work in my humble opinion!
Eternal Sunshine
I just wish she started recording 4/5 years earlier so that her music had pure 60s soul sound instead of this pre-disco 70s orchestrations I'm not a big fan of, little bit all over the place... but beautiful voice nonetheless
maxwellhowell
just an incredible talent. shes under rated heavily
f t
Thanks Christina because you brought me here to this wonderful lady and her work
Andy Macdonald
good (old?) soul music
Funk A. Teer
💜🤘🏿
Jinelle Walker
So damn true
Michael Mahoney
Almost too real!
Elton Lucas
Christina Aguilera - Here To Stay
Esteban Artigues Tánchez
Sampled by Christina Aguilera with the song: Here To Stay