This is a melodic exegesis, functioning through the conceit of war, on time, birds, and, in the final stanza, family life, with a reference to John Donne.

Joanna Newsom’s fourth album begins with the hum of synths, a drone. The suspension of a single note mirrors a suspension of time—one “cannot say what [drones] may do,” when they will end etc., thus, prolepsising the coming cogitations on time and life that pervade the album.

Also, beginning with “Anecdotes,” the concept of the musical leitmotif is introduced. In particular the use of woodwinds seems to merge the naturalistic level (of the birds, classically represented with flutes) and repeated in the coda of “Sapokanikan”, reflecting the “idling bird calls.” The military musical elements of “Sapokanikan” are anticipated here too, juxtaposed with the tender and melancholy melody.