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.
Bluebird
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flying across the sky
My baby is a bluebird
Learning how to fly
Your feathers want to
Your feathers want to tickle me, yeah
In the shower
It's freezing water
So she's swimming rapidly
Clouds are sleeping
Sleeping in the sky
Clouds are sleeping
Over Sara's eyes
Dreams are lurking
Lurking by the bed
All I'm thinking
Are all the things you said
The lyrics of Devendra Banhart's "Bluebird" are open to interpretation, though some believe that the song speaks to a person's journey of self-discovery and self-realization. The singer of the song sees their loved one as a red bird and a blue bird, both representing freedom and independence. The red bird is already flying, enjoying the freedom of flying, while the bluebird is still learning how to fly, representing growth and development. The singer seems to enjoy being tickled by their lover's feathers, which may represent how they enjoy their freedom and independence.
The image of the shower and the freezing water may represent the singer's struggle with their own personal growth. The cold water may represent the difficulties that they are facing during their journey, while the swimming represents a way of moving forward, albeit rapidly. The sleeping clouds may represent how the singer sees the world around them, as if it's just waiting for them to awaken and start their own journey.
The lurking dreams and the thoughts about what was said may represent the singer's fears and anxieties about facing the reality of their journey of self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby is a redbird
My significant other is a lovely and captivating person
Flying across the sky
My significant other has a carefree spirit and is always on the move
My baby is a bluebird
My significant other is still learning and growing, just like a young bird
Learning how to fly
My significant other is experiencing new things and developing as a person
Your feathers want to
You're tempted to explore and test the boundaries of our relationship
Your feathers want to tickle me, yeah
You want to playfully tease me and push the boundaries of our relationship
In the shower
While we're cleansing ourselves
She swims right by me
My significant other is physically close to me, moving around freely
It's freezing water
The water is uncomfortably cold
So she's swimming rapidly
My significant other is quickly trying to get clean and get out of the cold water
Clouds are sleeping
The clouds are still and quiet, restful in the sky
Sleeping in the sky
The clouds appear to be at peace, and there is calmness all around
Clouds are sleeping
There is a sense of quiet and stillness as we observe the sky
Over Sara's eyes
The peace and stillness of the clouds are reflected in the eyes of Sara
Dreams are lurking
My thoughts and emotions are hanging around me, waiting to be processed
Lurking by the bed
My thoughts and emotions are close to me and constantly present, even as I try to sleep
All I'm thinking
My mind is preoccupied with thoughts about my significant other
Are all the things you said
I'm replaying conversations in my head, trying to process and understand our interactions
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DETLEF RESHOEFT, REINHARD FRANTZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thais Nicols
on Mi Negrita
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