In a previous post I examined “Bridges and Balloons” by Joanna Newsom and inferred some songwriting tips. I then threatened to devote an entire article to just two lines from that song:
A thimble’s worth of milky moon
Can touch hearts larger than a thimble
Keep in mind that those words above are disembodied when I write them here—pulled crudely out of their context. To get the full power of these lines, complete with their emotive melody and inflection, I encourage you to listen to the first track of Newsom’s Milk-Eyed Mender
Let’s take these lines apart.
A Thimble’s Worth of Milky Moon
Joanna reduces the moon to a small, accessible, liquid thing with just six words.
How the hell did she do that?
Note that although this line is powerful on its own, it’s not isolated—Joanna stated her intentions clearly in the first lines of this song with “… fate as malleable as clay”. We already expect a wild imaginative streak, so the stage is set for such creative leaps.
One tough challenge in songwriting is the time limitation—we often have just a few dozen lines in which to convey a believable and moving story to the listener. Every word must count.
If you were following this blog back in May, you already know that I trumpet sensory details and metaphors in songwriting—they’re potent and don’t take up much space.
Newsom’s line “A thimble’s worth of milky moon” stands out because it is lifelike and counterintuitive. Part of its magic is that it confounds our worldview—we usually see the moon as large, distant, unquestionably solid, and far beyond our grasp. Here Newsom dips a thimble into it and serves it up to us. Moon shots, anyone? There’s a lot to experience in these mere six words—mostly because of the word “milky.” Here are some of the rich associations that immediately come to mind when I read or hear that word:
- Liquid (suggests movement)
- White
- Has a taste
- Has a smell
- Nourishing & life-giving
Multisensory images are more interesting, and lead to a richer experience for your listeners.
Hearts Larger than a Thimble
I find this touching—Joanna seems to be saying, “I want you to share this experience I had. Isn’t this great?
No wonder she stands out, head and shoulders, above so many in the world of indie songwriting.
Thanks for reading.
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Nicholas Tozier is an unsigned singer, songwriter, private music instructor, blogger, and recording artist centered in Gardiner, Maine. His first album, A Game with Shifting Mirrors, is slated for self-release in Fall 2010.