cocoon

by the decemberists - the instrumentals: my analysis

this song tells a wordless story, the lyrics themselves aside. the conversation between the piano and guitar; the sweet, romantic, yet melancholic harmonies resonate from Dmaj7 to Gmaj7 in the beginning like the season’s flourishing rush into a peaceful wintertime; the gentle falling of snow. the beginning, of a long and slow winter.

the two instruments: the fleeting guitar, and the grounded piano. the season carries through in calm waves, complacent and comfortable, nostalgic space shared between the two. they communicate in the melody built E|F#|A|F#|E|D in a crescendo: their duet like a deep breath, a sigh of an exhale. at peace with one another, adoration swelling in their shared harmonies.

soon, the song enters a progression of B minor for three lines - until it shifts to a realizing pattern of C|Am|E, the clouds giving way to a knowing sun, who beckons you towards an untold truth.

during this part, the guitar fades into the background, and the piano takes hold as it breaks down in heavy movements: F#|A|D, F#|A|D - stepping down, like the welling of heavy tears - F|A|D, F|A|D, and then the fall of the piano at E minor as it goes quiet. what follows is thereafter is quiet contemplation of the guitar, mellow in the background as the drums and bass carry on in their movement - the passage of time.

but soon comes a reconcile: reuniting of hearts, two hands intertwined;

the line, “it’d come back to you”.

a story of grief and love; the quiet conversation in the softly falling snow.