This song, along with the majority of side 1 of Lodger, deals with themes of travel and exotic locations.
Interestingly, the chord progression of this song follows that of Bowie’s earlier work ‘All The Young Dudes’, only backwards.
[Verse 1]
Sometimes I feel the need to move on
So I pack a bag and move on
Move on
Well, I might take a train or sail at dawn
Might take a girl when I move on
When I move on
[Verse 2]
Somewhere, someone is calling me
When the chips are down
I am just a travelling man
Maybe it is just a trick of the mind
But somewhere there is a morning sky
Bluer than her eyes
Somewhere there's an ocean
Innocent and wild
[Verse 3]
Africa is sleepy people
Russia has its horsemen
Spent some nights in old Kyoto
Sleeping on the matted ground
Cyprus is my island
When the going's rough
I would love to find you
Somewhere in a place like that
[Bridge]
Mahi-ya, mahi-yo, mahi-ya, mahi-yo
Mahi-ya, mahi-yo, mahi-ya, mahi-yo
[Verse 4]
Somewhere, someone's calling me
When the chips are down
I stumble like a blind man
I can't forget you, can't forget you
Feeling like a shadow
Drifting like a leaf
I stumble like a blind man
I can't forget you, can't forget you
[Outro]
I can't forget you, can't forget you
Move On was written by David Bowie.
Move On was produced by David Bowie & Tony Visconti.
David Bowie released Move On on Fri May 18 1979.