That return of E sounds like an ominous new beginning rather than a reassuring return. It lingers, decays then is followed by an equally bold, single F sharp (a fresh keynote to a chord not yet heard on the album so far) that also lingers and decays. With each return to E then F sharp again, Rick Wright exposes more of the new harmony in his light, improvisatory tinkling on the keyboard and, as he does, the E turns out to be the keynote of E major. So subtle. Just a light sprinkle of E major in Rick Wright’s right hand part and our perception of the path forward has shifted. At last, a gravitation away from the key of E minor (chord II of our overall harmonic structure, remember!) last stated at the end of “Breathe” which will ultimately take us to the next significant point in our long-term II-V-I realisation…A major…although not until the verse sung by Rick Wright.

So much else happens in this song (as with all the songs on the album!) but for the purpose of this analysis, let’s forward to the end… Only when Wright’s verse returns to end the song do we gravitiate away from A major again with dramatic harmonic effect. In fact, it’s perhaps the most intense moment in the harmony so far. That is, a chord of F with B in the bass during the line ‘thought I’d something more to say” which leads us to a monumental sonic precipice. We lean over the edge….and DOWN we land. Back on the opening chord of “Breathe” again….

BREATHE REPRISE

E minor - A7
C - B minor - F - G - D7#9 - B/D#

“Home, home again….” The relief, after the hiatus of F/B at the end of the last song, is palpable. Here we are…home again on good old ‘Eminor to A7’ for another visit of the opening song to close the ‘first act’ of Dark Side Of The Moon. Yet, despite reaching this closing chapter, there is still the promise of a sting in the tail. More on that in a moment but first… Time to take a breather and summarise what has happened harmonically so far.

Mid-Session Summary

The chord progression - II-V-I - which serves as the backbone to Dark Side Of The Moon’s overall harmonic structure is well underway…. II is represented by the song “Breathe” which is in the key of E minor (chord II of D major). V is represented by the song “Time” which is in the key of A (chord V of D major). We still await the arrival of D…our chord I.