Motion Sickness by Phoebe Bridgers Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Rollercoaster of Emotional Turmoil
Lyrics
And I miss you like a little kid
I faked it every time but that’s alright
I can hardly feel anything
I hardly feel anything at all
You gave me fifteen hundred
To see your hypnotherapist
I only went one time, you let it slide
Fell on hard times a year ago
Was hoping you would let it go and you did
I have emotional motion sickness
Somebody roll the windows down
There are no words in the English language
I could scream to drown you out
I’m on the outside looking through
You’re throwing rocks around your room
And while you’re bleeding on your back in the glass
I’ll be glad that I made it out
And sorry that it all went down like it did
I have emotional motion sickness
Somebody roll the windows down
There are no words in the English language
I could scream to drown you out
And why do you sing with an English accent
I guess it’s too late to change it now
You know I’m never gonna let you have it
But I will try to drown you out
You said when you met me you were bored
You said when you met me you were bored
And you, you were in a band when I was born
I have emotional motion sickness
I try to stay clean and live without
And I want to know what would happen
If I surrender to the sound
Surrender to the sound
Phoebe Bridgers’s ‘Motion Sickness’ isn’t just a song; it’s a haunting confessional that serves as a catharsis for anyone who’s felt the dizzying effects of a toxic relationship. With gripping honesty and visceral storytelling, Bridgers captures the essence of post-breakup malaise through delicate indie-rock instrumentation and vivid lyricism.
Beyond the surface-level understanding of the song’s lyrics, there lies a landscape of emotional depth that warrants a deep-dive interpretation. It’s a track that explores the complexities of a connection marked by both intense yearn and disenchantment—a paradox that’s universally relatable.
The Visceral Impact of Dichotomous Emotions
At the core of ‘Motion Sickness’ lies the contrast between two powerful emotions: hate and longing. Bridgers’s sharp, opening lines ‘I hate you for what you did / And I miss you like a little kid’ expose the raw and often contradictory feelings that accompany heartbreak. This tug-of-war represents a common human experience—the agony of simultaneously missing someone and recoiling at the thought of the pain they’ve caused.
As listeners, we are drawn into Bridgers’s world, riding this wave of ’emotional motion sickness’—a metaphor that echoes throughout the song. The term itself is a poignant conflation of the physical and psychological, suggesting that just as one’s equilibrium is disrupted by motion, so too can one’s emotional stability be shaken by the aftershocks of a relationship’s end.
A Deep Dive Into the Hypnotherapy Allegory
Bridgers introduces a layer of complexity with her candid reference to hypnotherapy, a literal attempt at curing her turmoil. While it encapsulates the desperation of seeking help, the abandoned therapy sessions also metaphorically speak to the inefficacy of simple solutions when facing deep-rooted emotional discord.
The mention of ‘fifteen hundred’ and ‘let[ting] it slide’ could be read as Bridgers acknowledging the emotional debt and cost of maintaining a facade. It serves as an indictment of the lengths one will go to in pursuit of healing, whether through professional help or self-deception—a somber reflection on human vulnerability.
Windows Down: A Cry for Relief
In a chorus that begs to ‘roll the windows down’, Bridgers isn’t just asking for fresh air—she’s gasping for emotional release. The claustrophobia of her feelings is palpable, and the act of rolling down the windows becomes a symbolic gesture of escape from the stifling environment of residual grief.
The line ‘There are no words in the English language / I could scream to drown you out’ reinforces the idea that some emotional experiences are so profound that language itself falls inadequate. Bridgers taps into a universal sentiment, where the volume of our inner turmoil drowns out any means of outward expression.
The Song’s Poignant Hidden Meaning
While ‘Motion Sickness’ is overtly a narrative about heartbreak, its hidden meaning can be discerned in the subtext of personal growth and survival. The line ‘I’m on the outside looking through’ signals a moment of objectivity—an emotional detachment that allows Bridgers to examine her past from a distance.
This song isn’t just a retrospective—it’s an invocation of hope. Even as Bridgers acknowledges the pain (‘bleeding on your back in the glass’), she appreciates the personal progress (‘glad that I made it out’). The hidden message is one of triumph over turmoil, of celebrating the scars that bear testimony to survival.
Memorable Lines That Echo the Soul’s Lament
Bridgers’s songwriting shines in its ability to distill complex emotions into simple, yet gut-punching lines. The haunting repetition of ‘You said when you met me you were bored’ captures the dismissive cruelty of an apathetic lover and the lingering self-doubt it instills in those left behind.
‘And you, you were in a band when I was born’ is a cutting remark that hints at issues of power dynamics and emotional manipulation. It’s a line that stays with you, a stark reminder of the unbalanced foundations upon which their relationship was built.
