The song "Motion Sickness" by Hands Like Houses tells the story of a missed connection and the longing that comes from it. The lyrics express the idea of how someone can miss and yearn for someone they have never actually met. The song starts by questioning how one can miss someone they have never encountered. It reflects on the possibility of a different path or decision that would have prevented the missed connection. The feeling of not belonging without this person is described as overwhelming. The lyrics continue to describe the narrator's longing and the significance of this missed connection. There is a sense of a lost opportunity, with the feeling that everything would be different if this person had not been missed. The imagery of stop motion and skipped frames describes the confusion and longing that comes from not having that point of contact. The chorus emphasizes the narrator's stillness in a spinning world and how the person they missed flickers in their thoughts and emotions. They question what would happen if they never realized what they had lost and the pain of turning around only to find the person gone. The second verse talks about how a lost moment is not easily found, reflecting on the potential of the missed connection. The narrator feels a strong sense of belonging and connection with this person and describes it as inseparable. They feel as though they are floating on the feeling, forgetting everything else in between. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the flickering presence of the person they missed. The bridge poses the question of whether fate would bring their paths back together, with the use of metaphors like turning left or right and the curves of the earth. They contemplate whether they should trust fate or take action to feel the person on their skin. The song ends with a final repetition of the chorus, reiterating the yearning and longing for the person that was missed. The lyrics effectively convey the emotional impact of a missed connection and the longing that can linger even without ever meeting someone.
