Motion Suggests
Pavement Lyrics

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I traced my family lines
It ends up where the
Window-passing rainy days
Forgetting she's away

Here's the straight and narrow, brought my wheelbarrow
And it's filled with the lies and the dirt and the hurt
But I won't need someone to let me be

I won't need someone to let me be

I bought the cotton threads
And the voice could soothe your
Captivate the senses
Like a gingerale rain

Those that got the marrow curse the tainted pharaohs
Take off, expect fun, you might learn how it runs
But I won't need someone to let me be
No, I won't need someone to let me be

No, I won't need someone to let me be

No, I won't need someone to let me go
Let me breathe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pavement's "Motion Suggests" are enigmatic and open to interpretation. The song seems to deal with themes of isolation, loss, and the search for meaning. The singer describes tracing their family line, an act that brings them face to face with the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of life. They confront the "grainy days" of memory and the pain of "forgetting she's away," perhaps referring to a loved one who has passed on.

Despite this sense of loss, the singer seems determined to forge ahead. They speak of the "straight and narrow," a phrase often associated with conformity or rigidity, but here it seems to represent a path of self-discovery and honesty. The singer has brought their wheelbarrow, filled with the "lies and dirt and hurt" of their past, but they don't need anyone to let them be themselves.

The latter half of the song takes a more surreal turn, with references to "counting thrones" and a voice that can soothe. It's unclear what these phrases mean, but they seem to suggest some sort of spiritual quest or awakening. The line "respect fun, you might learn how it runs" feels like a mantra or guiding principle for the singer.

Overall, "Motion Suggests" is a song that encourages introspection and self-examination. It's about confronting the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future, but also about finding joy and meaning in the present moment.

Line by Line Meaning

I traced my family line
I followed the path of my family history

It ends up where the
It leads to the present

Window-passing grainy days
Days seen through a window, with a low-quality grainy appearance

Forgetting she's away
Forgetting that someone important is absent

Here's the straight and narrow
Here is the proper and honest way

Brought my wheelbarrow
Brought my tools and equipment

And it's filled with the lies
And it's filled with deceitful information

And the dirt and the hurt
And the unpleasant and painful things

But I won't need someone to let me be
I won't require permission to be myself

Up up the counting thrones
The thrones for numerous counts

And the voice could soothe your
And the voice could pleasantly calm you