The Jeffersons
Ja'net Dubois & Oren Waters Lyrics
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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
The lyrics of “The Jeffersons” theme song by Ja'net Dubois, captures the story of a family who has finally achieved their dreams of upward mobility by moving to the East Side and attaining a deluxe apartment in the sky. The lines “Fish don't fry in the kitchen, beans don't burn on the grill” refer to the struggles the family has faced in the past, and how they have overcome them. The lyrics suggest that their past was not always easy, and they had to work hard to get to where they are today. The line “took a whole lot of tryin' just to get up that hill” is a metaphor for the tough times the family went through before finding success.
The second stanza of the lyrics speaks of the family’s success and how they have made it to the “big leagues” where they are now getting their turn at bat. The lyric “as long as we live, it's you and me baby, there ain't nothin' wrong with that” emphasizes the strength of the family’s bond and their love for each other that has helped them achieve their goals. Through their struggles, they have stuck together as a family and supported each other, and now they are reaping the rewards of their hard work.
Line by Line Meaning
Well we're movin' on up
We are making progress in our lives
To the east side
To a more affluent neighborhood
To a deluxe apartment in the sky
To a luxurious high-rise apartment with great views
Movin' on up
Continuing to make progress
We finally got a piece of the pie
We are finally achieving financial success and enjoying the benefits of that
Fish don't fry in the kitchen
We have moved up in the world to the point where we do not have to struggle with basic things (like cooking food)
Beans don't burn on the grill
We are now able to cook without much effort or difficulty
Took a whole lotta tryin'
We had to work very hard to get where we are
Just to get up that hill
It was a difficult climb, but we made it to the top
Now we're up in the big leagues
We have achieved a higher status than before
Gettin' our turn at bat
We are now getting the opportunities and chances we deserve
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
We are in this together and will always support each other
There ain't nothin' wrong with that
There is nothing wrong with working hard and achieving success
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Janet Dubois, Jeff Barry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind