You Got To Move
McDowell Fred Lyrics

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You got to move, you got to move
You got to move, child, you got to move
But when the Lord gets ready
You got to move

You may be high, you may be low
You may be rich, child, you may be poor
But when the Lord gets ready

You've got to move

You see that woman that walk the street
You see that policeman out on his beat
But when the Lord gets ready
You got to move

You got to move, you got to move
You got to move, child, you got to

But when the Lord gets ready
You got to

Overall Meaning

In McDowell Fred's song "You Got To Move," the repeated phrase "You got to move" serves as a metaphor for the impermanence of life and the inevitability of change. The lyrics suggest that no matter who you are or what position you hold in society, you cannot escape the movement of time and the eventual call of the divine. The song also touches on themes of social inequality and the often harsh realities of everyday life. The reference to the woman who walks the street and the police officer on his beat implies that even those in positions of power or outside the traditional bounds of societal norms are subject to the same laws of nature as everyone else.

The refrain "But when the Lord gets ready, you got to move" emphasizes the idea that all people will eventually face judgment and must be ready to move on to whatever comes next. The repetition of the phrase throughout the song also helps to create a sense of urgency and reinforces the message that life is fleeting and constantly in motion.

Overall, "You Got To Move" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that speaks to the universal human experience of confronting the unknown and facing the inevitability of change.

Line by Line Meaning

You got to move
You must take action and make a change

You got to move, child
You need to take action and change your ways, young person

You got to move
You must take action and make a change

But when the Lord
However, when a divine being intervenes

Gets ready
Chooses to act

You got to move
You must take action and make a change

You may be high
You could have a high status, be successful

You may be low
You could have a low status, be struggling

You may be rich, child
You may have wealth, young person

You may be po'
You may be poor

But when the Lord gets ready
However, when a divine being intervenes