Jeffrey Osborne began his professional singing career in 1969 with a popula… Read Full Bio ↴Jeffrey Osborne began his professional singing career in 1969 with a popular funk and soul group called Love Men Ltd. The band moved to Los Angeles in 1970 and changed its name to L.T.D. Osborne was originally brought on as the drummer and eventually became the lead vocalist. After more than ten years with the band, he decided to pursue a solo career, which produced such Top 40 hits as "Don't You Get So Mad," "Stay With Me Tonight," and "Love Power," which he performed with Dionne Warwick.

Born in Providence, RI, Jeffrey Osborne was the youngest of 12 children and was constantly bombarded with music as he was growing up. He had five brothers and six sisters, some of whom went on to have music careers. His father, Clarence "Legs" Osborne, was a popular trumpeter who played with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, and died when Jeffrey was only 13. His mother, Wanita, is ancestored by a Pequot Indian sachem. His oldest brother, Clay Osborne, is a singer and pianist, and Billy, another brother, is a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles. But Osborne's father had the greatest influence on his musical career; Clarence "Legs" Osborne turned down many top band offers during his career to be with his family. It was only after receiving his mother's encouragement that Jeffrey left for Los Angeles to play with L.T.D. At the age of 15, he sat in with the O'Jays when the drummer was too tired to play, and went on to play with them for two weeks. It was at a Providence nightclub that fate brought him together with the band Love Men Ltd. in 1969.

Osborne's solo career has brought him five gold and platinum albums, including Stay With Me Tonight, Aymuk, and Only Human. He also recorded an album of duets with popular singer James Ingram, and scored an international hit with "On the Wings of Love" in 1982. Osborne's touring and recording continue to keep him busy much of the time, but he also devotes some of his time to charity work.

Congratulations
Jeffrey Osborne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Baby here I am
I told you I'd return in search of your love
But what I've come to find
Is not exactly easy to accept
You say your love is taken
For you got tired of waiting
And you will soon be joined forever

Congratulations
Though it's hard for me to say I must admit
My heart is aching
And I was'nt prepared for anything like this
Life goes on I guess
Here's to your happiness
My very best
Congratulations

I guess this is goodbye
So darling know that I will always love you
don't me to up and leave
But baby I can't let you see me cry
And I must face tomorrow
Proud to erase my sorrow
But don't you worry 'bout me dear
Here's to you

But life goes on I guess
Here's to your happiness
My very best

Congratulations
Ooh, ooh, ooh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jeffrey Osborne's song Congratulations are about a man who has returned in search of love from a woman he cares about deeply. However, when he arrives, he learns that the woman's love is taken and she will soon be joined together with another. The man congratulates the woman on her engagement, but his heart is aching and he wasn't prepared for the news. He realizes he must leave and move forward in life, erase his sorrow and wish the woman the very best for her future.

The song is about the pain of lost love and acceptance of the new path that has been chosen. It's difficult for the man to admit his love for the woman and to say goodbye, but he does so with grace and maturity. He knows that life goes on and it's time to move forward, while still holding onto the memories of the past.

Overall, the lyrics to Congratulations are bittersweet and showcase the difficulty of letting go of love while still wishing the best for the other person. It's a message of hope, strength, and acceptance in the face of change.

Line by Line Meaning

Baby here I am
I've returned just like I promised

I told you I'd return in search of your love
I promised to come back to find your love

But what I've come to find
Unfortunately, what I've found is not what I hoped for

Is not exactly easy to accept
It's really hard for me to accept the situation

You say your love is taken
You've found someone else to love

For you got tired of waiting
You got fed up with waiting for me to come back

And you will soon be joined forever
You're going to get married soon

Congratulations
I want to congratulate you on your engagement

Though it's hard for me to say I must admit
It's really difficult for me to say this, but

My heart is aching
My heart is hurting

And I wasn't prepared for anything like this
I never expected this to happen