“Brooklyn” is the new single by indie rock artist Rachel Bard. As the title suggests, the focus of the lyrics is on the borough of New York City, Brooklyn. Her voice register follows a descending notes pattern for parts of the song, but during the chorus it also ascends.
The music features a soft electric guitar part, piano chords, and a simple drum pattern. The song references the title city numerous times. “From Harlem to Brooklyn off you went, and it was intense, it wasn’t great, and within a span of months took off and left the key. Brooklyn wasn’t for you, though you thought it would be” she sings. The subject of the song is this other person she is singing about, trying to move to Brooklyn only to have their dreams of success not work out. However, she gives them hope that maybe Brooklyn will be ready next time.
The guitar, piano, and vocals all create this sound texture that adds a sense of nostalgia to the track, and to this romanticized image of Brooklyn that the artist creates. Later on in the verses, she mentions visiting the other person upstate, which signals that they are still in New York, just not in the city anymore. This comparison between the city and the country is secondary to how the people from the song feel about the current situation. “You will chase the sunset to the moon” concludes the lyrics for the song, and leaves the listener with hope that in the future, those goals of success in the big city can be achieved.
There is a short piano melody that takes center stage in the last few seconds of the song, as it comes to a conclusion. The first thing you hear on the song is also the piano, so the intro and outro mirror each other.
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