Banhart is considered to have an eclectic style, with many of his songs seemingly following a stream-of-consciousness vein, being hard to decipher and non-literal. His music tends to consist of fairly simple guitar melodies with minimal other instrumentation, and his lyrical themes are often surreal and naturalistic. His involvement in the Los Angeles artist community is reflected in Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon, released in September 2007. He gained some underground notoriety in New York for performing several of his early shows with underwear on his head for the duration of the performance.
Banhart's most recent tour of the United States saw him perform with his full band, which is currently known as Power Mineral. Power Mineral included Andy Cabic (Vetiver), Greg Rogove (Priestbird), Noah Georgeson, Luckey Remington, Pete Newsom, Otto Hauser (Vetiver, Currituck Co., Espers, Nick Castro), Kevin Barker (Currituck Co.), and others. The band claims to rechristen itself when a name comes to them, and has previously been known as Fried Hummingbird, Vagina Burglars, Hairy Fairy Band, Las Putas Locas, Stoner Boner, Spiritual Boner, Bummer Hummer, Brain Taint, Love Fart, Bathhouse Of The Winds, and First Woman Millionaire among other names.
Banhart was discovered by Michael Gira of Swans, who released his Oh Me Oh My... The Way the Day Goes by the Sun Is Setting Dogs Are Dreaming… album on his own Young God Records label in 2002. In 2005, Banhart (along with Andy Cabic and Revolver USA) created the Gnomonsong record label. In 2006 he helped to curate an edition of the British All Tomorrow's Parties festival.
Banhart also was one of the younger musicians responsible for "rediscovering" the music of folksinger Vashti Bunyan. Bunyan is a guest vocalist on his album Rejoicing in the Hands.
*Baby
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I finally know what I'm going after
I'm learning to let in all the laughter
Holy moly
You're so funny
You crack me up
You crack me up
For dreams that keep returning
Cause magic ? yearning
You feel it
You gotta want it
The way I want you babe
Traveling by choo choo train
We know where
We just don't know when
Like some everlasting ? love
Never
Heard a better bad joke said out loud
You flip flip
And I wild out
Can you believe it?
I can't believe it
But it's true
You're giving eighty billion years of giggling
A whole new world to live in
But this one's real
This one's real
This one's real
Like a ? kangaroo
You be one and I'll be one too
Play it goofy or play it cool
?
Everything that happened
You know it don't mean a thing to us
'Cause so much is going to happen
Because
You showed me
A sunset overflowing
But who cares where it's going
As long as you're next to me
The song "Baby" by Devendra Banhart seems to be about finding true love and realizing that life can be full of laughter and joy with the right person. The lyrics express a feeling of excitement and adventure that comes with discovering someone who makes everything in life seem better. The singer seems to have found a new perspective on life and love; he's learned to embrace the present and to let go of any past disappointments.
The first verse of the song states that the singer has finally figured out what he's going after. He's learning to let in all the laughter and not take life too seriously. The chorus emphasizes the humor and joy that he's found in his partner. "Holy moly, you're so funny, you crack me up", he sings. It's clear that his partner brings a new dimension to his life and makes everything more enjoyable.
The second verse is about feeling a sense of magic and yearning for something more. The singer compares this feeling to riding on a train without knowing exactly where it's going but being excited about the journey ahead. He sings about how he wants his partner to feel the same way about their love; "you gotta want it the way I want you, babe".
The third verse is about how the singer feels like he's found someone who he can truly be himself with. He thinks his partner is hilarious and can't believe how lucky he is to have found someone who understands him. The line "never heard a better bad joke said out loud" suggests that he and his partner share a similar sense of humor. The final part of the song is about the endless possibilities that come with finding real love. The singer feels like he's been given a whole new world to explore and is excited about what the future holds.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby
The singer is addressing their lover affectionately
I finally know what I'm going after
The singer has a clear sense of purpose now
I'm learning to let in all the laughter
The singer is opening up to joy and happiness
Holy moly
An exclamation of surprise or delight
You're so funny
The artist finds their lover's sense of humor attractive
You crack me up
Their lover's humor causes the singer to laugh uncontrollably
Look out
The singer is warning their lover to be careful
For dreams that keep returning
The artist believes that recurring dreams have special meaning
Cause magic ? yearning
The artist believes that the longing for magic signifies something important
You feel it
The artist is sure that their lover experiences the same yearning for magic
You gotta want it
The singer believes that their lover must actively desire magic
The way I want you babe
The artist desires their lover as intensely as they desire magic
Traveling by choo choo train
The singer imagines a whimsical mode of transportation
We know where
The singer has a destination in mind
We just don't know when
The singer is comfortable with uncertainty
Like some everlasting ? love
The artist compares their journey to a timeless romance
Never
The artist is emphasizing that something is impossible
Heard a better bad joke said out loud
The singer appreciates ironic or absurd humor
You flip flip
The singer is amused by their lover's playful behavior
And I wild out
The artist becomes uninhibited in response to their lover's antics
Can you believe it?
The artist is in disbelief at the absurdity of the situation
I can't believe it
The artist is overwhelmed by the absurdity of the situation
But it's true
The singer confirms that the situation is indeed real
You're giving eighty billion years of giggling
The artist imagines an infinite amount of laughter
A whole new world to live in
The singer feels that their lover has opened up new opportunities for them
But this one's real
The singer knows that their current reality is real, despite its surreal aspects
Like a ? kangaroo
The singer compares themselves and their lover to playful marsupials
You be one and I'll be one too
The artist wants to act playfully with their lover
Play it goofy or play it cool
The artist is open to different ways of playing
?
An unknown word or phrase
Everything that happened
The singer is reflecting on the past
You know it don't mean a thing to us
The artist wants to focus on the present and future, rather than dwell on the past
'Cause so much is going to happen
The artist is optimistic about the future
Because
The artist is explaining their perspective
You showed me
The singer learned something important from their lover
A sunset overflowing
The artist experienced a beautiful natural phenomenon
But who cares where it's going
The singer is enjoying the moment rather than worrying about the future
As long as you're next to me
The singer's current happiness is contingent on their lover's presence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEVENDRA BANHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@julianakcobain1023
Baby
I finally know what I'm going after
I'm learning to let in all the laughter
Holy Moley you're so funnny
You Crack me up, you crack me up
Look out for dreams that keep returning
'Cause magic ain't no hand-me-down yearning
You feel it, you want it, the way I want you babe
Traveling by choo-choo train
We know where we just don't know when
Like some everlasting onion peeled by love
Never heard a better bad joke said out loud
You flip-flop and I wild out
Can you believe it
I can't believe it but it's true
You're giving eighty billion years of giggling
A whole new world to live in
But this one's real, this one's real, this one's real
Like a bow tied Kangaroo
You be one and I'll be one too
We play it goofy or we play it cool
Everything that happened
You know it don't mean a thing to us
'Cause so much is gonna happen
Because
You showed me a sunset overflowing
But who cares where it's going
As long as you're next to me
@BrenoBranches
Quarantine days vibes.
@kevinbones8599
Yes!
@normacecilia
No?
@stefmacdonald-angel4830
Yes!
@MariaSanchez-te1tz
What a great song something good to listen too
@moondancer4660
I don't believe in a quarantines. Not for a money making scam by big Pharma and the Biden family.
@martincruz3174
Fab moretti and Rodrigo Amarante´s cameos are the best!
@Jasperi
These good vibes saved my life.
@ChiWren
Always loved this song. This played as my husband and I walked into our reception 💕
@Abracadab5
Man, nothing makes you feel better on a miserable, overcast January afternoon than a bit of Devendra!