Born in Laurens, South Carolina, Davis became blind at a very young age. He took to the guitar and assumed a unique multi-voice style, playing not only ragtime and blues tunes, but also traditional and original tunes in four-part harmony. In the mid-1920s, he migrated to Durham, North Carolina, a major center for black culture at the time. While there, Davis collaborated with a number of other artists in the Piedmont blues scene including Blind Boy Fuller and Bull City Red. In 1935, a store manager with a reputation for supporting local artists introduced Davis (as well as Fuller and Red) to the American Record Company. The subsequent recording sessions marked the real beginning of Davis’ career. It was also during his time in Durham that Davis converted to Christianity; he would later become ordained as a Baptist minister. Following his conversion and especially his ordination, Davis began to express a preference for inspirational gospel music.
In the 1940s, the blues scene in Durham began to decline and Davis migrated to New York City. By the 1960s, he had become known as the “Harlem Street Singer” and also acquired a reputation as the person to see if you wanted to learn to play guitar. The folk revival of the 1960s re-invigorated Davis’ career, culminating in an performance at the Newport Folk Festival and the recording by Peter, Paul and Mary of “Samson & Delilah.” Also known as “If I Had My Way,” it was originally a Blind Willie Johnson recording that Davis had popularized.
You Got To Move
Reverend Gary Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got to move, oh move
When my God get ready, You got to move
You may be high, you may be low
You may be rich, you may be poor
Brother when God get ready you got to move
You may hide, can't be found
Brother when God get ready
You got to move
You may be old, you may be young
You may be weak, you may be strong
Brother when God get ready
You got to move
You got to move
You got to move
You got to move
You got to move
Brother when God get ready
You got to move
You may be blind,cannot see
You may be deaf, cannot hear
Brother when God get ready
You got to move
That gambler got to move
That gambler got to move
Don't you know he got to move
Yes, move
Brother when God get ready
You got to move
That drunkard got to move
That drunkard got to move
Don't you know he got to move
Yes, move
Brother when God get ready
You got to move
That preacher got to move
That preacher got to move
Don't you know he got to move
Yes, move
Brother when God get ready
You got to move
I got to move
I got to move
Don't you know he got to move
Yes, move
Brother when God get ready
You got to move
Reverend Gary Davis, known for his masterful guitar playing and soulful gospel songs, wrote "You Got To Move" as a reminder to the faithful that we are all on this earth for temporary reasons, and when our time is up, we must be ready to move on. The lyrics are a testament that no matter who you are, what you do, or how much money you have, when God decides it's time, you have to move. The song opens with a simple guitar riff and the repeated phrase "you got to move", which serves as the refrain for the song. The first verse talks about how, no matter your situation in life, when God decides it's time, you have to move. The following verses provide examples of individuals who need to move: the drunkard, the gambler, and even the preacher who must move on to another congregation or preach to a different audience. The song does not discriminate but reminds the listeners that we are all on this earth temporarily, and we must prepare ourselves for the next stage out of this world.
The lyrics of "You Got To Move" have been interpreted in various ways, but the most common interpretation is that the song speaks of death and the afterlife. The song reminds listeners that when God decides that your time on earth is done, you have to move on to the afterlife. The song encourages people to be prepared for this eventuality and make the most of their time on earth. The lyrics also suggest that people should lead a moral and upright life to prepare themselves for their eventual passage from this life.
Line by Line Meaning
You got to move, you got to move
You must take action, you must take action
You got to move, oh move
You must keep moving forward, keep moving forward
When my God get ready, You got to move
When it is time for God's plan to unfold, you must follow
You may be high, you may be low
You can be in a position of power or have nothing
You may be rich, you may be poor
You may have wealth or struggle with poverty
Brother when God get ready you got to move
Regardless of position or status, when God calls, you must go
You may run, can't be caught
You can try to escape, but you cannot outrun your fate
You may hide, can't be found
You can try to conceal yourself, but you cannot elude God's plan
You may be old, you may be young
You may be in any stage of life
You may be weak, you may be strong
You may be in a position of vulnerability or strength
You got to move
You must take action
That gambler got to move
Even those wasting their lives away must answer to God's plan
That drunkard got to move
Even those struggling with addiction must answer to God's plan
That preacher got to move
Even those serving in ministry must answer to God's plan
I got to move
Even I must take action and answer to God's plan
Don't you know he got to move
Everyone must answer to God's plan
Yes, move
Yes, take action
Brother when God get ready
When God's plan is in motion
You got to move
You must take action
Contributed by Aubrey G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PoLytnin
I've been doing this song for years, vocal and harmonica, and I've had the good fortune to play with a lot of good guitar players, but Jesus Christ! are you kidding me?!? I will gladly roll over in my grave when I get to play with The Reverend. When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there. Count on it!
Odin029
I have a musician friend of mine who say that nobody ever really masters an instrument. The instrument always has a new lesson to teach if a person plays it long enough, but when I listen to Rev Davis I'm not so sure.
jovesheerwater
This is how you play when you are God's guitar player.
tulayama lavenapi
"What should we ask from God?"
"We should ask for His love."
Nathaniel Rossi
Amen man deep as it gets. Hallelu!
09nob
the Reverend's a fucking beast on that guitar wow
1canyonguy
116 views? I love the Revs version -so joyfull
wayne peake
You gotta move
zazen108
Wow! that's a long way from Mississippi Fred.
Chris Taylor
Fred McDowell's version is brilliant too - you cant really compare Fred and the Rev, apples and oranges , both great in their own way.