Left and Leaving
Motion City Soundtrack Lyrics


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My city is still breathing but barely it's true,
through buildings gone missing like teeth.
The sidewalks are watching me think about you
sparkled with broken glass
I'm back with scars to show
back with the streets I know
will never me anywhere but here.
The stain in the carpet
this drink in my hand
The strangers whose faces I know.
We meet here for our dress rehearsal to say
I wanted it this way.
Wait for the year to drown
Spring forward,
Fall back down.
I'm trying not to wonder where you are.

All this time
Lingers, undefined.
Someone choose
Who's left & who's leaving.

Memory will rest & erode into lists
of all that you gave me.
Blankets some matches
this pain in my chest
the best parts of lonely
Ductape & soddered wires
new words for old desires,
& every birthday card I threw away.

I wait in 4/4 time
Count yellow highway lines
That you're relying on to lead you home.




That you're relying on to lead you home.
That you're relying on to lead you home.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Motion City Soundtrack's song 'Left and Leaving' tell a poignant story of a person deeply affected by a break-up as they navigate through their city, which reflects their inner turmoil. The singer describes the city as still breathing, but barely, as if it too is struggling to hang on. The buildings that have gone missing are compared to teeth, indicating something important has been removed, leaving a gap that cannot be filled. The sidewalks 'sparkled with broken glass' symbolize the pain that the singer is feeling, reminding them of what has been shattered.


The singer describes their scars, both physical and emotional, showing they have been through a lot since their departure from the person they miss. They express their fear that they will never be able to move on from this place - this city - that seems to hold them captive, unable to escape. The repetition of the line 'Will never be anywhere but here' suggests a sense of hopelessness or resignation.


The second verse describes a gathering of strangers who know each other's faces, meeting for a dress rehearsal. This could represent a coping mechanism or distraction from the pain the singer is feeling. They say 'I wanted it this way' - perhaps an admission that they wanted the break-up or suggesting that they are trying to convince themselves that they did. The lines 'Wait for the year to drown, spring forward, fall back down' could illustrate the cyclical nature of emotions and how they can feel trapped in their feelings.


The chorus of the song brings a sense of a need for closure. The singer is trying to make sense of their experience and understand who is left and who is leaving. They feel uncertain and lost amidst the memories that seem to keep haunting them. The last verse talks about the inevitability of time passing, how memories will fade, and how they cling to anything that keeps them connected to the past, to what is lost. The final repetition of 'That you're relying on to lead you home' shows the singer's dependence on something to guide them, perhaps a metaphor for them seeking a way to move forward.


Line by Line Meaning

My city is still breathing but barely it's true,
Although my city is still alive, it is just barely hanging on.


through buildings gone missing like teeth.
The missing buildings remind me of lost teeth.


The sidewalks are watching me think about you
As I walk along the sidewalks, I can't help but think about you.


sparkled with broken glass
The broken glass on the sidewalks glimmers in the light.


I'm back with scars to show
I have returned, marked with emotional wounds.


back with the streets I know
I'm back in the familiar surroundings of the streets I know.


will never be anywhere but here.
I feel I will always be stuck in this same location.


The stain in the carpet
I see a stain on the carpet.


this drink in my hand
I'm holding a drink.


The strangers whose faces I know.
I recognize the faces of the strangers around me.


We meet here for our dress rehearsal to say I wanted it this way.
We gather here to prepare for something we know is coming, and I realize that I chose this path.


Wait for the year to drown
I am waiting for the year to end.


Spring forward, Fall back down.
I try to make progress, but often end up falling back instead.


I'm trying not to wonder where you are.
I am struggling to keep my thoughts from dwelling on your whereabouts.


All this time Lingers, undefined.
Time passes, but I feel its meaning is unclear.


Someone choose Who's left & who's leaving.
A decision needs to be made regarding who stays and who goes.


Memory will rest & erode into lists of all that you gave me.
As time passes, my memories of you will fade into a list of what you gave me.


Blankets some matches this pain in my chest
The comfort of blankets is not enough to extinguish the pain in my chest.


the best parts of lonely
The best moments of being alone are still lonely.


Ductape & soddered wires
I see patched-together repairs made with duct tape and soldered wires.


new words for old desires,
I'm searching for new ways to describe old desires.


& every birthday card I threw away.
Even the birthday cards you gave me I eventually threw away.


I wait in 4/4 time
I wait patiently to the beat of 4/4 time.


Count yellow highway lines
I count the yellow lines on the highway.


That you're relying on to lead you home.
I hope the yellow lines guide you safely back home.




Contributed by William V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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