Members:
Todd Hembrook - Lead Vocals
Dave Simon - Guitar
Karl Gustafson - Keys, Organ, Vocals
Aaron Hammes - Baritone Saxophone, Vocals
Mike Hobson - Bass
Mike Corcoran - Drums
Pedro - Trombone
Discography:
Orgasmico (1996)
Large and In Charge (1998) (Jump Up! Records)
Elephants/ Mad at the World 7" (1998) (Jump Up! Records)
Overboard (1999) (Jump Up! Records)
Fire! EP (2002) (Jump Up! Records)
Guide to Boat Drinks and Cruise Cocktails (2002) (Jump Up! Records)
The Longest Happy Hour: 1998-2003 (2005) (Jump Up! Records)
The Ramblers (2007) (Megalith, Jump Up! Records)
Welcome To The Vault (3 cd box set) (2008) (Jump Up! Records)
Dubs, Versions, and Excursions 12" (2009) (Jump Up! Records)
Deal's Gone Bad (Euro only best of) (2009) (Megalith Records)
Movin' On
Deal's Gone Bad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You have only but two hands
That can never fill the space
But you'll just have to face
Movin' on
Walk around feelin' you've been caught
Accused of stealing all that you bought
Another sleepless night
Movin' on
and the band...
Autumn days of wine and cocaine
And yet somehow you place all the blame
On all the heartbreak first
It seems so rehearsed
You need to be
Movin' on
After years she don't believe you
Man, you never thought she'd leave you
Yeah well just look into her eyes
Should come as no surprise
She's movin' on
Oh you're hellbent on being hellbent
But it's all still the same
Yeah, its all just a game
Another year gone by and what do you got
Well you got nothing to show
but a broken heart
And boy don't you know
Open wide is the gate
Oh, and straight is the way
That may break you tonight
I think you just might have to be
movin' on
In the night when no ones around
I make you cry without a sound
Oh, it's all that you know
You have to let go
And be movin' on
Oh your hellbent on being hellbent
But it's all still the same
Yeah, it's all just a game
Another year gone by and what do you got
Well you got nothing to show
but a broken heart
And boy don't ya-
Say boy don't ya know
You're not always certain
Sometimes we all need redemption
You should be accepting the past
Cause time goes so fast
It keeps movin' on
You are only but man
You have only but two hands
That may someday fill the space
Till then you'll have to face
movin' on
Oh, It's all that you know
You have to let go
And be movin on
You should be acceptin' the past
Cause time goes so fast
It keeps movin on, Movin' on
Movin' on
Movin' on
The song "Movin On" by Deal's Gone Bad addresses the theme of acceptance and the passage of time. The lyrics revolve around the idea that people can only do so much with the time they are given and that they need to learn to accept the past and move on. The first few lines ("You are only but one man/You have only but two hands/That can never fill the space/But you'll just have to face/Movin' on") highlight the limitations of an individual in life. No matter how much they may want to, they can't do everything, and they have to accept the reality and keep moving forward.
The reference to "wine and cocaine" in the lyrics suggests a period of excess or lost time in the singer's past. The next lines ("On all the heartbreak first/It seems so rehearsed/You need to be/Movin' on") imply that the character has experienced heartbreak before and has found themselves stuck in rehearsing the same pattern of events rather than moving on. The song then references a former lover who has left, with the line "Well, you got nothing to show but a broken heart." The repeated chorus "Oh, it's all that you know/You have to let go/And be movin' on" reminds listeners of the importance of letting go and accepting the passage of time, which like a river, keeps moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
You are only but one man
You are just one person
You have only but two hands
You have only two hands
That can never fill the space
Your hands will never be enough to fill the empty space you feel
But you'll just have to face
You will have to confront this reality
Movin' on
Move on from this feeling
Walk around feelin' you've been caught
You feel like you've been caught doing something bad
Accused of stealing all that you bought
You are accused of taking or wasting everything you've invested in
Oh, you're the only one you fight
You are your own enemy
Another sleepless night
Another night that you cannot sleep
Autumn days of wine and cocaine
Days of indulgence and toxic behavior
And yet somehow you place all the blame
You put all the responsibility on other people
On all the heartbreak first
On all the pain you felt before
It seems so rehearsed
It seems like you've experienced this before
You need to be
You must become
Movin' on
Moving on from your past behavior
After years she don't believe you
After a long time, she no longer trusts you
Man, you never thought she'd leave you
You didn't imagine she'd ever leave you
Yeah well just look into her eyes
Look at her face and emotions
Should come as no surprise
It shouldn't be unexpected
She's movin' on
She's moving on from you
Oh you're hellbent on being hellbent
You're determined to remain stuck in your ways
But it's all still the same
But everything remains unchanged
Yeah its all just a game
It's not real, it's just an act
Another year gone by and what do you got
Another year has passed, what do you have to show for it
Well you got nothing to show
You have nothing to display
but a broken heart
Except from a heart that's hurting
And boy don't you know
And you know this well
Open wide is the gate
The gate is open and welcoming
Oh, and straight is the way
The path is straightforward
That may break you tonight
It might be tough on you today
I think you just might have to be
You might have to be
movin' on
Moving on in life
In the night when no ones around
At night, when no one is with you
I make you cry without a sound
You cry silently
Oh, it's all that you know
It's all you're familiar with
You have to let go
You need to release your emotions
And be movin' on
And move forward
You're not always certain
You're not always sure
Sometimes we all need redemption
Sometimes we all need a second chance
You should be accepting the past
You must come to terms with your past
Cause time goes so fast
Because time moves so quickly
It keeps movin' on
Time keeps moving forward
You are only but man
You're only human
That may someday fill the space
Your hands might someday fill the emptiness you feel
Till then you'll have to face
Until then, you have to confront this reality
movin' on
Moving on from your current state
Movin' on
Continuing to move forward
Contributed by Blake N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mmalonson
These guys deserve $1 million each for bringing this song into the world.
@daisyhillis4577
Underrated record.
@MrSoulrebel21
one of the Best bands on the planet, and i have had the honor to share stages with them and honestly such good Guys!!
@lloydvasser4889
Hell yeah. Almost died in the moshpit at the show where I got this CD as a younger person. Still have the CD.
@JediBlitz1024
Just saw these guys at Ska is Dead in Grand Rapids. They were awesome live. They didn't play some of their slower reggae stuff but they really got the crowd going. The lead singer, Todd, has shaved his beard and now has a really sweet mustache.
@kaybo11
They are AMAZING live! Seen them for the first time yesterday and I love them.
@ianmiklavic7566
10 years later at 20 years old on my way to see them tonight :)
@cra83
Soulful Rocksteady, dont get much better than this!! 6/5 for this one!!!
@camodude51
great band love the vox and bass esp
@SkiethxEpitaph
i've never seen someone who looked like he could kick my ass and serenade it at the same time