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.
Cosmos and Damien
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For fear it might awaken and the story would unfold
Candles in a courtyard
And a paper colored cat
While demos danced on feathers
And cosmos held the hat
Next came their profession
And a paper colored purr
And the crowd began to stir
I slid behind a linden
To swallow what I'd seen
I slid behind a linden
To swallow what I'd seen
Threads of grass and thimbles
Needles made of hair
Weaves a dance that stumbles
Limbs laughed in the air
Threads of grass and thimbles
Needles made of hair
Weaves a dance that stumbles
Limbs laughed in the air
And on the day you fall
Who's name would you call
The only thing you taught me is the only thing you know
How to start a fire once the embers cease to glow
The only thing you taught me is the only thing you know
How to start a fire once the embers cease to glow
The lyrics of Devendra Banhart's song "Cosmos and Damien" are shrouded in mystery and ambiguity. The opening lines "I've never told this story to another living soul, for fear it might awaken and the story would unfold" sets the tone for the entire song. It seems like the singer is about to reveal something secretive and remarkable.
The song then describes a surreal scene with candles, a paper colored cat, demos (possibly short for demons) dancing on feathers, and cosmos holding a hat. This fantastical imagery is followed by the introduction of "profession" and "paper colored purr" which leads to an "umber armed albino" appearing and stirring the crowd. The singer hides behind a linden tree to internalize what they have witnessed. The next verse is a repetition of the imagery from the first verse, indicating the importance of the scene.
The chorus of the song expresses a solemn message about the inevitability of death and the question of whom we'd call upon during our final moments. As the song progresses, it reveals that the only valuable lesson the singer has learned is how to rekindle a fire once it dies down. The lyrics of the song leave much to interpretation, and the surreal imagery presented helps to create a sense of uncertainty and mystery that makes it challenging to comprehend.
Line by Line Meaning
I've never told this story to another living soul
I have kept this story to myself for a long time, without telling it to anyone else.
For fear it might awaken and the story would unfold
I am afraid that if I tell this story, it might become real and the consequences may appear.
Candles in a courtyard
There were candles lit in a courtyard.
And a paper colored cat
There was a cat made of paper or a cat with a paper color.
While demos danced on feathers
Demonic creatures or spirits danced on feathers for entertainment.
And cosmos held the hat
A person named Cosmos was holding a hat, maybe used as a part of the performance.
Next came their profession
Their job or skillset was showcased next.
And a paper colored purr
A cat made of paper or with a color like paper was purring.
And umber armed albino
An albino person with arms of umber color appeared.
And the crowd began to stir
The audience became excited or agitated.
I slid behind a linden
I moved behind a linden tree or leaves to avoid being noticed.
To swallow what I'd seen
I needed time to process or digest what I had witnessed.
Threads of grass and thimbles
Threads of grass with thimbles in them were present.
Needles made of hair
Hair was used to make needles.
Weaves a dance that stumbles
A dance was performed which was not smooth or coordinated.
Limbs laughed in the air
The limbs of the people dancing were moving randomly and creating a laughing effect.
And on the day you fall
When you eventually fail or get defeated.
Who's name would you call
Who would you ask for help in your moment of need?
The only thing you taught me is the only thing you know
You only taught me one thing, which is also the only thing you are aware of or capable of doing.
How to start a fire once the embers cease to glow
You taught me how to rekindle a fire that had lost its glow by using the remaining embers.
Contributed by Aria O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thais Nicols
on Mi Negrita
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