Move Over Ms L
John Lennon Lyrics


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One, two, a one, two, three, four

Well, now the underground and overjoyed they come on just the same
Don't wanna get too real man, just wanna play the game
I guess ya knew it all along we were just singing in the rain
Can't get hipped to the down trip, the ship is sailing yet
And if it sinks, you know that all you really get is wet
Move over Ms. L
You know I wish you well
Move over Ms. L
You know I wish you well
Move over Ms. L

Well, now to err is something human and forgiving so divine
I'll forgive your trespasses, if you forgive me mine
Life's a deal, you knew it, when you signed the dotted line
They nail you to the paper, put a rope around your neck
And so we sing along, the boy stood on the burning deck

Move over Ms. L
You know I wish you well
Move over Ms. L
You know I wish you well
Move over Ms. L

Well, now momma poppa told me son you better watch your head
Your head is fulla snakes boy, you're better red than dead
They're starving back in China, that's what they always said
Can't get head in the head shop, your jeans are fulla crap
You're full of beans, you're in your teens, you lost your momma's road map

Move over Ms. L
You know I wish you well
Move over Ms. L




You know I wish you well
Move over Ms. L

Overall Meaning

In John Lennon's song "Move Over Ms. L", he uses his characteristic wit and wordplay to address various themes surrounding society and individual experience. Lennon starts off with a nod to the counterculture movement of the time, mentioning the underground (a common phrase to represent the hippies), and comments that they don't want to get too serious, but instead want to just "play the game". This could be interpreted as a criticism of the aimlessness of the movement, or perhaps a plea to not lose sight of their ideals and become too complacent.


Lennon then pivots to a more philosophical perspective, acknowledging that making mistakes is human and that forgiveness is important. He uses the metaphor of signing a contract to represent the concept of life being a deal that we agree to without necessarily knowing all the consequences. He also alludes to the idea of being trapped or constrained by societal expectations -- being "nailed to the paper" or having a "rope around your neck". However, the final verse is more personal, with Lennon possibly reflecting on his own upbringing and experiences. His parents cautioned him about the dangers of getting caught up in bad influences, but he also seems to recognize that he has made his own mistakes (being "full of beans").


Overall, "Move Over Ms. L" seems to be a commentary on the complexities of life, and how we can easily get swept up in societal expectations or individual whims. The repeated refrain of "Move over Ms. L" could be interpreted in many ways, but one possibility is that it represents a desire to move beyond these constraints and find one's own way.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, now the underground and overjoyed they come on just the same
The counterculture and those who conform to society are similar in their enjoyment of life


Don't wanna get too real man, just wanna play the game
I don't want to focus on real issues, I just want to enjoy life


I guess ya knew it all along we were just singing in the rain
You probably already knew that we were just playing around and not taking life too seriously


Can't get hipped to the down trip, the ship is sailing yet
I can't begin to understand the negative aspects of life, as we are still moving forward


And if it sinks, you know that all you really get is wet
If life goes downhill, the worst thing that can happen is getting wet – we'll survive


Move over Ms. L
I need to move past the negative aspects of life


You know I wish you well
I don't hold any anger towards the negative aspects of life - I just want to be happy


Well, now to err is something human and forgiving so divine
Making mistakes is natural and forgiving others for mistakes is divine


I'll forgive your trespasses, if you forgive me mine
I'll forgive you for your mistakes, if you forgive me for mine


Life's a deal, you knew it, when you signed the dotted line
Life is full of ups and downs, something we were aware of when we were born


They nail you to the paper, put a rope around your neck
Society traps us with rules and regulations that can be suffocating


And so we sing along, the boy stood on the burning deck
Despite the hardships of life, we still find ways to enjoy and make the most of it


Well, now momma poppa told me son you better watch your head
My parents warned me to be careful in life


Your head is fulla snakes boy, you're better red than dead
Life is full of danger, so it's better to be cautious


They're starving back in China, that's what they always said
There are people in the world who are suffering more than us


Can't get head in the head shop, your jeans are fulla crap
You won't find any answers to life's problems in places that claim to have them, and it's not worth worrying about superficial things like fashion


You're full of beans, you're in your teens, you lost your momma's road map
You're young and naive, prone to making mistakes without any guidance




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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