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.
Korean Dogwood
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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
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"
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♥