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.
04 The Good Red Road
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drag you into my town
Put your guard down, explore you
And I'll always be around
I want to live in Jamaica
Yeah I wanna live in Jamaica
...let your hair down
How'd they get their nose
I'm in love with an anchor
I can floss with her tail
She's the island above me
And I can tell, I can tell
When you nally break my legs
And I can never leave the house again
Then I'll finally love you
And we can have some kids
The lyrics of “The Good Red Road" by Devendra Banhart and Jana Hunter reflect on the beauty and complexity of love, how it can both liberate us and cause us to become trapped. The opening lines, “It ain’t hard to adore you, drag you into my town,” suggest a sense of possession and desire to control the other person, to bring them into one’s own world. However, the following lines, “Put your guard down, explore you, and I’ll always be around,” imply a desire to truly know and understand the other person, to share a true connection, and to always be present for them. The line “I want to live in Jamaica” could be interpreted as a metaphor for a place of peace and freedom, a place where one can escape the pressures of everyday life, and where one can be true to oneself.
The subsequent line “How’d they get their nose?” seems to be a non-sequitur, but could be interpreted as asking how someone ended up in the situation they’re in, or how life's circumstances sometimes force people to make difficult choices. The repeated line “let your hair down” is an invitation to let go of inhibitions and truly be free.
The song takes a darker turn when the lyrics mention a person who is an "anchor" and whom the singer loves. They "can floss with her tail," which is a graphic image, to say the least. But it's also a commentary on how love can be both beautiful and strange, and how people can find strange things endearing.
Overall, the song is a complex portrait of love, with its beauty and its dark side, and the sense of both liberation and constraint it can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
It ain't hard to adore you
Loving you is effortless for me.
Drag you into my town
I would be happy to have you visit where I live.
Put your guard down, explore you
I hope to get to know you in a deeper, more meaningful way and win your trust.
And I'll always be around
I plan to stick by your side and be there for you when you need me.
I want to live in Jamaica
I desire to live in a tropical paradise, such as Jamaica.
Yeah I wanna live in Jamaica
I dream of living a carefree and peaceful lifestyle in Jamaica.
...let your hair down
Relax and be yourself around me.
How'd they get their nose
I wonder how they got that interesting or unique feature.
...let your hair down...
Be free and let go of any worries or doubts you might have when you're with me.
I'm in love with an anchor
I am in love with someone who keeps me grounded and secure.
I can floss with her tail
Even the smallest things about her bring me joy and pleasure.
She's the island above me
She is the one who uplifts and supports me.
And I can tell, I can tell
I know, with certainty, that my love for her is true and unwavering.
When you finally break my legs
Even if I become immobile and unable to leave the house, I will still love you.
And I can never leave the house again
I'll be happy to sacrifice my mobility if it means being with you forever.
Then I'll finally love you
My love for you will only continue to grow and deepen as we face challenges and overcome them together.
And we can have some kids
I see a future with you in which we start a family together.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEVENDRA BANHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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