The Owls Are Not What They Seem
The Motion Sick Lyrics

The lyrics to The Motion Sick's song "The Owls Are Not What They Seem" are cryptic and leave much to the imagination. The opening lines instruct the listener to fold their arms and kneel, implying a sense of submission and humility. The next line, "Don't believe what you feel," suggests that trusting one's own senses and instincts may lead to a false sense of security or understanding. The idea that "the truth will catch you" hints at the unforgiving nature of reality, and the warning that you are "born to learn death by rote" suggests that the inevitability of mortality is something we must all eventually accept. The line "with a silver knife to your throat / The incisions are already made" paints a grisly picture of someone who is already doomed, reinforcing the idea that there is no escape from the harsh realities of life.

The chorus repeats the message that there is nowhere left to run and no escape from the truth. The references to Goddard's failed rockets and the shame they bring suggest a sense of disappointment or failure, as though the singer's attempts to escape or transcend their situation are doomed from the start. The mention of angels blindfolded and retirement to rocks may reference the idea of being blinded by faith or dogma and the futility of seeking refuge in religion or ideology.

The final stanza suggests that breaking free from societal norms and the code of behavior may be the only way to find salvation, and that there is no need to fear this departure from the norm. However, the repetition of the chorus at the end undermines this message, reinforcing the idea that the truth is inescapable and inevitable.

Overall, the lyrics to "The Owls Are Not What They Seem" seem to be a meditation on the harsh realities of life, the futility of attempts to escape or transcend these realities, and the potential for salvation through breaking free from societal norms and expectations.