Devendra Obi Banhart (born May 30, 1981) is a Venezuelan American singer-so… Read Full Bio ↴Devendra Obi Banhart (born May 30, 1981) is a Venezuelan American singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. His first few records were released on the Young God Records label from New York City. His most recent CD was released by Nonesuch. He is one of the most popular artists to come out of the "New Weird America" movement, which includes performers such as Faun Fables, Viking Moses, Jack Rose, Jana Hunter, Arborea, The MV & EE Medicine Show, Currituck Co., Six Organs of Admittance, and The Royal We, among others. He also often joins the band known as Vetiver.

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.

How's About Tellin a Story
Devendra Banhart Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well how's about tellin' a story
One that's really about somebody
What they saw and what they did
How they died and how they lived
By the time I found a name I moved onto another game
Called write a song toes and spines god damn
Now I can't think of any story lines
But you know I'd love to try and sing about a person, place, or thing

Mansonite and the Wolfman, Katmandu, and Honest Abe

Something happens up in Tucson and then it happens again in Maine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "How's about telling a story" by Devendra Banhart evoke the idea of storytelling and the power of narrative. The singer expresses his desire to write a song that tells a story about someone, their life, and their experiences. He acknowledges that it can be challenging to come up with a compelling narrative, and sometimes the process of writing can be frustrating. The name he initially came up with does not seem to work for him, so he moves onto another game, trying to write a song about toes and spines. However, he still longs to create a song that tells a story and mentions several intriguing characters and places such as Mansonite and the Wolfman, Katmandu, Honest Abe, Tucson, and Maine.

The song's title, "How's about telling a story," sets the tone for the entire track, emphasizing the importance of narratives and storytelling. Devendra Banhart's dreamlike vocals, combined with the song's simple melody and lo-fi production, create an intimate and vulnerable atmosphere that invites the listener into the singer's creative process. The way he mentions names and places without providing any context or explanation creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, as if the listener is being marked a part of an inside conversation.

Line by Line Meaning

Well how's about tellin' a story
The singer suggests narrating a tale that truly describes someone or something.

One that's really about somebody
The story he proposes will revolve around a particular person and focus only on their experiences.

What they saw and what they did
The account will describe what this individual saw or experienced and what they did in those situations.

How they died and how they lived
The details of the person's life and death will be shared in the story.

By the time I found a name I moved onto another game
He has a habit of finding a good idea but then abandoning it when he comes across the next new idea.

Called write a song toes and spines god damn
The game he shifted to is called 'write a song toes and spines,' which involves putting together sounds and melodies.

Now I can't think of any story lines
The singer is currently unable to come up with a good story to tell.

But you know I'd love to try and sing about a person, place, or thing
Although he's having trouble coming up with a good story, he really wants to sing about someone, someplace or something.

Mansonite and the Wolfman, Katmandu, and Honest Abe
He gives examples of things he could sing about, ranging from fictional characters to historical figures to a particular city.

Something happens up in Tucson and then it happens again in Maine
He implies that although stories and events may happen thousands of miles apart, they can still be connected in some way.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEVENDRA BANHART

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS