The band broke up in the fall of 1996 after Smith's solo work began gaining popularity. Gust went on to play in the band No. 2. Coomes carried on as half of Quasi, as well as playing as a guest musician for Built to Spill and Sleater-Kinney. Lash currently keeps himself busy as a producer. He helped with the production of Death Cab for Cutie's first two studio albums (Something About Airplanes and We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes).
You Gotta Move
Heatmiser Lyrics
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You got to move
I'll show you what you should do
You got to move this way
And everything's going to be okay
It's a chemical bliss and a stranger's kiss
You always lose your color and fall
You're just below Dallas town
Where the sky burns bright white
I watched the sun go down
And the moon lights you up like a spotlight
So stumble and trip down the broken strip
With your planet packed in your car
You just move, don't go far
Starting to spin in your circle again
So pull the hammer back, that's a start
And just move, pull me apart
The song "You Gotta Move" by Heatmiser is an amalgamation of different emotions and situations. The lyrics begin with the instruction to move, to do something, which can be interpreted both literally and figuratively. It can be about physically moving to a new place or moving on from a difficult situation. The line "I'll show you what you should do" suggests that there's someone guiding the subject of the song. Perhaps it's a friend or a voice inside their head, but either way, it's a reassuring presence.
The next line "You got to move this way" can be seen as continuing that guidance. The following lines "And everything's going to be okay" are an optimistic claim that everything will turn out alright if you just do what you're told. But the next line complicates things a bit - "It's a chemical bliss and a stranger's kiss." Perhaps the guidance we thought was coming from a trusted source is actually a drug-induced euphoria that comes from kissing strangers. The lyrics suggest that in this world, you always lose your color and fall, but if you just move, everything will be alright.
The second verse provides a vivid image of the subject's location, below Dallas town, where the sky burns bright white. The line "I watched the sun go down" and "the moon lights you up like a spotlight" both suggest a sense of isolation or loneliness. This person is on the move, stumbling and tripping down a broken strip with their entire life packed into their car. They have no fixed destination, but they just keep moving in their circle again and again. The final lines "So pull the hammer back, that's a start and just move, pull me apart" suggest a sense of self-destruction but also a desire for change.
Line by Line Meaning
You got to move
It's time to take action, make a change in your life.
You got to move
Don't stand still, keep moving forward.
I'll show you what you should do
Follow my lead, I will guide you on the right path.
You got to move this way
Move in the direction that I am saying, trust me.
And everything's going to be okay
If you take this step, things will work out in your favor.
It's a chemical bliss and a stranger's kiss
Change can be exhilarating and unpredictable, like a sudden kiss from a stranger.
You always lose your color and fall
Stagnation can be draining, causing you to lose your vitality.
You just move, that's all
The simple act of taking action can make all the difference.
You're just below Dallas town
You are near a large urban center, but not quite there yet.
Where the sky burns bright white
The sun's reflection on the city creates a dazzling display of light.
I watched the sun go down
I've been here before and seen the cycles of life unfold.
And the moon lights you up like a spotlight
Despite being in the shadows, you are still special and deserving of attention.
So stumble and trip down the broken strip
The path may not be perfect, you may make mistakes, but keep going.
With your planet packed in your car
You are carrying everything you need to survive on this journey.
You just move, don't go far
Don't worry about how far you're going, just keep taking steps forward.
Starting to spin in your circle again
Don't get stuck in the same patterns, break the cycle.
So pull the hammer back, that's a start
Take charge of the situation and make a bold move.
And just move, pull me apart
Keep moving forward, even if it means leaving your old self behind.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: STEVE O NEILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind