Korean Dogwood
Devendra Banhart Lyrics


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Red oak sugar and Korean dogwood and Korean dogwood
Vibes tug to run roam
Lit by mission moonlight
Kangas on that hillside
You are my life
And you baffle me some
Like an endless maple
Inca cornflower
You're my baby's blue eyes
And when goddess all in a prayer
You'll hear a sound
That rings true and fair
Black cape lightning
And all the orange blossoms and orange blossoms
My friend Piegan
Drawing endless love songs, endless love songs
Sweet bee, show me what you're seeing
Show me what you're seeing
And go right and loud and proud
Every little word
It's still rings through
Strange prayer looming
Over all our brothers, over all our brothers
Prism lifeson and the whole gospel
Is a rope thrown helpful




But for sure all that we've made
Will be swallowed by the Earth

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Devendra Banhart's song "Korean Dogwood" seem to be inspired by nature and its beauty. The song's title refers to a flowering tree native to Korea that blooms in the spring and summer months. The opening lines describe red oak sugar and Korean dogwood, which could be an allusion to the sweetness and beauty of nature. The song then moves on to a more abstract concept with the line, "Vibes tug to run roam," which could be interpreted as the way nature's natural rhythms inspire us to move and explore.


The rest of the song describes various natural phenomena and their effects on the singer. They are lit by mission moonlight, with kangas (a type of garment) on a hillside. They are baffled by the beauty of a maple tree and an Inca cornflower. They cherish a loved one who has "baby's blue eyes" like the flowers, and they hear a ringing sound when they pray to a goddess. The song then takes a more philosophical turn, with the singer acknowledging that all our endeavors, including the music they make, will eventually be swallowed by the earth.


Overall, "Korean Dogwood" is a song about finding inspiration and beauty in the natural world, but also acknowledging our own mortality and insignificance in the grand scheme of things.



Line by Line Meaning

Red oak sugar and Korean dogwood and Korean dogwood
The beauty of nature is found in unlikely places and unexpected combinations, like red oak sugar and Korean dogwood.


Vibes tug to run roam
There is a powerful force within us that inspires us to explore and seek new experiences.


Lit by mission moonlight
The moon guides us on our journey and illuminates our path forward.


Kangas on that hillside
The vibrant colors and patterns of traditional clothing represent the rich cultural heritage of the land.


You are my life
The person addressed in the song is the most important and valuable thing in the singer's life.


And you baffle me some
The complexities of the relationship are difficult to understand and can be confusing at times.


Like an endless maple
The natural beauty of the world is infinite and awe-inspiring, like an endless maple tree.


Inca cornflower
The unique and rare aspects of nature are valuable and should be cherished, like the vibrant color of the Inca cornflower.


You're my baby's blue eyes
The person addressed in the song is connected to the singer's child, and the beauty of their eyes is a reminder of the love shared between them.


And when goddess all in a prayer
When the universe is in harmony and everything is aligned, it is a sacred moment to be appreciated and cherished.


You'll hear a sound
There is a spiritual presence in the world that can be felt and heard when one is open to it.


That rings true and fair
The spiritual presence is genuine and authentic, and can be trusted as a guide for the journey forward.


Black cape lightning
The forces of nature can be both beautiful and dangerous, like a lightning storm in the dark of night.


And all the orange blossoms and orange blossoms
The vivid colors and fragrant scent of orange blossoms are a symbol of the sweetness and beauty of life.


My friend Piegan
The singer addresses a friend who shares their love of nature and the natural world.


Drawing endless love songs, endless love songs
The beauty of nature inspires the friends to create art and express their feelings and emotions through music.


Sweet bee, show me what you're seeing
The natural world is full of wonders that are waiting to be discovered, and the artist asks the bee to share their perspective on the world.


And go right and loud and proud
The singer encourages others to be confident and proud of who they are and to follow their own path in life.


Every little word
Every action and every word carries meaning and can have an impact on the world around us.


It's still rings through
The impact of our actions and words can last long after we are gone.


Strange prayer looming
There is a sense of mystery and wonder in the world that cannot be fully understood or explained, and this can feel unsettling at times.


Over all our brothers, over all our brothers
The artist includes everyone in the world as part of a collective family, and expresses a desire for all to be united and connected.


Prism lifeson and the whole gospel
The beauty and diversity of the world can be seen through many different lenses, each of which contributes to the larger story of humanity.


Is a rope thrown helpful
The dreams and aspirations of humanity are like a lifeline that helps us navigate the challenges of life and find our way forward.


But for sure all that we've made
The accomplishments and creations of humanity are impressive, but they are still subject to the unyielding power of nature.


Will be swallowed by the Earth
No matter how grand or significant our achievements may seem, ultimately they will be absorbed back into the natural world from which they came.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEVENDRA BANHART

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

saint jordy

+Stephanie Sanchez Castrillon

"Before the song

Made the world we know

Before kingdom come

A story was told

To not forget

Or get caught in the wind

A candle was lit

That your father is in"

en "Meet me At The Lookout Point"



All comments from YouTube:

Marker773

HSDC brought this to life in a very beautiful way. The first version was the best.

Milda Doronenkovaite

my favourite song of all times.

Holden Caul

so very very beautiful. Echos of Mazzy Star, Bryan Ferry and the Beatles 

mazrio128

5000 views? I'm really only one out of maybe 10 of us to have commented on this gem? This is one of those songs you always start singing out of nowhere, randomly, throughout the day. We must be special :O

bnjmn spd

Just ordered this album i've been listening to Devendra for many a years but i've only got a few albums. so im on a mission to buy all his albums. i can't find his very first one ' The Charles C Leary ' anywhere at all though so if anyone knows where i could pick a copy up it'd be gret if someone could tell me. :) thankyou P.S i thought it pointless to comment on his later stuff liek baby that is just viewed by people that hardly listen to him.

Camila A. Cofré

omg i love this song <333

Matrix Survivor

I love you 2 💕

Celine Kavanagh

This song is lovely 😍😘💋

Jerry Bass

From "Korean Dogwood" by Devendra Banhart:

Every little word
It still aint heard

jewel ramos

Is the first time i heard the song♥

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