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Move On Up Lyrics

Hush now child, and don't you cry
Your folks might understand you, by and by
Just move on up, toward your destination
But you may find from time to time
Complication

Bite your lip, and take a trip
Though there may be wet road ahead
And you cannot slip
Just move on up for peace will find
Into the steeple of beautiful people
Where there's only one kind

So hush now child, and don't you cry
Your folks might understand you, by and by
Move on up, and keep on wishing
Remember your dream is your only scheme
So keep on pushing

Take nothing less, than the second best
Do not obey, you must keep your say
So you can past the test
Just move on up, to a greater day
With just a little faith
If you put your mind to it you can surely do it

Just move on up
Move on up
But move on up
Oh child, but just move on up
But move on up
Move on up
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Cover art for Move On Up lyrics by Curtis Mayfield

The lyrics are wrong in vital places. This is a rather cyncle, sarcastic and ironic song about growing up.

"Take nothing less - not even second best" should in fact be: Take nothing less - THAN the second best"

There is a big difference in meaning.

So after a couple of listens I was getting perplexed with this one. Right off the bat after the first few lines it started to make me question the lyrics v tone over and over again. I got really confused and perplexed with the opening two lines...

" Hush now child, and don't you cry"

Suddenly it had the feeling of ...

"Shhhhsh! Child Stop making a fuss"

An then After listening over and over a fair few times these lines sound less and less comforting for the 'Child' and more condescending towards the child.

Next..

"Your folks...

Cover art for Move On Up lyrics by Curtis Mayfield

Yeah,I thought he said that too and that lyric always surprised me. Yet the song itself is inpiring.For the young Black generation especially that song had a lot of power back then."Your folks might understand you by and by".Many older blacks did not go for the big naturals and militant attitudes of the younger folks.Curtis was telling them that one day they would see that the youngsters were right about their passions.And he was VERY right about that final rapprochement.

Cover art for Move On Up lyrics by Curtis Mayfield

@Comrade Liar

Dude.. which would be more inspiring.. telling someone to settle for second best, or telling them to settle for nothing less than the best (even second best..)

Cover art for Move On Up lyrics by Curtis Mayfield

I find this song as one of the most beautiful and inspiring songs I have ever heard. It has a very optimistic tune/melody behind the words.

Cover art for Move On Up lyrics by Curtis Mayfield

Bend it like Beckham!!

Anyway, this song always gets me in a good mood. It's a great vibe, makes everything in the world seem positive.

What does this song have to do with that film?

Cover art for Move On Up lyrics by Curtis Mayfield

It's "take nothing less than the supreme best" - he just pronounces "sup-reme" a bit strangely and it's hard to hear

Cover art for Move On Up lyrics by Curtis Mayfield

IM-dms - you are so right! I absolutely love this song, and find it incredibly moving, and that it captures some intense feeling of the 70's (when I was in my teens). But was always really flummoxed by that lyric....how could someone as smart as Curtis M. write a lyric that was nonsensical and seemed kinda demeaning. But yeah - it IS "supreme best" and that makes total sense. He had something really special, a real intensity and need to communicate.

Cover art for Move On Up lyrics by Curtis Mayfield

Very inspiring indeed.

 
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