The song begins with silver sprinkles created by chimes. It is the start of a magical story; one in which the mood is airy and carefree.
The first 17 seconds of the song suggest an image of a Hoberman Sphere expanding and contracting, transforming from one state to another, which lets us know there will be an oscillation throughout the story.
“WHEN I see you SKY as a kite, as HIGH as I might”
The first line lets us know we will be navigating the heavens, the clouds, the sky, and things out of reach. The changes in the inflection of the singer’s voice emphasize the images he wants us to focus on.
Throughout the song, there are opposing emotions occurring simultaneously. The story-teller oscillates between regret and awe.
Awe: “The way you burst the clouds/It makes me want to try.”
Regret: “It makes me bite my fingers through/To think I could’ve let you go”
He also oscillates between being playful and being nostalgic.
Playful:[cat purring]
Nostalgic: “And when I see you/Take the same sweet steps/ You used to take”
Throughout the song there is a tension present—the tension between wanting something and not being able to have it (“I can’t get that high,” “I can’t lick that far,” “I can’t get that small,” and ultimately, being unable to have his girl because he let her slip away.)
In the outro, the lyrics say one thing, but the music suggests another. The story teller says he will hold on to his lover with his arms so tight, and that his arms will never let her go. However, the music disappears. The show is over. And the only things left are the shiny sparkling chimes; a gleaming memory.
ROOT OF ROOTS 