Born in Coshocton, Ohio, United States, the daughter of a disc jockey, Williams became interested in singing while in high school. Her family moved from Ohio to Los Angeles in the 1960s. Williams and her sisters once appeared on the television show Jack and Jill as The Williams Sisters. She returned to Ohio in 1977, and sang in the girl group Wild Honey (with bandmate Freddi Poole), but soon decided to go back to Los Angeles to launch a solo career. Former Fifth Dimension member Ron Townson put Williams in his band Wild Honey. After that stint, she found work as a session musician, working with artists such as Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Stephanie Mills, and Gordon Lightfoot. Williams sang on the original version of Joe Sample's "The Survivor", and met producer David Crawford while working with his group Klique. After doing much session work, she secured a recording contract with A&M Records which released her debut album Vesta in 1986. The album became a modest seller on the R&B Albums Chart and it featured her first Top 10 R&B hit "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", which also became her only UK hit.
Her 1988 sophomore release, Vesta 4 U, produced the Top 10 R&B hits "Sweet Sweet Love", "4 U", and "Congratulations", with the latter peaking at #55 on the Hot 100 chart, her only single to appear in that chart. This would also be her most successful album, and her only album to appear on the US Billboard 200, peaking at #131. In 1991, Williams released her third album entitled Special, and the title track as a single. That single became her highest charting song on the R&B chart at #2, but sales of the album were less than that of Vesta 4 U. Her next album, 1993's Everything-N-More, produced only the minor R&B hit "Always".
In 1989, Polygram Records purchased A&M Records. Williams' 1998 album Relationships was released under the Polygram name, and it became a modest seller and appeared on the R&B chart. After this album, A&M/Polygram Records parted ways with her. She continued to be a session singer, landing spots on albums by such artists as Phil Perry, Howard Hewett, and George Duke.
In 2000, Polygram released a compilation album, featuring songs from Williams and CeCe Peniston, another Polygram artist.
In 2007, Williams released an album of R&B songs on Shanachie Records entitled Distant Lover. Produced by Chris "Big Dog" Davis, it featured songs originally recorded by Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Sade, and Deniece Williams.
Williams portrayed a saloon singer in the 1993 film Posse, directed by Mario Van Peebles. She also had a hit with the SWV song, "Rain", with the smooth jazz musician, Norman Brown.
Congratulations
Vesta Williams Lyrics
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She said today's your wedding
My heart stopped
The tears dropped
Saw my whole life pass me by
I had to see you, baby
I never ran so fast before
You were waitin' all alone
You turned around and heard me call
Congratulations
I thought it would have been me
Standin' here with you
Congratulations
I hope you're happy
'Cause as long as I can breathe
You'll always be the one for me, oh, oh
Why was I the last to know
I thought that we were special
My soul shakes
My heart breaks
As I turn and walk away
I can't believe it's over
We never really said goodbye
Thought we'd give it one more try
Felt our love was here to stay
And now today's your wedding day
Congratulations
I thought it would have been me
Standin' here with you
Congratulations
I hope you're happy
Brought the wishes, baby
Oh...oh...tonight you and me
Because you ???
I-I thought it should have been me, oh...oh...oh...
But as long as I can breathe
You'll always be the one for me
'Cause as long as I can breathe
You'll always be the one for me
Congratulations
The lyrics to "Congratulations" by Vesta Williams speak to the pain and heartbreak of seeing an old love move on and get married. The singer runs into an old friend who informs her that the person she loves is getting married, and the realization hits her hard. She rushes to the chapel to try to stop the wedding, but it's too late. The chorus of the song expresses the conflicting emotions of wishing the best for the person she loves but also wishing things were different and that she could be the one standing beside them.
The verses of the song delve deeper into the singer's thoughts and feelings. She reflects on the past and how she thought they had something special, only to find out that she was the last to know of the person's impending wedding. She can't believe it's over, and the thought of never seeing them again is breaking her heart. She had hoped they could give it one more try, but it seems like that opportunity has passed. Despite the pain, she still cares deeply for the person and wishes them happiness in their life.
Overall, "Congratulations" is a powerful song about the struggles of moving on from a past love and watching them move on with someone else. The lyrics capture the pain and heartbreak of the situation, while also expressing a sense of hope and acceptance for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw an old friend on the street
Vesta Williams met an old friend while walking on the street.
She said today's your wedding
Her friend informed her that she is getting married on that day.
My heart stopped
Vesta Williams was shocked and felt overwhelmed upon hearing the news.
The tears dropped
She was so emotional that tears started rolling down her eyes.
I had to see you, baby
She couldn't resist the urge to see her ex-lover on his wedding day despite knowing that it would be difficult for her.
I rushed inside the chapel door
She quickly entered the chapel with haste.
You were waitin' all alone
Vesta Williams' ex-lover was waiting for his bride all alone.
You turned around and heard me call
He turned around and heard Vesta Williams calling his name.
Congratulations
Vesta Williams congratulated her ex-lover on his wedding day despite being heartbroken.
I thought it would have been me Standin' here with you
Vesta Williams had always envisaged standing next to her ex-lover on their wedding day, but it didn't happen.
I hope you're happy
Despite the heartbreak, Vesta Williams genuinely wishes her ex-lover happiness in his marriage.
You'll always be the one for me, oh, oh
Vesta Williams will always hold a special place for her ex-lover in her heart.
Why was I the last to know
Vesta Williams feels hurt that she had to learn about her ex-lover's wedding from someone else.
I thought that we were special
She believed that their love was unique and special.
My soul shakes
She is consumed with grief and distress.
My heart breaks
She is heartbroken by the end of her relationship with her ex-lover.
As I turn and walk away
Vesta Williams is too heartbroken to stay, and she has to leave the wedding ceremony.
I can't believe it's over
Vesta Williams is struggling to come to terms with the end of her relationship.
We never really said goodbye
There was never a proper farewell between Vesta Williams and her ex-lover.
Thought we'd give it one more try
She had hoped that they could reconcile and give their relationship another chance.
Felt our love was here to stay
She believed that their love was strong and would last forever.
Brought the wishes, baby Oh...oh...tonight you and me Because you ??? I-I thought it should have been me, oh...oh...oh...
The context of these lines is unclear due to a missing part in the lyrics, and no conclusive meaning can be ascribed to them.
Contributed by Gabriel K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.