Sister
Banhart Devendra Lyrics

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Sister sister
Keep the fire inside
And your dogs won't die
And now it's all clear
It's all clear
You can see the child
Before it's born
Yeah it's all clear

It's all clear
You saw your little son's smile
Before it's shone
Sister
We'll climb
We'll climb 'til the dogs
Climb over us
We'll climb

We'll climb
We'll climb 'til the dogs
Climb over us
Sister
Why'd you come and turn all the lights
All out, out
I can't see no more
Now I reach out
Now I feel for
Now I reach out
Now I feel for
Now I reach out
Now I feel for

Now I reach out
Now I feel for

Overall Meaning

The meaning behind Banhart Devendra's song "Sister" can be interpreted in many ways, but at its core, it seems to be a message of perseverance and hope. The repeated lines of "we'll climb 'til the dogs climb over us" suggest that the singer is determined to keep moving forward, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. The first verse, which mentions keeping the fire inside and seeing a child before it's born, could be interpreted as a message of protection or nurturing, perhaps aimed at a younger sibling or a child. The second verse, which questions why someone has turned out the lights, could be read as a plea for clarity or understanding in a difficult situation.

The chorus, consisting of just the word "sister," suggests a deep relationship between the singer and the person they're addressing. It's unclear whether this is a literal sister or simply a term of endearment, but the repeated use of the word throughout the song underscores its importance. The final lines, "now I reach out, now I feel for," could be interpreted as a call for connection or reconnection with this person.

Line by Line Meaning

Sister sister
Addressing the sister

Keep the fire inside
Encouraging the sister to keep the passion burning inside

And your dogs won't die
If the sister keeps the passion alive, all her endeavors will thrive

And now it's all clear
Everything has become evident now

It's all clear
Everything is transparent

You can see the child
The sister can have a clear vision of the future

Before it's born
Before it comes into existence

Yeah it's all clear
The clarity is overwhelming

It's all clear
The clarity is still evident

You saw your little son's smile
The sister has had a preview of joy in the future

Before it's shone
Before it could manifest