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You Gotta Move
The Rolling Stones Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You gotta move
You gotta move
You gotta move, child
You gotta move
Oh, when the Lord get ready
You gotta move

You may be high
You may be low
You may be rich, child
You may be poor
But when the Lord get ready
You gotta move

You see that woman
Who walks the street
You see that police
Upon his beat
But then the Lord get ready
You gotta move

You gotta move

Overall Meaning

The song "You Gotta Move" by The Rolling Stones is an old gospel blues tune that was originally recorded by Mississippi Fred McDowell, a blues musician and slide guitarist. The lyrics are a reminder that when the Lord, or fate, decides it's time to move on, you must do so. The repetition of the phrase "You gotta move" drives home the point that change is inevitable and you must be ready to adapt and move forward.


The song speaks to both physical movement and spiritual growth. The human experience is full of highs and lows, but regardless of your current status, the song reminds the listener that they will have to move on at some point. It also questions societal norms and authority figures (such as police), suggesting that even those in positions of power are not immune to the forces of change.


The lyrics of "You Gotta Move" are a powerful reminder of the transience of life and the importance of being ready to embrace change. Regardless of how comfortable we may be in our current situation, we must be prepared to move on when the time comes.


Line by Line Meaning

You gotta move
You have to keep moving forward in life.


You gotta move
You have to keep striving for success and progress.


You gotta move, child
You have to keep moving towards your goals and aspirations, no matter how hard it gets.


You gotta move
You have to maintain a constant state of growth and development.


Oh, when the Lord get ready
When the universe is ready for change to happen, you must be ready to adapt and move forward.


You may be high
Your social status or rank in society does not determine your need to keep moving forward.


You may be low
Even if you are struggling or facing hardships, you still need to keep pushing forward towards a better future.


You may be rich, child
Even if you are wealthy, you cannot become complacent and must continue to strive for more.


You may be poor
Even if you are impoverished, you must keep moving forward and fighting for a better life.


But when the Lord get ready
No matter what your current circumstances may be, change is always around the corner and you must be prepared to adapt.


You gotta move
Keep pushing forward and making progress, regardless of the obstacles you may face.


You see that woman
Observe those around you who are struggling and remember that you are not alone in your struggles.


Who walks the street
Even those who seem to be aimlessly wandering still have a purpose and direction in life.


You see that police
Even those in positions of authority are subject to the same laws of change as everyone else.


Upon his beat
Even those who patrol and enforce the law must keep moving forward in their personal and professional lives.


But then the Lord get ready
When change does come, it will be sudden and unpredictable, so it's important to always be ready to adapt and move forward.


You gotta move
No matter what happens, you must keep moving forward and striving for progress in your life.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Gary Davis, Fred McDowell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ShamsArifin-pj3bz

"You Gotta Move"

You gotta move
You gotta move
You gotta move, child
You gotta move
Oh, when the Lord gets ready
You gotta 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 gotta move
You see that woman
Who walks the street
You see that police
Upon his beat
But then the Lord gets ready
You gotta move
You gotta move



@oldbladderhorn949

am crazy!! you sure are a crazy christian...🙄🍋😊 sour puss
Law and not lord. Oh! when the law gets ready you gotta move. it's not a sermon or a chapel tune.
The woman's not walking to church. She's trying' to sell something and the rich and poor are her
customers. I don't hear no swing low hallelujah tamborine temperance band
coming from the Rolling stones or from Mississippi Fred
there's no way to put a christian spin on this tunes lyric as its street real as it has always been
mr Mcdowell had his eyes wide open when he wrote this song
he might or might not have been a very good christian
so wasn't going to lie" but tell the truth.the honest truth.
And so should you. And so endeth the lesson😎



All comments from YouTube:

@Jeff-nq4hg

“Listen grandpa! It sounds just like your favorite song!” 👦🏻

@beavis221

Ahh yes it is 👴🏻

@prestondonneaud9331

Aww shit here we go again 👴🏿

@st3v3n41

Shut the fuck up

@aCatholicOne

let me tell you about the good ol' days sunny 👴🏻

@JohnCake23

listen child, this song was made in the 50s, and your not funny.

6 More Replies...

@GanzoB

Original song by Mississippi Fred McDowell. Love this rendition. Stones Rule! Rest in peace Fred, Long live blues.

@cyndygough4107

Mississippi Fred would be proud!! He was one of the great Bluesmen !!!✌️💜🤘

@TheRacboys

This song has brought me so much comfort since the death of my mother. Thank you Stones for covering it, so well!

@themightythor1160

5 years this March for me. Hang in there. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

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