Movin
J. Barry & J. DuBois Lyrics
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To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in the big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin wrong with that.
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
The lyrics of J. Barry & J. DuBois's song "Movin' On Up" celebrate the upward mobility of a black family from the South Side of Chicago, who have moved to the affluent East Side. The song is best known as the theme song for the popular TV show "The Jeffersons," which aired from 1975 to 1985. The show was groundbreaking for its time because it was one of the first to center on a successful, African-American family.
The opening lines of the song, "We're movin' on up, to the east side, to a deluxe apartment in the sky," are a clear expression of the family's newfound success in the form of a spacious and luxurious new home. They have left behind the cramped and dingy tenements of the South Side for a brighter, more glamorous future. Perhaps the most poignant line in the entire song is "We finally got a piece of the pie," which speaks to the systemic inequality that the family has faced and triumphed over.
The second half of the song shifts to a more generalized celebration of progress and success, with lines like "Fish don't fry in the kitchen; beans don't burn on the grill; took a whole lotta tryin' just to get up that hill" and "Now we're up in the big leagues, gettin' our turn at bat." These lines can be seen as a metaphor for the struggles that all marginalized groups face in trying to achieve economic and social success, and the resilience and hard work that is required to overcome such obstacles.
In conclusion, the lyrics of "Movin' On Up" are an uplifting anthem that speaks to the joys and triumphs that can come from hard work and determination. It is a celebration of one family's success story, but it is also a broader commentary on the importance of mobility and the power of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Well we're movin on up,
We are progressing and achieving success.
To the east side.
We are moving towards a better neighborhood.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
We have achieved a higher standard of living.
Movin on up
Continuing to achieve success and progress.
To the east side.
We are moving towards an affluent neighborhood.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
We have finally found success and are reaping the benefits.
Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Things are not always as easy as they seem.
Beans don't burn on the grill.
It takes effort to achieve success.
Took a whole lotta tryin'
It took a lot of effort and work.
Just to get up that hill.
We had to overcome challenges to reach our goal.
Now we're up in the big leagues
We have achieved a higher level of success.
Gettin' our turn at bat.
It's now our time to shine and succeed.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
We are in this together for the long haul.
There ain't nothin wrong with that.
It's a good thing that we are committed to each other.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW COLIN INNES, BOBBY GILLESPIE, ROBERT CLEARIE YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind