They enjoyed working together so much that they decided to create an album together. Co-written by all the group members, the songwriting and recording were accomplished over a ten-day period at Dave Stewart's house, as Dylan was due to go out on tour. Their first studio album, Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 was released on October 18, 1988. The band members were credited under various pseudonyms, all sons of a fictional Charles Truscott Wilbury, Sr. The album was immediately dubbed as one of the top 100 albums of all time by Rolling Stone, and was a critical and commercial success, spawning several successful singles and eventually reaching triple-platinum sales status in the US. Additionally, it was nominated for several awards and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group in 1989.
The death of Orbison on December 6, 1988 prevented further full collaborations, and the band continued without him. In 1990, they released a second studio album titled Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3. The intentional misnumbering is attributed to Harrison's sense of humor; additionally, the pseudonyms for all members were changed. The album met with less success than its predecessor, and the group eventually disbanded in 1990, their final released recording being the song "Nobody's Child", the title track of a benefit album released to benefit Romanian orphans.
In 2007, a compilation of both albums was released, entitled The Traveling Wilburys Collection. As well as both of the original albums, the release included bonus tracks and music videos; additionally, previously uncredited session drummer Jim Keltner, who appeared in some of the group's music videos, was listed as a member of the group, as was Dhani Harrison, the son of George who had assisted in some parts of the overdubbing of the previously unreleased material.
Congratulations
Traveling Wilburys Lyrics
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Congratulations for tearing it all apart
Congratulations, you finally did succeed
Congratulations for leaving me in need
This morning I looked out my window and found
A bluebird singing, but there was no one around
At night, I lay alone in my bed
Congratulations for bringing me down
Congratulations, now I'm sorrow bound
Congratulations, you got a good deal
Congratulations, how good you must feel
I guess that I must have loved you more than I ever knew
My world is empty now 'cause it don't have you
And if I had just one more chance to win your heart again
I would do things differently, but what's the use to pretend?
Congratulations for making me wait
Congratulations, now it's too late
Congratulations, you came out on top
Congratulations, you never did know when to stop
Congratulations
Congratulations
Congratulations
Congratulations
The song "Congratulations" by the Traveling Wilburys is a classic love song about heartbreak and the pain that comes with it. The lyrics are sung from the perspective of a person who has been left heartbroken and devastated by their partner. The opening line of the song is "Congratulations for breaking my heart", which sets the tone for the rest of the song.
The singer goes on to congratulate their partner for leaving them and tearing their heart apart in the process. They express sadness and loneliness, describing how they look out of their window at a bluebird singing, but there is no one around to share it with. At night, they lie alone in bed with thoughts of their former partner that they cannot escape.
As the song progresses, the tone becomes more bitter and resentful. The singer congratulates their partner for bringing them down, leaving them in sorrow, and getting a good deal by leaving. They realize that they must have loved their partner more than they ever knew and that their world is now empty without them. The singer regrets their actions, believing that if they had just one more chance, they would do things differently. However, it is too late, and their former partner has already moved on.
Overall, the song is about the pain of heartbreak and the realization that love can be fleeting. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, and the melody is catchy and memorable. It is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Line by Line Meaning
Congratulations for breaking my heart
Well done for achiving to deliberately hurt me emotionally.
Congratulations for tearing it all apart
Well done for destroying everything we had together.
Congratulations, you finally did succeed
Well done, you finally accomplished what you set out to do.
Congratulations for leaving me in need
Well done for leaving me in a state of desperation.
This morning I looked out my window and found
A bluebird singing, but there was no one around
This morning, I saw a bluebird singing outside, but even with its presence, I still felt lonely as there was no one else around.
At night, I lay alone in my bed
With an image of you goin' around in my head
During the night, laying alone in my bed, I keep picturing you in my mind.
Congratulations for bringing me down
Well done for lowering my self-esteem.
Congratulations, now I'm sorrow bound
Well done, now I'm tied up by heartache.
Congratulations, you got a good deal
Well done, you got the better end of the deal between us.
Congratulations, how good you must feel
Well done, how satisfying it must be for you.
I guess that I must have loved you more than I ever knew
I suppose I must have loved you more than I ever realized.
My world is empty now 'cause it don't have you
My life seems empty now that you're not a part of it anymore.
And if I had just one more chance to win your heart again
I would do things differently, but what's the use to pretend?
If I could have one more chance to win your affection, I would behave differently, though it's not worth pretending that I have that chance.
Congratulations for making me wait
Well done for causing me to wait.
Congratulations, now it's too late
Well done, now it's too late to reconcile or redeem our relationship.
Congratulations, you came out on top
Well done, you emerged victorious in our love contest.
Congratulations, you never did know when to stop
Well done, you always went one step too far.
Congratulations
Well done
Congratulations
Well done
Congratulations
Well done
Congratulations
Well done
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: Jeff Lynne, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind