Motion City Soundtrack is an American pop-punk band from Minneapolis, MN. T… Read Full Bio ↴Motion City Soundtrack is an American pop-punk band from Minneapolis, MN. They have released six full-length albums: I Am The Movie (2003), Commit This To Memory (2005), Even If It Kills Me (2007), My Dinosaur Life (2010), Go (2012), and Panic Stations (2015). Their 2005 single "Everything Is Alright" was certified Gold by the RIAA in 2017. They broke up in 2016 but announced a reunion in 2019.

The Here Away
Motion City Soundtrack Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It was an isolated incident
Back in 1984
On a plane headed south to west Texas
I held my wings next to the frozen window

Then a lady sat down right beside me
With big black glasses and long brown hair
She told me she was from West Virginia

She bought me a soda and held my hand

And we turned on the radio
And we were laughing out loud
And that's exactly who we are
It's who we are
Miss West Virginia, please tell me Texas is not that far

Miss Virginia was a teacher of science
She said I looked nervous so I explained
It's the shuttle I saw on the TV
She told me that shuttles and planes aren't the same

And we turned on the radio
And we were laughing out loud
And that's exactly who we are
It's who we are
Miss West Virginia, please tell me Texas is not that far

And we turned on the radio
And we were laughing out loud
And that's exactly who we are

It's who we are
(she says we're here)

Overall Meaning

The song "The Here Away" by Motion City Soundtrack is a heartwarming tune that narrates a brief encounter between the singer and a stranger on a plane ride in 1984. The singer reflects on the moment, where he sat by the window with his wings and was joined by a lady who introduces herself as Miss West Virginia. She notices that he looks nervous and takes it upon herself to comfort him, offering him a soda and holding his hand.

As they converse, the singer explains that he is nervous because he saw the shuttle on TV, and Miss West Virginia explains the difference between shuttles and planes. The two continue to bond and listen to the radio, laughing and enjoying the moment. The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and a reminder that even the briefest of encounters can leave an impact.

The song's lyrics are notably simple yet poignant, with a sentimental melody that adds to the emotions the singer portrays. The lyrics take the listener on a journey through an encounter that might seem insignificant but still resonates with the singer, who still remembers it years later. It touches on the idea that even the smallest moments in one's life can hold a sentimental value and capture the essence of the human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

It was an isolated incident
The story is about a specific and uncommon event.

Back in 1984
The event happened a long time ago.

On a plane headed south to west Texas
The location where the incident took place.

I held my wings next to the frozen window
The artist was looking out the window and touching the frost on it.

Then a lady sat down right beside me
A stranger came and sat beside the artist.

With big black glasses and long brown hair
Description of the stranger's appearance.

She told me she was from West Virginia
The stranger's origin.

She bought me a soda and held my hand
The stranger was friendly and caring towards the artist.

And we turned on the radio
The artist and the stranger listened to music.

And we were laughing out loud
The artist and the stranger were having a good time together.

And that's exactly who we are
The singer and the stranger were being themselves and having fun.

Miss West Virginia, please tell me Texas is not that far
The artist was asking the stranger if their destination was far away and expressing his hope that it wasn't.

Miss Virginia was a teacher of science
The stranger's profession was a science teacher.

She said I looked nervous so I explained
The singer was anxious and the stranger noticed, so he told her why.

It's the shuttle I saw on the TV
The singer saw the space shuttle on TV, which made him nervous about flying.

She told me that shuttles and planes aren't the same
The stranger explained the differences between space shuttles and airplanes to ease the artist's anxiety.

(she says we're here)
The stranger tells the artist they have arrived at their destination.

Contributed by Kennedy F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS