Justin Townes Earle, born January 4, 1982 in Nashville, TN, was an American alt-country singer-songwriter who walked the line between old-time country and modern acoustic Indie music by breathing new life into early country, blues and gospel forms.
His first release, Yuma, in 2007 was a stark and beautiful set of songs written while Earle was fresh out of rehab and is now re-released by Bloodshot Records, who have a further three albums on their catalogue.
The Good Life, Midnight At the Movies (Americana award nominee) and the latest Harlem River Blues show Earle's characteristic charm, wit and rhythm to the forefront.
2009 saw him touring with Old Crow Medicine Show, The Felice Brothers and Gillian Welch/Dave Rawlings as a member of The Big Surprise tour and he has been touring solidly through 2010 making fans all along the way. In 2011, he received the Americana Music Award in the Song of the Year category for his "Harlem River Blues," from the album of the same name.
His fourth release "Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now", released in 2012 was met with critical acclaim, it was listed at #37 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 50 albums of 2012, saying "The son of country-rock renegade Steve Earle has grown into a songwriter to rival his dad."
Earle died on August 20, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 38. His death was announced by his label on social media on August 23. The cause of death was not immediately announced, but Nashville police said they were investigating the death as a probable drug overdose. On December 1, 2020, Earle's family confirmed that he died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl-laced cocaine.
Move Over Mama
Justin Townes Earle Lyrics
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I get my bags inside and I'm bein' real quiet, mama
Walk in the door and I turn on the lights, I find you
Flat on your back with your legs open wide
Move on over, mama I'm comin' home
Woman, you been sleepin' in the middle of the bed too long
Mama, week's worth of trash sittin' there by the door
You say your, your feet are tired and your fingers are sore
But Mama, I don't care about no household chores
Baby, mama, Lord I'm a comin' home
Woman, you been sleepin' in the middle of the bed too long
Well now pushin' and a pullin', tossin' and a turnin'
And beatin' me up
Shove on over baby, don't you make me wait
Because your daddy's tired, he's all fed up
I say you ain't gotta clean, mama, you ain't gotta cook
You ain't gotta tell me things that you read in your books
When I come home late, you ain't gotta wait up
But when I pull over them covers, don't you give me that look
Baby, Mama, lord, I'm comin' home
Woman, you been sleepin' in the middle of the bed too long
I said woman, you been sleepin' in the middle of the bed too long
The lyrics of "Move Over Mama" by Justin Townes Earle present a story of a man coming home in the middle of the night, after being away from home for some time. He notices that his mother, who he refers to as "Mama," is sleeping in the middle of the bed, with the dishes on the counter, clothes on the floor, and trash by the door. The man tells Mama to move over, claiming he's coming home, and that she's sleeping in the middle of the bed for too long.
The song portrays a dynamic between a mother and her son, where the son is taking over the role of the head of the household. He doesn't seem to care about the state of the house or the responsibilities related to it, and only wants to claim his place back in the family. These lyrics reflect a man who is trying to assert himself into an established family structure that existed before he left home. He's asking Mama to make room for him, not only in the bed but also in the house, and in their family dynamics.
Overall, "Move Over Mama" presents a narrative of a man who is trying to find his place in his family structure. He comes home, expecting to be welcomed back with open arms, but instead finds that the family dynamic has changed, leaving him feeling like he needs to assert his dominance to reclaim his position.
Line by Line Meaning
I come home in the middle of the night
I return to our shared living space at a late hour
I get my bags inside and I'm bein' real quiet, mama
I enter my home discretely and without disturbance
Walk in the door and I turn on the lights, I find you
Upon arrival, I illuminate the space and discover your presence
Flat on your back with your legs open wide
You are lying down in a spread-eagled position
Move on over, mama I'm comin' home
Adjust position, I am returning
Woman, you been sleepin' in the middle of the bed too long
I believe that you have been occupying more than your fair share of our bed
Got the dishes on the counter, got the clothes on the floor
There are dirty dishes on the countertop and unorganized clothing on the ground
Mama, week's worth of trash sittin' there by the door
There is a week's worth of refuse accumulated near the entrance
You say your, your feet are tired and your fingers are sore
Your feet and fingers are experiencing discomfort and fatigue
But Mama, I don't care about no household chores
I do not prioritize domestic tasks at this moment
Baby, mama, Lord I'm a comin' home
I am returning to you
Well now pushin' and a pullin', tossin' and a turnin'
I am engaging in movements of shifting and adjusting
And beatin' me up
These maneuvers are causing me physical discomfort
Shove on over baby, don't you make me wait
Please make room for me and do not cause delay
Because your daddy's tired, he's all fed up
I am fatigued and impatient
I say you ain't gotta clean, mama, you ain't gotta cook
I am assuring you that domestic tasks are not expected of you
You ain't gotta tell me things that you read in your books
There is no need to share information you have read with me
When I come home late, you ain't gotta wait up
There is no obligation for you to remain awake until my arrival
But when I pull over them covers, don't you give me that look
However, I do expect you to cooperate with intimate acts and avoid judgmental looks
Baby, Mama, lord, I'm comin' home
I am returning to you
Woman, you been sleepin' in the middle of the bed too long
I continue to believe that you have been occupying an excessive amount of bed space
I said woman, you been sleepin' in the middle of the bed too long
I reiterate my previous statement
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Justin Townes Earle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind