Movin
Billy Joel Lyrics


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Anthony works in the grocery store
Savin' his pennies for someday
Mama Leone left a note on the door
She said, Sonny, move out to the country
Workin' too hard can give you
A heart attack (ack)
You oughta know by now (oughta know)
Who needs a house out in Hackensack
Is that what you get with your money

It seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
Mama if that's movin' up
Then I'm movin' out
I'm movin' out

Sergeant O'Leary is walkin' the beat
At night he becomes a bartender
He works at Mister Cacciatore's down
On Sullivan Street
Across from the medical center
He's tradin' in his Chevy for a Cadillac
You oughta know by now
And if he can't drive
With a broken back
At least he can polish the fenders

It seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
Mama if that's movin' up
Then I'm movin' out
I'm movin' out

You should never argue with a crazy mind (mmm)
You oughta know by now
You can pay Uncle Sam with the overtime
Is that all you get for your money
If that's what you have in mind
If that's what you're all about
Good luck movin' up
'Cause I'm moving out
I'm moving out





I'm moving out

Overall Meaning

Billy Joel's song, MOVIN' OUT, is a social commentary on the values and lifestyles of working-class Americans in the 1970s. The song's title, MOVIN' OUT, is a slang term that was commonly used in those days to mean leaving a situation, such as quitting a job. The song opens with a description of Anthony, who works at a grocery store and saves his pennies in the hope of someday achieving a better life. His mother, Mama Leone, leaves a note on the door urging him to leave the city for the country, warning him that working too hard can lead to a heart attack. The lyrics suggest that the American Dream, which emphasizes hard work and perseverance, is not always worth the effort.


The song also refers to Sergeant O'Leary, a police officer who works at a bar at night to make ends meet. He dreams of owning a Cadillac but has to settle for polishing the fenders because of his broken back. The song implies that American culture places too much emphasis on material possessions and that the economic system does not reward hard work as it should. The chorus of the song repeats the refrain, "If that's movin' up, then I'm movin' out," suggesting that the characters in the song are dissatisfied with their current situations and are willing to take risks to achieve something better.


Line by Line Meaning

Anthony works in the grocery store
Anthony has a job in a grocery store


Savin' his pennies for someday
He saves his money for a future purchase


Mama Leone left a note on the door
Mama Leone left a note on the door


She said, Sonny, move out to the country
Mama Leone tells Sonny to move to the countryside


Workin' too hard can give you A heart attack (ack) You oughta know by now (oughta know)
Working too hard can cause a heart attack, and Sonny should know that by now


Who needs a house out in Hackensack Is that what you get with your money
Why would anyone need a house in Hackensack, and is that what you can get with your money?


It seems such a waste of time If that's what it's all about Mama if that's movin' up Then I'm movin' out I'm movin' out
It seems pointless to strive for that kind of lifestyle.With that, he’s moving out!


Sergeant O'Leary is walkin' the beat At night he becomes a bartender He works at Mister Cacciatore's down On Sullivan Street Across from the medical center
Sergeant O'Leary is a police officer by day and a bartender by night, working in a bar on Sullivan Street opposite the medical center.


He's tradin' in his Chevy for a Cadillac You oughta know by now And if he can't drive With a broken back At least he can polish the fenders
Sergeant O'Leary is planning to trade his Chevy for a Cadillac, but if he injures his back and can't drive, he can still work on the car and polish the fenders.


You should never argue with a crazy mind (mmm) You oughta know by now You can pay Uncle Sam with the overtime Is that all you get for your money If that's what you have in mind If that's what you're all about Good luck movin' up 'Cause I'm moving out I'm moving out
Don't argue with a fool, Sonny. And the opportunity to pay taxes with overtime pay is all that's on your horizon. If he wants to advance in his career, let him move out!




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY JOEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@hhhilde_

Anthony works in the grocery store
Savin' his pennies for some day
Mama Leone left a note on the door
She said
"Sonny, move out to the country"

Oh but workin' too hard can give you a heart attack
You oughta know by now
Who needs a house out in Hackensack?
Is that all you get for your money?

And it seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
Mama, if that's movin' up, then I'm movin' out

Sergeant O'Leary is walkin' the beat
At night he becomes a bartender
He works at Mister Cacciatore's down on Sullivan Street
Across from the medical center

And he's tradin' in his Chevy for a Cadillac
You oughta know by now
And if he can't drive
With a broken back
At least he can polish the fenders

And it seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
Mama, if that's movin' up, then I'm movin' out

You should never argue with a crazy mind
You oughta know by now
You can pay Uncle Sam with the overtime
Is that all you get for your money?

And if that's what you have in mind
Yeah, if that's what you're all about
Good luck, moving up, 'cause I'm movin' out

I'm movin' out



All comments from YouTube:

@epicgardening

This song slaps so hard

@ImBored8141

Amen

@michaelryanmccoy

facts

@ryanmccauley1139

I love this song and I love your channel

@BoredomStudios750

Bro what are you doing here 😉

@GrowingGoodHair

Even in 2024❤

4 More Replies...

@HighDef28

HE WALKED IN OUR LIVES, I WAS ONLY 5, SUPER MAN PYJAMAS I WAS SUPER DUPER FLY🗣️🗣️‼️‼️‼️🔥🔥

@NflCfbFan

I'm a Kanye fan but stfu bruh this shi corny asf to be on the movin out video and not a mamas boyfriend video 😭 💀

@Wompwomplilbro

SITTIN HERE LIKE "WOW HE AT LEAST SUPER SIZED"🗣🗣

@decentdays

YOU KNOW I SCRUTINIZE LIKE "WHO THIS NEWER GUY" 🗣

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