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.
Cripple Crow
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah we'll run we'll run right around them
We've got no guns no we don't have any weapons
Just our corn and the children
The dust runs, the dark clouds, but not us, but not us
While we pay for mistakes with no meaning
All your gifts and all your peace is deceiving
That peace comes, their peace comes, that peace comes, their peace comes
Now that our bones lay buried below us
Just like stones pressed into the earth
Well we ain't known by no one before us
And we begin with this one little birth
That grows on, that grows on, that grows on, that grows on
Crippled crow, say something for grieving
Where do we go
Once we start leaving?
Well close that wound
Or else keep on bleeding
And change your tune
It's got no meaning
The lyrics of Devendra Banhart's song "Cripple Crow" depict a story of migration and survival. The song begins with the arrival of an unknown group of people over the mountain, and the singer's instinct to escape and run away. The group of people seems to be a possible threat, as the singer mentions not having any weapons, only their corn and the children. This portrays the vulnerability of the singer's community, being at a disadvantage against the invading group. However, they continue to persist and live their lives, despite the challenges they face. The lyrics highlight the theme of survival, and the idea that people can exist with very little, and still persevere.
The second verse is reflective, and speaks to the struggle that the singer's community faces. They are paying for "mistakes with no meaning," suggesting that those in power may be the cause of their struggles. The singer questions the validity of the gifts and peace given to them. The lyrics suggest that despite this, the singer still holds on to hope that peace may come. This hopefulness is exhibited through the repetition of "peace comes, their peace comes."
The final verse talks about the enduring nature of life, that though people may die, life goes on. The singer speaks to the legacy that will be left behind, insinuating that through the birth of a new life, the community's way of life will continue. The lyrics request for the 'crippled crow' to say something for grieving and address the question of where they go once they start leaving. Lastly, the song ends with the plea to 'close that wound' or 'change your tune' as they represent the two choices one has when it seems unbearable - to either heal the wound or continue in the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
When they come from the over the mountain
We expect trouble to come soon
Yeah we'll run we'll run right around them
We will avoid the trouble by escaping
We've got no guns no we don't have any weapons
We are defenseless and unable to fight
Just our corn and the children
All we have is our food and our young ones
The dust runs, the dark clouds, but not us, but not us
Natural disasters may occur around us, but we remain unaffected
While we pay for mistakes with no meaning
We suffer the consequences of mistakes that were not ours
All your gifts and all your peace is deceiving
The peace and gifts we receive from others are not genuine
And still I pay dissolves with believing
I continue to hold onto hope despite ongoing hardships
That peace comes, their peace comes, that peace comes, their peace comes
We hope that peace will eventually come for us and for others
Now that our bones lay buried below us
We now consider those who came before us and have passed away
Just like stones pressed into the earth
Their memory is permanently imprinted onto the land
Well we ain't known by no one before us
Our legacy will not be as revered as those who came before us
And we begin with this one little birth
We start with humble beginnings
That grows on, that grows on, that grows on, that grows on
We continue to persevere and grow despite challenges
Crippled crow, say something for grieving
We seek guidance and comfort in difficult times
Where do we go Once we start leaving?
We ponder what comes next after we pass away
Well close that wound Or else keep on bleeding
We must work to heal our emotional wounds or suffer the consequences
And change your tune It's got no meaning
We must adjust our perspective and behavior to find true purpose
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEVENDRA BANHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thais Nicols
on Mi Negrita
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