The Move evolved from several mid-1960s Birmingham-based groups, including Carl Wayne & The Vikings, The Nightriders & The Mayfair Set. The group's name seems to refer to the move various members of these bands made to form the group. Beside Roy Wood, the original members of the Move were drummer Bev Bevan, bassist Chris "Ace" Kefford, vocalist Carl Wayne & guitarist Trevor Burton.
Their first single, 'Night of Fear' was released in 1966 and was the first in a line of memorable hits penned chiefly by Roy Wood.
'I Can Hear the Grass Grow', 'Blackberry Way' & Flowers in the Rain (the latter being the first record played on BBC Radio 1), are The Move's better known work not forgetting 1971's 'Tonight'. The group became more experimental and innovative as time went on especially on the albums 'Shazam' and 'Message from the Country'.
Several changes left the final line-up in 1971 as Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan, evolving into the first incarnation of Electric Light Orchestra which Wood left soon after to form Wizzard.
Blackberry Way
The Move Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Absolutely pouring down with rain
It's a terrible day
Up with a lark
Silly girl I don't know what to say
She was running away
So now I'm standing on the corner
Lost, in the things that I said
What am I supposed to do now-w
(Chorus)
Goodbye Blackberry Way
I can't see you
I don't need you
Goodbye Blackberry Way
Sure to want me back another day
Gone to the park
Overgrowing but the trees are bare
There's a memory there
Boats on the lake
Unattended now, they're all to drown
I'm incredibly down
Just like myself they are neglected
Turn, with my eyes to the wall
What am I supposed to do now-w
(Chorus)
Goodbye Blackberry Way
I can't see you
I don't need you
Goodbye Blackberry Way
Sure to want me back another day
Ooo-black, Ooo-black, ooo-ooo
Ahhh-hhh-hhh
Ooo-black, Ooo-black, ooo-ooo
Ahhh-hhh-hhh
Run for the train
Look behind you for she may be there
Say I think you're the girl
Blackberry Way
See the battlefields of care or sins
Cast to the winds
So full of emptiness without her
Lost in the words that I said
What am I supposed to do now-w
(Chorus – repeat to fade)
Goodbye Blackberry Way
I can't see you
I don't need you
Goodbye Blackberry Way
Sure to want me back another day
The Move's song "Blackberry Way" is a reflection of a heartbroken man finding himself standing alone in the rain after a dispute with the woman he loves. The opening verse describes the heavy rain, setting the tone for the melancholic sentiment that pervades the entire song. The singer is vexed about his situation and cannot find the words to make peace with his lover. The chorus echoes his frustration and confusion as he bids farewell to "Blackberry Way," a metaphorical representation of his lover.
The second verse paints a picture of the park that the couple used to frequent. The trees, now bare, see no visitors, like the neglected protagonist. The boats that once floated on a serene lake are now forlorn, unattended and destined to drown. The singer is full of emptiness without his lover, who he just cannot forget. The repeated chorus reinforces his hope that someday she will return to him, but for now, he has to say goodbye to "Blackberry Way."
Line by Line Meaning
Absolutely pouring down with rain
The weather is terrible and it's raining heavily.
Up with a lark
He woke up early in the morning.
Silly girl I don't know what to say
He finds it difficult to talk to a girl who he thinks is acting foolishly.
She was running away
The girl he was talking to was leaving him.
So now I'm standing on the corner
He is now standing on the street corner.
Lost, in the things that I said
He is regretting the things he said and feels like he messed up the conversation.
What am I supposed to do now-w
He is uncertain about what to do next.
Goodbye Blackberry Way
He is saying goodbye to a place called Blackberry Way.
I can't see you
He can't physically see the place anymore.
I don't need you
He doesn't feel he needs to be there anymore.
Sure to want me back another day
He thinks he will eventually want to go back to Blackberry Way in the future.
Gone to the park
He has gone to a park.
Overgrowing but the trees are bare
The park is overgrown but the trees don't have any leaves on them.
There's a memory there
The park holds a memory for him.
Boats on the lake
There are boats on the lake in the park.
Unattended now, they're all to drown
The boats are unattended and could potentially sink in the water.
I'm incredibly down
He is feeling sad.
Just like myself they are neglected
He feels like the boats are being neglected, like he is neglected.
Turn, with my eyes to the wall
He turns away and looks at the wall.
Ooo-black, Ooo-black, ooo-ooo
These are nonsensical lyrics that don't have a specific meaning.
Ahhh-hhh-hhh
These are nonsensical lyrics that don't have a specific meaning.
Run for the train
He is running to catch a train.
Look behind you for she may be there
He suggests that the person he is singing to should look behind them in case the girl he was talking to earlier is following them.
Say I think you're the girl
He thinks that the girl he was talking to is the one who the person he is singing to is looking for.
Blackberry Way
He repeats the name of the place he said goodbye to earlier in the song.
See the battlefields of care or sins
He sees the negative things that have happened in his life as battles or sins.
Cast to the winds
He is letting go of those negative things.
So full of emptiness without her
He feels very empty without the girl he was talking to earlier.
Lost in the words that I said
He is still regretting the things he said earlier.
Goodbye Blackberry Way
He is saying goodbye to Blackberry Way again.
Sure to want me back another day
He still thinks he will want to return to Blackberry Way in the future.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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