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.
Tonight
The Move Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's over there
And leading down to nowhere.
This is the age when you're allowed
To have your own care
If you were half so bright
You'd plan your life ahead
Instead of waiting 'til you're old in your bed.
I'll be over tonight
If you say you might
I'll be over tonight
Need to put you right.
I'm so used to waiting that's entirely
Your decision don't be restricted
By the weightless views you're given
If you were half so bright you fight them
From the head
Instead of saving 'til your young heart is dead.
I'll be over tonight
Well I know what you wrote in your overcoat
But don't want to take it too far
Oh I think you won't but I know that you don't
You always say that you are
Never let the riches that my endless need will give you
Show some concern for all the love
That you must live through
If you were half so bright
You'd plan your life ahead
Instead of waiting 'til you're old in your bed.
In The Move's song "Tonight," the lyrics appear to be directed towards a young person who is hesitant to take charge of their life and make their own choices. The opening lines provide a sense of directionlessness and aimlessness, with the road leading "nowhere." The song then urges the listener to take control and plan ahead, rather than waiting for old age to make changes. The chorus is an invitation to connect: "If you say you might, I'll be over tonight / Need to put you right." The singer is trying to persuade the listener that they should seize the moment and be proactive in finding happiness.
The second verse suggests that the listener may feel restricted in their choices and is perhaps trapped by what they see as "weightless views." Once again, the song urges the listener to take control and fight for what they want. The bridge offers a bit of vulnerability, with the singer admitting that they don't want to push too hard and risk scaring the listener away. However, they also seem to be suggesting that the listener is not being entirely honest about their own desires, always saying they will do something but never following through. The final chorus reinforces the message of taking control and not waiting until old age to make changes.
Overall, "Tonight" seems to be a call to action for anyone who feels uncertain or hesitant about their life choices. The message is clear: don't wait until it's too late to pursue what you really want. The song's lyrics are straightforward and direct, but they convey a sense of urgency that is impossible to ignore.
Line by Line Meaning
That's the road
Pointing over there to the road leading down to nowhere
It's over there
Indicating the location of the road towards nowhere
And leading down to nowhere.
Stating the final destination of the road
This is the age when you're allowed
Referring to the current age where one has the freedom
To have your own care
To take care of oneself
If you were half so bright
If you're smart enough
You'd plan your life ahead
You'll organize your life beforehand
Instead of waiting 'til you're old in your bed.
Stop procrastinating until you grow old and weak
I'll be over tonight
I'll come over tonight
If you say you might
As long as you agree
Need to put you right.
I gotta correct you
I'm so used to waiting that's entirely
I'm already accustomed to waiting
Your decision don't be restricted
Don't let others limit your choices
By the weightless views you're given
By the baseless opinions fed to you
If you were half so bright you fight them
If you're intelligent enough, you'll fight against them
From the head
With reasoning and logic
Instead of saving 'til your young heart is dead.
Don't wait until you get old and jaded
Well I know what you wrote in your overcoat
I know the message you hid in the overcoat
But don't want to take it too far
I'm hesitant to push the boundaries
Oh I think you won't but I know that you don't
I don't expect you to, but I know you won't
You always say that you are
You always make promises you can't keep
Never let the riches that my endless need will give you
Don't be swayed by the wealth I could provide
Show some concern for all the love
Value the love that we have
That you must live through
That you'll have to go through
If you were half so bright
If you're somewhat smart
You'd plan your life ahead
You'll have a life plan in place
Instead of waiting 'til you're old in your bed.
Rather than putting off things until you're too old
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FIONA SHEREE KERNAGHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@manfredbeuth2921
Roy, Bev and Jeff......You're unbelievable music legends......!!!!!! Love you very, very, very much!!!!!!!!!!
@steveblease
50 years old and still better than the top 100 in most countries.
@tjvanpopta
The more i listen to todays music the more i realize how great music of the pas was.
@gustaaf1892
This song was the first I heard from the Move back in the day and I really liked it. It must have also been one of their last before ELO was formed. They are a bunch of excellent musicians, which seemed to be par for the course in the UK in those days with so many great and innovative bands emerging all within a short period of time.
@paul_grimsley
Actually ELO and The Move were parallel for a while. They didnt stop The Move to form ELO.
@raymondbonington9355
After this they had 2 more hits Chinatown and California man ,
@LoredanaLanzo-iq8ux
Infatti nelle stesse trasmissioni in un' unica puntata, si esibivano sia come Move, sia come ELO
@MrMjp58
Individually, they were both spectacularly talented. Together, they would have been unstoppable.
I love Jeff's voice; Roy's was one of the greatest in rock history.
@KurtI2525
Two alphas. Almost never works. Some exceptions, though. Stones. The Who. Queen would’ve.
@mmmyeah7
Oh man I'm young tbh in the terms of this era but the move Roy wood to me is royalty