She was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 2006 New Year's honours list.
Solo Discography:
* The Dreaming Sea (1996)
* Time to Fall (2002)
* Downriver (2005)
Move On
Karen Matheson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you don't need a license to open your mind
Well, it's a traveling circus of jokers and clowns
A movie picture that's one of its kind
And this place is the only place
Where even the clergy dance in the rain
And I know if I was stronger
I'd change my ways and join the parade with you
From the backstreets of this island
Move on, move on
To the walkways of the mainland
Move on
Dirty face and oily hands
But adament of life so clean and so pure
And in a perfect world the rights of man
Could never betray the rights of the land
And this way is the only way
The pilgrims walk a trail of song
And I know if you were stronger
You'd change your ways, you'd join the parade with me
From the backstreets of this island
Move on, move on
To the walkways of the mainland
Move on
Deeper and deeper, my blood runs deeper
Under the skies of time
Higher and higher, my soul leaps higher
Over the clay and lime
Deeper and deeper, my blood runs deeper
Under the skies of time
Higher and higher, my soul leaps higher
Over the clay and lime
From the backstreets of this island
Move on, move on
To the walkways of the mainland
Move on
From the backstreets of this island
Move on, move on
To the walkways of the mainland
Move on
The song 'Move On' by Karen Matheson describes a utopian place where people are free and happy without any limitations or boundaries. The lyrics evoke an image of a traveling circus with jokers, clowns, movie pictures, and rain-dancing clergy. Karen sings about how this place offers freedom from societal norms and expectations, where people can be their true selves without the need for names or licenses. The place is so remarkable that the pilgrims even walk a trail of song in this world. However, the song acknowledges that not everyone is strong enough to change their ways to join this parade, but it is something to aspire to.
The second half of the song speaks of the singer's desire to move on from the 'backstreets of this island' to the 'walkways of the mainland.' It talks about their determination to move forward from their oily hand and dirty-faced past and embrace a life that is clean and pure. The song reflects on the importance of making choices that honor both man and the land, and the pilgrims' trail of song represents the progress that can be achieved when people come together in unity towards a common goal.
Overall, 'Move On' is a hopeful and inspiring song that encourages us to move past our present circumstances and aspire to a better future, where we can be free and happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Imagine a place where you don't need a name
Think of a place where your identity is not defined by your name.
And you don't need a license to open your mind
In this place, you do not require permission to broaden your thoughts.
Well, it's a traveling circus of jokers and clowns
This place is like a carnival of fun-loving and amusing individuals.
A movie picture that's one of its kind
It's like a film that stands out and is unique in its own way.
And this place is the only place
This locale is the sole location of this type.
Where even the clergy dance in the rain
Religious figures also find pleasure in the simple things in life and delight in dancing in the rain.
And I know if I was stronger
I am aware that if I were more resilient,
I'd change my ways and join the parade with you
I would modify my behavior to be more like yours and demonstrate alongside you.
From the backstreets of this island
Starting from the neglected corners of this territory,
Move on, move on
Keep advancing and progressing
To the walkways of the mainland
To the busy streets of the continent
Dirty face and oily hands
Unkempt countenances and soiled palms
But adament of life so clean and so pure
Still, resolute in living a life that is unblemished and untainted
And in a perfect world the rights of man
In an idyllic world, human rights would never harm those of the environment.
Could never betray the rights of the land
The environment's rights would never be violated in a perfect world by human actions.
And this way is the only way
This path is the solely correct path.
The pilgrims walk a trail of song
The wanderers are journeying while singing melodic tunes.
And I know if you were stronger
I am aware that if you were more fortitudinous,
You'd change your ways, you'd join the parade with me
You also would transform your behavior and exhibit alongside me.
Deeper and deeper, my blood runs deeper
My connection to this place grows stronger and stronger with time.
Under the skies of time
Over the passage of time
Higher and higher, my soul leaps higher
My spirit soars high and higher
Over the clay and lime
Over the earth and mortar
From the backstreets of this island
Starting from the neglected corners of this territory,
Move on, move on
Keep advancing and progressing
To the walkways of the mainland
To the busy streets of the continent
From the backstreets of this island
Starting from the neglected corners of this territory,
Move on, move on
Keep advancing and progressing
To the walkways of the mainland
To the busy streets of the continent
Contributed by Jasmine R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.