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.
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna be your man
I want you to understand
And I-I, I wanna open your door
And love you 'til you're sore
That works for - wait a minute, wait a minute!
Yeah
I wanna be your thing, your anything your everything oh yeah
And I-I, I wanna fill your cup (cup cup cup)
Fill it up, fill it up to the brim with love
That works for - wait a minute, wait a minute!
You'll never have to ask
I'll give you my sweet grass
I'm gonna mesmerize your ass
Just give me my first chance, it's gonna be the last
I'm gonna make you wanna stay
I-I I wanna be your cow
Give you all the milk around town
Let me see, let me see you drink it down
I-I, I wanna be the pear tree
I want you to climb all over me
Try my fruit and taste my seed
Climb right on me, lay it on me
C-climb right on me, l-lay it on me!
Just let my do my thing
Until you start to sing
I'm going down all you night long
I'm gonna build a bond
I'm pullin' out my wand
Feels so right it can't be wrong!
Yeah!
Well I-I, I wanna be your lover
I wanna be your man
I want you to understand
And I-I, I wanna be you lover baby
I wanna be your girl
Blow a kiss and change the world, yeah
We're gonna make it through
You got me and I got you
Your bleedin' heart's at my command
If you don't love me to
Then bein' friends will do
Long as you let me in your bed!
The lyrics of "Devendra Banhart" by Devendra Banhart express an ardent desire to love and be loved. The singer wants to be his lover's everything and fill her cup with love until it overflows. He offers himself as her cow, providing her with all the milk she desires, and as a pear tree for her to climb and taste his fruit. He promises to mesmerize her and make her never want to leave him. The lyrics are playful, sensual, and confident, celebrating the power of love and the pleasures of the flesh.
Through his lyrics, the artist paints a picture of someone fully devoted to their significant other, exuding a sense of ecstasy, and liveliness that desires the listener to experience the same emotions as the artist. The line, "Your bleedin' heart's at my command," suggests a deep connection and a willingness to sacrifice for the other. The artist takes the image of a pear tree, typically interpreted as something plucky, and imbues it with a deeper meaning. The lyrical prowess manifests as the artist tries to seduce the listener through poetic language.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I-I, I wanna be your lover
The singer wants to be in a romantic relationship with the addressee.
I wanna be your man
The singer wants to be the addressee's romantic partner and possibly take on traditional masculine roles in the relationship.
I want you to understand
The singer wants the addressee to comprehend their feelings and intentions.
And I-I, I wanna open your door
The artist wants to be welcomed into the addressee's life.
And love you 'til you're sore
The artist wants to love the addressee deeply and fully, to the point of exhaustion.
I wanna be your thing, your anything your everything oh yeah
The singer desires to be the addressee's everything, fulfilling any and every desire.
And I-I, I wanna fill your cup (cup cup cup)
The singer wants to provide the addressee with love, care, and affection, filling them with happiness.
Fill it up, fill it up to the brim with love
The artist wants to love the addressee to their fullest capacity.
You'll never have to ask
The artist intends to take care of the addressee's needs and desires without prompting.
I'll give you my sweet grass
The artist will share their pleasures and experiences with the addressee.
I'm gonna mesmerize your ass
The singer wants to captivate and enchant the addressee's mind and body.
Just give me my first chance, it's gonna be the last
The artist wants the addressee to trust them with the opportunity to begin a relationship, and believes it will be everlasting.
I'm gonna make you wanna stay
The singer wants the addressee to be so enamored with them that they desire to stay in the relationship.
I-I I wanna be your cow
The singer wants to provide for and nurture the addressee, like a cow supplies milk.
Give you all the milk around town
The singer wants to share all their love and affection with the addressee, for everyone to see and know about.
Let me see, let me see you drink it down
The artist wants the addressee to take in and accept all the love and care that they are offering.
I-I, I wanna be the pear tree
The artist aspires to be a provider and sustainer, like a pear tree bearing fruit.
I want you to climb all over me
The singer wants the addressee to take advantage of and utilize all that they have to offer.
Try my fruit and taste my seed
The singer wants the addressee to enjoy and experience the fruits of their love, and to potentially bear more love in return.
Climb right on me, lay it on me
The artist is offering themselves completely to the addressee, to use in any way they desire.
C-climb right on me, l-lay it on me!
The artist is urging the addressee to engage with them physically and emotionally.
Just let my do my thing
The artist wants the addressee to trust them and allow them to express their love and affection in their own way.
Until you start to sing
The singer wants their love and affection to evoke happiness and pleasure in the addressee, like music.
I'm going down all you night long
The artist wants to engage in intimacy with the addressee for an extended period of time.
I'm gonna build a bond
The singer wants to form a strong, meaningful connection with the addressee.
I'm pullin' out my wand
The singer is using a metaphorical wand to magically create a special bond between them and the addressee.
Feels so right it can't be wrong!
The singer believes that their love and affection towards the addressee is virtuous and right.
I wanna be your lover
The artist is reiterating their desire to be in a romantic relationship with the addressee.
I wanna be your man
The artist desires to fulfill traditional masculine roles in the relationship.
I want you to understand
The singer wants the addressee to be aware of their feelings and desire to be with them romantically.
I wanna be you lover baby
The singer wants to be the addressee's romantic partner.
I wanna be your girl
The artist desires to fulfill traditional feminine roles in the relationship.
Blow a kiss and change the world, yeah
The artist believes that their love and affection towards the addressee can make a meaningful and positive impact on the world around them.
We're gonna make it through
The artist is optimistic that their relationship with the addressee will succeed and endure.
You got me and I got you
The singer and the addressee are committed to each other in their relationship.
Your bleedin' heart's at my command
The artist has the addressee's heart and emotions in their hands, and they will take care of it.
If you don't love me to
The singer acknowledges that not everyone will fall in love with them.
Then bein' friends will do
If the addressee does not reciprocate their romantic feelings, the singer is willing to remain friends.
Long as you let me in your bed!
The singer desires physical intimacy with the addressee, regardless of whether it comes from a romantic or platonic relationship.
Contributed by Gavin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@josearevalomoya3052
This old man doesn't get tired
He always will chasing you
So faith and love don't need hope
Come here love
Ugly love doesn't scream in my boat
around you
Dressed in my pain
Negrita (a cute form to say black woman in diminutive) of my love
Faith and love, so dandy mosquito
It was such a love
Ugly love doesn't remove hope
Come love here
come love.
My love, i don't lie to you
Even though isn't the truth
My lawyer works
So you can rest
So faith and love don't need hope
come love here
Come love enjoy my fat
around you
faith and love
ugly love
@shortstoryz4794
My love doesn't have hope
Although it hopes for you
My heart gets eager
a ghost, in real body
My love doesn't have revenge
Although it will kill you
this old one, doesn't tire
it will always pursue you
So,
Faith and love, don't need hope
Come love here
Ugly love, doesn't shout in my boat.
all round you.
Say goodbye to my pain
Bold one of my love
Ugly love, fly so dandy
I see a love like that
ugly love, doesn't get rid of hope
Come love here
Come love
My love doesn't talk to nobody
Although it is not the truth
My lawyer works
So that you can rest
So,
Faith and love, don't need hope
Come love here
Come love, enjoy my fat
all round you.
Faith and love
Ugly love
Faith and love
Ugly love
Faith and love
Ugly love
Faith and love
@jheather25
I'm 17 and don't have a lot of money, but I'm putting some aside to buy this album as soon as possible ! I just love it so much
@eeshatirodkar2363
did you end up buying it?
@nsbttig
You’re like 26 or 27 now I hope you got this album
@prodbyrobak3150
@@nsbttig thats crazy that means in 8 years imma be 26-27
@eugenvladeugen1309
I love you to!
@bv5863
Hey
@kiwisoup1863
Saw him last night at the III points festival in my home town of Miami. His music is beautiful already, but live it is absolutely ethereal. His stage presence is charismatic and inviting, his voice is just as controlled as it is in recordings, and he has a way of spreading compassion through a crowd. I don't know how to describe it. All I know is that it was a one-of-a-kind thing to see, especially as a Hispanic myself, that someone of my background can be so enjoyed by such a quantity of people.
@Drinpet
I had the same experience at iii points, such a good performance. Never heard of him before and now here I am.
@malavoo
I felt so calm hearing him live, it’s music you can swing to and let your mind go too.
@PlanetZipp
I have been eager to hear him live for a long time. I love his his special blend of Spanish and English magic. His quirkiness I so get. I REALLY get it.