I walk with my head down
I mumble all the words I keep my feelings to myself only

I never stand my ground
I just stand around
If you love me then why won't you hold me?

Everything and everyone around me is changing
Now that I've been the other woman

Your music rides ten horses in the sky
And gallops through the evening
You, you have no side for me to stand by
In space, I see you and her

And everything and everyone around me is changing, Now that I've been the other woman
Oh now that I've been the other woman

Like a newlywed hummingbird, building its home, stick by stick, above the river

You are green, you are red, you are "yuprle" you are blue, you are gold you are silver

Well my eyes are made of lemons
My tears are made of limes
You love me, you hate me, I'm losing my mind

I've sailed the sea of love aboard the ship of hopes
I'm the skipper, I'm the captain, I'm the crew

And everything and everyone around me is changing, Now that I've been the other woman
Oh now that I am the other woman

I will always be the other woman
I'll never be the only woman
The only woman...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Devendra Banhart's "The Other Woman" depict the confessional narrative of the singer, who is seemingly involved in a torturous and complicated romantic relationship as a secondary partner or “the other woman”. The singer confesses to having to constantly look down while walking, to muttering her feelings under her breath, and attempting to mask her vulnerability from others. She feels she has no voice and is constantly disregarded by her partner, who never “holds” her.

The singer observes that everything and everyone around her are changing, and she recognizes herself as a newlywed hummingbird building its home, suggesting that everything she is building is fragile, and subject to change at any moment. The singer recognizes a distance between herself and her lover that seems to extend to an emotional disparity where the lover's music is distant, and it is clear that there is no place for her to stand near him. The singer describes feeling “lemon” and “lime” as a physical manifestation of the emotional turmoil her lover causes. Despite all that has happened, the singer remains deeply invested in her lover, recognizing herself as the captain, skipper, and crew of the "ship of hopes."

The song's lyrics are deeply personal and evoke the sense of a person struggling to find their voice in a relationship that is unavailable, isolating and unfulfilling. The singer is stuck in an unyielding cycle of being the “Other Woman” and being unable to control the powerful emotions that come with that position. The song's soulful quality, coupled with Banhart's emotive delivery, creates a beautiful yet melancholic masterpiece that speaks to the emotional complexities and hardships that come when one finds oneself in a position of emotional longing and unrequited love.

Line by Line Meaning

I walk with my head down
I carry myself in a low-spirited manner

I mumble all the words I keep my feelings to myself only
I am very timid to express my emotions and tend to keep them inward

I never stand my ground
I am a pushover and have difficulty asserting myself

I just stand around
I am not proactive in voicing my opinions or ideas and am content with being a bystander

If you love me then why won't you hold me?
I feel neglected and unimportant in my relationship

Everything and everyone around me is changing
I am aware of the constant change in the world and how it affects me

Now that I've been the other woman
My experience of being someone's mistress has opened my eyes to unique perspectives

Your music rides ten horses in the sky
Your creativity is vast and powerful

And gallops through the evening
Your artistry persists through the night

You, you have no side for me to stand by
You do not show me any form of loyalty nor do you offer me guidance

In space, I see you and her
Your actions are apparent and unavoidable, and you have another woman in your life

Like a newlywed hummingbird, building its home, stick by stick, above the river
I am patient and persistent in my pursuit of building something new and meaningful

You are green, you are red, you are "yuprle" you are blue, you are gold you are silver
You are multifaceted and exhibit a range of qualities, some of which are contradictory

Well my eyes are made of lemons
I have a sour outlook on things

My tears are made of limes
My sadness is bittersweet

You love me, you hate me, I'm losing my mind
Your emotions towards me are erratic and it is driving me insane

I've sailed the sea of love aboard the ship of hopes
I have experienced various forms of love in my life, each with its own set of expectations and prospects

I'm the skipper, I'm the captain, I'm the crew
I am in control of and responsible for my own happiness and self-worth

I will always be the other woman
I feel like a perpetual outsider who will never be fully accepted or cherished

I'll never be the only woman
I will never be someone's one and only, and that realization is a hard pill to swallow

The only woman...
I yearn to be the only woman in someone's life, but that reality is not likely to manifest

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