"You Got to Move" is a traditional negro spiritual song about death coming soon, and slaves fleeing the Southern United States and/or being freed by death/reaching the promised land/paradise.
As ever in such slave songs, double-entendres are difficult to figure out. The lyrics have a clear touch of spiritual music, suggesting that death was unavoidable and time to 'move' to the promised land was coming.
Sir Tom Jones in a unique session of folk, blues and beyond from the beautiful LSO St Lukes in the City. 21 September 2012, Jones and a special band put together by Ethan Johns, the producer of his last two albums Praise & Blame and Spirit in the Room, deliver songs of guilt, redemption and judgement drawn from those records and also collaborates with special guests Seasick Steve on Mississippi Fred McDowell's You Gotta Move.
Filmed more like a rehearsal in the round than a concert with Ethan Johns on guitar, Richard Causon on keys, Dave Bronze on bass, Jeremy Stacey on drums and The Staves.
This BBC FOUR Session finds Jones The Voice in masterful yet genial form, exploring his roots in the songs and styles of the American South in the 50s and 60s - early rock n roll, country, gospel, folk, blues and beyond.
Lyrics:
You got to move
You got to move
You got to move, child
You got to move
But when the Lord
Gets ready
You got to move
You may be high
You may be low
You may be rich, child
You may be po'
But when the Lord gets ready
You've got to move
You see that woman
That walk the street
You see the policeman
Out on his beat
But when the Lord gets ready
You got to move
You got to move
You got to move
You've got to move, child
You've got to
But when the Lord gets ready
You got to move.
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