The Move evolved from several mid-1960s Birmingham-based groups, including Carl Wayne & The Vikings, The Nightriders & The Mayfair Set. The group's name seems to refer to the move various members of these bands made to form the group. Beside Roy Wood, the original members of the Move were drummer Bev Bevan, bassist Chris "Ace" Kefford, vocalist Carl Wayne & guitarist Trevor Burton.
Their first single, 'Night of Fear' was released in 1966 and was the first in a line of memorable hits penned chiefly by Roy Wood.
'I Can Hear the Grass Grow', 'Blackberry Way' & Flowers in the Rain (the latter being the first record played on BBC Radio 1), are The Move's better known work not forgetting 1971's 'Tonight'. The group became more experimental and innovative as time went on especially on the albums 'Shazam' and 'Message from the Country'.
Several changes left the final line-up in 1971 as Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan, evolving into the first incarnation of Electric Light Orchestra which Wood left soon after to form Wizzard.
Omnibus
The Move Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pushing in the queue to get to the front
Join the ladies in my dream
I know the perfect part you play
Ring my bell and sail away
Come and take a ride on my omnibus
We could take you right to the terminus
Catching the ride inside
Just a dud their hansom falter
Harem on a bus flies over the town
Hopes and dreams lock up your daughters
Just too late to save the day
Ring my bell and turn away
Come and take a ride on my omnibus
We could take you right to the terminus
Don't forget your ticket if you want to ride
Catching the ride inside
Sweet silver meadows
Protect us from the rain
Reins never break
Take us to the stars again
Hear the waves flow everywhere
See my sleighs through windy hair
Save the girls upstairs for later
Now you wonder if I can manage them all
Wrap them up in Christmas paper
Tell them they don't have to pay
Ring my bell and turn away
Come and take a ride on my omnibus
We could take you right to the terminus
Don't forget your ticket if you want to ride
Catching the ride inside
Omnibus ride
Omnibus ride
The Move's song Omnibus recounts a dreamlike experience where the singer sees a woman and invites her to join him on his omnibus. The lyrics describe this invitation as one of whimsy, asking the woman to "ring [his] bell and sail away" with him. They will be joined by other women, and the singer explains that he knows the "perfect part" for the new passenger. The omnibus ride is described with magical and fantastical imagery, such as the "sweet silver meadows" that protect the passengers from the rain and allow them to be taken to the stars. The singer also speaks of a "harem on a bus" flying over the town and hopes and dreams being locked up during the ride.
Throughout the lyrics, the singer references his omnibus as a means of escape and adventure, and describes it as a magical vehicle that can take them anywhere. He invites the women to come along for the ride, reminding them not to forget their ticket, and assuring them that they will be able to catch the ride inside. The song presents a whimsical and dreamlike experience that encourages listeners to let go of their worries and join in the adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
There she is I'm sure I seen her
The singer spots a familiar lady among a group of people.
Pushing in the queue to get to the front
The lady is trying to move to the front of the line.
Join the ladies in my dream
The singer invites the lady to be part of his fantasy.
I know the perfect part you play
The singer has a specific role in mind for the lady in his dream.
Ring my bell and sail away
The singer is giving the lady an invitation to escape reality with him.
Come and take a ride on my omnibus
The singer invites the listener to join him on his journey.
We could take you right to the terminus
The omnibus can take the listener to their ultimate destination.
Don't forget your ticket if you want to ride
A ticket is necessary to go on this journey.
Catching the ride inside
The singer is encouraging the listener to take the journey inside the omnibus.
Just a dud their hansom falter
The singer mentions a broken-down hansom cab.
Harem on a bus flies over the town
The singer describes a dream scenario of women in a bus flying over a town.
Hopes and dreams lock up your daughters
The singer suggests that big hopes and dreams can lead to dangerous situations.
Just too late to save the day
The singer implies that it's too late to fix a negative outcome.
Sweet silver meadows
The singer references beautiful meadows.
Protect us from the rain
The meadows offer shelter from the rain.
Reins never break
Implied that the singer has complete control over the journey.
Take us to the stars again
The singer wants to transport the listener to new, exciting experiences.
Hear the waves flow everywhere
The singer references the sound of waves everywhere.
See my sleighs through windy hair
The singer describes a magical, dream-like scenario with sleighs.
Save the girls upstairs for later
The singer suggests he plans on having fun with women later.
Now you wonder if I can manage them all
The singer questions whether he can handle all the women in his party.
Wrap them up in Christmas paper
The singer jokingly suggests that he will wrap up the women like a gift.
Tell them they don't have to pay
The singer implies that he'll take care of the costs for the women.
Omnibus ride
A reminder of the ride on the omnibus.
Contributed by Matthew C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve Carroll
My cobbled together Move best of is shredded- and this was my #2 behind Fire Brigade. I'm and old Yank Power Pop fan- and when I discovered Roy Wood- Oh my Lord- a parallel universe opened up. Thought I'd heard it all- and knew Cheap Trick was "influenced" by this mysterious pre elo group. Now I know they owe their musical LIVES to Mr. Wood. We can take it right to the terminus, indeed. Thanks- straight to my favorites.
Lyndon Bournon's Music Channel
Probably my favourite band of all time.
Phil Wearmouth
The Best underrated band of all time
Pete Davies
Along with The Beatles and the Kinks this was the Best of the Sixties and Early Seventies (1970 for the Beatles) Love The Move!!
Lex Loofah
Agree..Only thing I like by theIMHO overrated Stones is their psychedelic album(Their Satanic Majesties..)which everyone else hates.
And they took far too long to make the genius Ray Davies a knight.
Mark Ricci
I also agree that this should have been the "A" side instead of the "B" side to Wild Tiger Woman. I realize that they were trying to go heavier and change direction with that song, but WTW was so jarring and radically different after the terrific power pop of their previous single, "Fire Brigade." This would have been a great follow-up to "Fire Brigade" and you can hear shades of that song in it. Love the psychedelic guitar solo at the end. The Move were one of Britain's best 60's bands and these talented Brummies should have been bigger!
Alby Grey Jnr.
I could listen to this Eight days a week.
David Henderson
this band should be in every RnR HOF in the world.
Jim McCarthy
yes
cybertronian2005
Roy Wood and Bev Bevan are in the RnR HOF