Ja'Net moved onto TV roles, receiving a Peabody Award for a 1969 CBS children's movie J.T.. She then appeared in a daytime serial, Love of Life; she is the first African American actress to have a regular serial role.
Ja'Net is best known for her role as the sexy, confident gossip Willona Woods in the Norman Lear created series Good Times. She composed and sang the theme song, Movin' On Up, for another Lear series, The Jeffersons. Ja'Net has appeared in many films including the blaxploitation parody, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, as a tough and loving mother. She has also done voice-over work for which she received two Emmys.
Ja'Net is the co-founder of the Pan African Film & Arts Festival which showcases global films about people of African descent and fine arts. She is a community activist whose DuBois Care Foundation's mission is to empower youth by supporting after school programs. Ja'Net is also a painter who regularly exhibits her work. She released a CD in 2008, Hidden Treasures, which includes the well-known TV theme song, Movin' On Up.
Movin' on Up
Ja'net Dubois Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in the big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin wrong with that.
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
Ja'net Dubois's song Movin' on Up expresses the triumph of the African-American community in America, as they work their way up from the tough and impoverished neighborhoods to luxurious living quarters. The song revolves around the idea of upward mobility and the hard work it takes to get there. The lyrics "Well we're movin on up, to the east side, to a deluxe apartment in the sky. Movin on up, to the east side, we finally got a piece of the pie" speak of a sense of pride and dignity that comes with success, especially when it is hard-won. The song also celebrates the resilience of African Americans, who have persevered through the toughest of times.
The second verse of the song speaks of the struggle that people from the African-American community have been through to get where they are. The lyrics, "Fish don't fry in the kitchen; beans don't burn on the grill. Took a whole lotta tryin' just to get up that hill" point towards the struggle of not only attaining success but also the hard work that goes into maintaining it. The lyrics that follow express the understanding that the road ahead may still be long and hard, but as long as the couple stays together, nothing can impede their progress.
Line by Line Meaning
Well we're movin on up,
We are progressing and advancing.
To the east side.
We are moving to a new and better location.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
We have achieved a high level of success and comfort.
Movin on up
We are making significant improvements in our life.
To the east side.
We are moving to a new and better location.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
We have finally gained a share of the rewards that we deserve.
Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
We have overcome obstacles and challenges.
Beans don't burn on the grill.
We have learned from our mistakes and overcome difficulties.
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Our success did not come easily and required a lot of effort.
Just to get up that hill.
We had to work hard to achieve our goals and overcome obstacles.
Now we're up in the big leagues
We have achieved a high level of success and recognition.
Gettin' our turn at bat.
We are finally getting our chance to succeed and shine.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
We will stay committed to each other and our success together.
There ain't nothin wrong with that.
Our partnership and success is something to be proud of and celebrated.
Well we're movin on up,
We are continuing to progress and advance in our lives.
To the east side.
We are continuing to move up to better things and a better life.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Our success and achievements will continue to reach new heights.
Movin on up
We are continuing to make significant improvements in our lives.
To the east side.
We are continuing to move up to better things and a better life.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
Our hard work and efforts have finally paid off and we are enjoying the rewards of our success.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Janet Dubois, Jeff Barry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@daviddaniel4687
This song lifts me up every time. Wow! what a talented woman she was.
@MUSIC-MARY
L♥️VE IT!!!
@JC11378
I grew up in the 80s and grew up on reruns on all of these classics. I wonder if she knew that for an Italian family from Queens sang this song as an anthem, a goal, an inspiration that we could move on up too considering money was always tight and life got pretty rough at times. RIP Ms. Dubois and thank you for the song! ❤
@blackcommunion3820
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
@D_Phlebnursingstudent
I never knew it was Ja’Net DuBoise that sung this song
That was the theme song to the Jeffersons!😁
@chrismulwee4911
The first hint that I got that it was Ms. DuBois, was when I saw her listed as cowriter of the theme. The MAIN writer is Jeff Barry. Now you may not know his name, but you, no doubt, have heard his work, He wrote Leader Of The Pack, for the Shangri-La's, Da Doo Ron Ron for The Crystals, Chapel Of Love for Darlene Love, but covered by The Dixie Cups, River Deep Mountain for Ike and Tina, and Sugar Sugar for the Archie's. His usual co writer was his late wife Ellie Greenwich
@Boycott-Ai-NOW
It was a Gen X thang... We ALL knew by the voice alone!!!
@MJones-nr1wd
I Knew it was Ja'net Dubois even before seeing the credits because I recognized her voice. She used to sing sometimes when she played Willona Woods on Good Times. She was such a talented and beautiful lady.
@GalaxyNexus1
Jeff Barry was not the main writer. The song was Ms Dubois' idea and she wrote the lyrics.@@chrismulwee4911
@LivingToLiveAgain3055
This is sooo churchy!!!! 🙌🏾😩