Wilson's repertoire includes both jazz and blues standards and renditions of pop and rock songs. Her contralto voice has been described as bluesy and sultry, and the style of her music ranges from swing to funk to bossa nova. Many of the songs she covers are by artists who usually record in other genres.
Wilson counts the late Miles Davis as one of her greatest influences. In 1989 she performed as the opening act for Davis at the JVC Jazz Festival in Chicago. In 1999 she produced Traveling Miles as a tribute to Davis. The album developed from a series of jazz concerts that she performed at Lincoln Center in November 1997 in Davis's honor and includes three selections based on Davis's own compositions, in which Wilson adapted the original themes.
A Brief Discography
Point of View (1986, JMT)
Days Aweigh (1987, JMT)
Blue Skies (1988, JMT)
Jumpworld (1989, JMT)
She Who Weeps (1990, JMT)
Live (1991, JMT)
After the Beginning Again (1992, JMT)
Dance to the Drums Again (1992, DIW/Columbia)
Blue Light 'til Dawn (1993, Blue Note)
New Moon Daughter (1995, Blue Note)
Rendezvous (with Jacky Terrasson) (1998, Blue Note)
Traveling Miles (1999, Blue Note)
Belly of the Sun (2002, Blue Note)
Glamoured (2003, Blue Note)
Thunderbird (2006, Blue Note)
Loverly (2008, Blue Note)
Silver Pony (2010, Blue Note)
Another Country (2012, eOne)
Official website: www.cassandrawilson.com
You Gotta Move
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta move
You gotta move, child
You gotta move
Oh, when the Lord gets ready
You gotta move
You may be high
You may be low
You may be rich, child
You may be poor
But when the Lord gets ready
You gotta move
You see that woman,
Who walks the street
You see that police,
Upon his beat
But when the Lord gets ready
You gotta move
You gotta move
The lyrics to Cassandra Wilson's song "You Gotta Move" are a testament to the transient nature of life and the inevitability of change. The song's opening lines repeat the phrase "you gotta move" four times, with Wilson's intonation rising in pitch as if urging the listener to take action. This opening reinforces the idea that life is constantly in motion, urging the audience to keep up with the pace of change.
The lyrics go on to address listeners who may be at different stages in life, from high to low, rich to poor. Regardless of where one finds themselves in life, the singer notes that everybody will eventually have to move when the Lord is ready. This refers to the afterlife, suggesting that nobody can stay in the same place forever.
The song also makes references to different people and professions, such as a woman who walks the street and a police officer who patrols his beat. These references highlight the fact that regardless of one's occupation or social status, everybody will eventually meet the same fate and have to "move" when the Lord is ready.
Overall, "You Gotta Move" is a poignant reminder that life is not static, and that all things must ultimately come to an end. The song encourages listeners to embrace change and to be ready to move forward when the time comes.
Line by Line Meaning
You gotta move
This line underscores the importance of being constantly adaptable in life.
You gotta move
This repetition emphasizes that one must always be ready and prepared for change or unexpected events in life.
You gotta move, child
The use of 'child' adds a sense of urgency to this message, as if to say that time is of the essence.
You gotta move
This line is repeated once again to reiterate the need for constant adaptability and readiness.
Oh, when the Lord gets ready
This line refers to a higher power, suggesting that we may not always have control over the changes in our life.
You may be high
This line implies that one's social status or position in life is irrelevant when it comes to the need to adapt and change.
You may be low
Similarly, this line underscores the idea that regardless of one's circumstances, change is always necessary and inevitable.
You may be rich, child
The use of 'rich' here could refer to financial wealth, but could also imply a sense of comfort and complacency that needs to be disrupted for growth.
You may be poor
This line emphasizes that no matter one's financial status, change and adaptation is always necessary.
But when the Lord gets ready
Once again, this line suggests that the changes that occur in our lives may not always be in our control.
You gotta move
This repetition serves as a reminder that adaptation and growth is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.
You see that woman,
This line suggests that the need for change and adaptation applies to everyone, not just those in specific circumstances.
Who walks the street
This could imply someone who is homeless or struggling, further emphasizing that change is a universal need.
You see that police,
This line could be perceived as a commentary on authority figures and the need for even those in power to be adaptable and open to change.
Upon his beat
This line could further emphasize the idea that no matter one's station in life, everyone must be open to growth and evolution.
But when the Lord gets ready
This reference to a higher power once again highlights the idea that change is often out of our control.
You gotta move
This final repetition serves as a conclusion and summary of the overall message of the song: that adaptation and change are inevitable and necessary in life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gary Davis, Fred McDowell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind