Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Boxelder” by Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack’s song “Boxelder” is an ode to the reality that life is full of ups and downs, and in spite of the hardships there is still something beautiful to be discovered within them. The narrator in “Boxelder” is recounting a seemingly random and mundane experience of exploring an abandoned house, but this journey ends up giving him greater insight into his life. The lyrical imagery in the song is symbolic of this journey, as trees, the title “Boxelder”, the night sky, and beetles are all woven together to create a vivid portrayal of the internal battles and struggles that the narrator is facing.
The song opens with an energetic rock beat that establishes an atmosphere of excitement, as if the narrator is ready to take on whatever life throws his way. The chorus sings of how the narrator is “waiting around for something to happen”, and the lines “but if nothing ever does, that’s all right, these days of mine are still alright” show that he is choosing to take it all in stride. This resilience in the face of adversity creates an uplifting feeling, and the listener is encouraged to stay positive no matter the odds. The chorus is also where the title “Boxelder” is first introduced, and this is a hint of the reset and metaphorical rebirth that will be explored in the remainder of the song.
As the lyrics progress, the listener learns that the narrator is in an abandoned house, where he is “listening to an echo of a moment”, and from this moment he learns that life has miraculous beauty in the way it can just adapt and retrain itself no matter the experience. The “echo of a moment” could be interpreted as a moment of clarity or a realization, and the trees, night sky, and beetles that the narrator observes are all symbols of letting go and growing anew.