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 Red Dress
Motion City Soundtrack Lyrics

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Like your hair much better that way
When it hangs out front when it hangs out front
With tilted head like a listener
But I'm just thinking about the red dress
I like the red dress

I'm on my way I'm on my way I'm on my way
From coast to coast I'm chilly most I'm chill

I never knew the way to Pasadena
But now I know and now I know and I am grateful

You say you'll burn this city down
With stars and stripes with stars and stripes
And ask if I'll move out west with you
But I'm still thinking about the red dress

I like the red dress

Coast to coast and in too deep
Saving our secret for the weekends
Which I can't remember
Motel walls and in disguise
Telephone calls we don't reply
With drink I see things better
I'll see you around
We'll bring the house down
We'll bring the house down

I like the red dress

Overall Meaning

In the opening verse, the singer expresses an admiration for a particular physical trait of the subject, but they are distracted by the thought of the red dress the subject is wearing. The singer is on their way from one coast to another, they feel a little chilly, but they seem to have found their way to Pasadena. A request for the singer to move out west with the subject is given, but again, the singer is distracted by the red dress. The repeated refrain of "I like the red dress" indicates the significance of the subject's clothing and suggests it may be a symbol of something else.

The second verse seems to describe a secret relationship between the singer and the subject, with the two of them saving their secret for the weekends. The singer may be struggling with alcoholism, as they suggest that they see things better with a drink. The final lines of the song suggest that the relationship may have ended, but they will still "bring the house down" in some way. The focus on the red dress throughout the song suggests that it may represent a longing for a past relationship or moment, and the singer's inability to move on from it.

Overall, "The Red Dress" seems to depict a bittersweet romance where the singer can't move on from a particular moment in the past, represented by the red dress. It also touches on themes of nostalgia, distance, and longing.

Line by Line Meaning

Like your hair much better that way
I prefer your hair when it hangs on your forehead.

When it hangs out front when it hangs out front
I find it more attractive when your hair is styled to hang over your forehead.

With tilted head like a listener
You look like you're listening closely with your head tilted to the side.

But I'm just thinking about the red dress
Even though I am paying attention to you, I can't help but think about the red dress.

I'm on my way I'm on my way I'm on my way
I am traveling and making progress on my journey.

From coast to coast I'm chilly most I'm chill
I've traveled across the entire country and feel cold and distant.

I never knew the way to Pasadena
I didn't know how to get to Pasadena before.

But now I know and now I know and I am grateful
But now I am aware of how to get there, and I am thankful for this newfound knowledge.

You say you'll burn this city down
You claim that you will set fire to this city.

With stars and stripes with stars and stripes
You claim you will burn the city with patriotic fervor.

And ask if I'll move out west with you
You ask me if I will relocate to the western part of the country with you.

But I'm still thinking about the red dress
Despite your offer, all I can think about is the red dress.

Coast to coast and in too deep
I am traveling across the entire country and getting in over my head.

Saving our secret for the weekends
We are keeping our secret hidden and only talking about it on weekends.

Which I can't remember
I can't recall what the secret is.

Motel walls and in disguise
We are hiding and pretending in motel rooms.

Telephone calls we don't reply
We are ignoring phone calls.

With drink I see things better
When I drink, my perspective improves.

I'll see you around
We will meet again.

We'll bring the house down
We will cause a scene that will disrupt the status quo.

I like the red dress
I really like the red dress, regardless of what else is happening around me.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JESSE MACK JOHNSON, JOSHUA ALLEN CAIN, JUSTIN PIERRE COURTNEY, MATTHEW SCOTT TAYLOR, TONY RICHARD THAXTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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