Move It On Over
Hank Williams and His Drifting Cowboys Lyrics


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Came in last night at half past ten
That baby of mine wouldn't let me in
So move it on over (move it on over)
Move it on over (move it on over)
Move over little dog cause the big dog's moving in

She changed the lock on my front door
My door key don't work no more
So get it on over (move it on over)
Scoot it on over (move it on over)
Move over skinny dog cause the fat dog's moving in

The dog house here is mighty small
But it's better than no house at all
So ease it on over (move it on over)
Drag it on over (move it on over)
Move over old dog cause a new dog's moving in

She told me not to play around
But I done let the deal go down
So pack it on over (move it on over)
Tote it on over (move it on over)
Move over nice dog cause a mad dog's moving in

She warned me once, she warned me twice
But I don't take no one's advice
So scratch it on over (move it on over)
Shake it on over (move it on over)
Move over short dog cause tall dog's moving in

She'll crawl back to me on her knees
I'll be busy scratching fleas
So slide it on over (move it on over)
Sneak it on over (move it on over)
Move over good dog cause a mad dog's moving in

Remember pup, before you whine
That side's yours and this side's mine
So shove it on over (move it on over)




Sweep it on over (move it on over)
Move over cold dog cause a hot dog's moving in.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hank Williams III and Hank Williams Jr.'s song "Move It On Over" recount a story of a man who comes home late to find that his partner has locked him out of their house. The man's attempts to gain entry are futile, and he is forced to take shelter in the doghouse. The song features numerous references to dogs, which are used as a metaphor for power dynamics and territorial disputes.


At its core, "Move It On Over" is a song about the struggle for dominance within a relationship. The man's partner takes control by literally changing the locks on their home, leaving him with no place to go but the doghouse. As he settles into his new abode, the man realizes that even in this tiny space he has more agency than he did on the outside. He asserts his power by declaring himself the "big dog" who is taking over the territory previously occupied by the "little dog."


Line by Line Meaning

Came in last night at half past ten
I arrived home late last night, around 10:30 pm


That baby of mine wouldn't let me in
My significant other wouldn't allow me to enter the house


So move it on over (move it on over)
Therefore, I have to move away from the door and find somewhere else to go


Move it on over (move it on over)
I need to move my entire self and all my belongings out of the way


Move over little dog cause the big dog's moving in
I am going to take the place previously occupied by somebody else, therefore the small and unimportant things need to make way for me


She changed the lock on my front door
My significant other has changed the locking mechanism on the entrance to our shared home


My door key don't work no more
The key that I previously used to unlock the front door is no longer functional


So get it on over (move it on over)
I need to find a new way to enter my shared home


Scoot it on over (move it on over)
I need to move everything out of the way in order to gain entry


Move over skinny dog cause the fat dog's moving in
I am larger and more important than whatever was previously taking up space, so it needs to move over to make way for me


The dog house here is mighty small
The place where I am going to stay is quite cramped and uncomfortable


But it's better than no house at all
However, living somewhere uncomfortable is still better than not having a place to live


So ease it on over (move it on over)
I need to put in effort to settle down into my new cramped space


Drag it on over (move it on over)
I need to physically move everything I have into this new space


Move over old dog cause a new dog's moving in
I am going to take the place of someone who previously occupied this uncomfortable space


She told me not to play around
My significant other cautioned me against acting recklessly


But I done let the deal go down
I went against this advice and engaged in an unwise course of action


So pack it on over (move it on over)
As a result, I now need to leave my previous situation behind


Tote it on over (move it on over)
I need to physically carry all my belongings with me as I move on


Move over nice dog cause a mad dog's moving in
As I move on from my previous situation, I will no longer be kind and agreeable - I will become more aggressive and less easy to get along with


She warned me once, she warned me twice
My significant other advised me of the possible consequences of my actions on two separate occasions


But I don't take no one's advice
However, I choose not to listen to anybody and do what I want regardless of the consequences


So scratch it on over (move it on over)
I need to disregard any negative outcomes of my previous actions and continue to move on


Shake it on over (move it on over)
I need to get rid of any and all past negative experiences and emotions by shaking them off and moving forward


Move over short dog cause tall dog's moving in
Because of my unwillingness to listen to others or think realistically, I will become more successful and powerful than whoever or whatever was previously in my way


She'll crawl back to me on her knees
Eventually, my significant other will realize that she made a mistake and come back to me begging for forgiveness and willing to do anything to make it up to me


I'll be busy scratching fleas
Meanwhile, I will be occupied with the mundane, unimportant tasks of daily life


So slide it on over (move it on over)
As my significant other returns to me, I will not give in easily and will require her to put in effort to get back together


Sneak it on over (move it on over)
I am not inclined to forgive easily and will require my significant other to come back to me humbly and unobtrusively


Move over good dog cause a mad dog's moving in
As I take my significant other back, I will not be as kind and patient as I once was - my mood and temperament will be less predictable and less forgiving


Remember pup, before you whine
Before getting upset or complaining, take a moment to understand the situation and consider your options


That side's yours and this side's mine
After consideration, you will realize that there are two sides to every situation and you need to accept and work with what you have


So shove it on over (move it on over)
After understanding the situation, you need to make some room and accept your position in it


Sweep it on over (move it on over)
You need to physically make space and move stuff around to accommodate yourself in the situation


Move over cold dog cause a hot dog's moving in.
You need to make way for somebody that is more capable, powerful or resourceful than you are




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANK WILLIAMS SR.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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