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.
Mi Negrita
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aunque te esperara
Mi corazón se lanza
Un fantasma corpo real
Mi amor no tiene venganza
Aunque te matará
Este viejo no se cansaSiempre te perseguirá
Así que, fe y amor no necesita esperanza
Ven amor aquí
Fe o amor, no grita en mi lancha
Alrededor de ti
(Vestida en mi dolor
Negrita de mi amor)
Fe o amor, mosquito tan dandy
Fue un amor así
Fe o amor, no quita esperanza
Ven amor aquí
Ven amor (oh-oh-oh)
Na-na-na
Na-na-na
Mi amor, no te hablo paja
Aunque no es la verdad
Mi abogado trabaja
Pa' que tu puedas descansar
Así que, fe y amor no necesita esperanza
Ven amor aquíVen amor disfruta mi grasa
Alrededor de ti
Fe y amor
Fe o amor
Fe y amor
Fe o amor
Fe y amor
Fe o amor
Fe y amor
The lyrics of Devendra Banhart's "Mi Negrita" tell a story of a man who is deeply in love with his "Negrita" or dark-skinned lover, but he also knows that their love cannot continue on forever as there are obstacles in their way. The opening lyrics "Mi amor no tiene esperanza" translate to "My love has no hope" indicating that the love that the man feels for his Negrita is strong, but it may not have a future. He then goes on to explain that if he were to wait for her, his love would still linger, but it would be like anchoring his heart to a "fantasma corporal" or a physical ghost. This is a metaphor that describes how he will still feel her presence even though she is not physically present.
The following lyrics in "Mi amor no tiene venganza, aunque te matara" translates to "My love has no vengeance, even if I were to kill you" tell us that the man is deeply in love and cannot hate or harm his lover. He then expresses his undying love for her despite the challenges they may face in their relationship, saying that he will consistently pursue her until the end. The chorus emphasizes the importance of faith, love, and hope in a relationship, even when the circumstances may seem hopeless.
Overall, the song is a beautiful and poignant expression of love that transcends boundaries, identity, and external circumstances. The lyrics represent the complexities of love as the man indicates his profound love for his Negrita despite the obstacles that may hinder their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Mi amor no tiene esperanza
My love has no expectation
Aunque te esperara
Even if I waited for you
Mi corazón se ancla
My heart anchors
A un fantasma corporal
To a corporeal ghost
Mi amor no tiene venganza
My love has no revenge
Aunque te matara
Even if I killed you
Este viejo no se cansa
This old man does not tire
Siempre te perseguirá
I will always pursue you
Así que fe y amor no necesita esperanza
So faith and love do not need hope
Ven amor aquí
Come love here
Fe o amor no grita en mi lancha
Faith or love does not shout in my boat
Alrededor de ti
Around you
(Vestida en mi dolor
(Dressed in my pain
Negrita de mi amor)
My little black girl of love)
Fe o amor mosquito tan dandi
Faith or love such a dandy mosquito
Fue un amor así
It was such a love
Mi amor no te hablo paja
My love does not talk crap to you
Aunque no es la verdad
Although it's not the truth
Mi abogado trabaja
My lawyer works
Para que tu puedas descansar
So that you can rest
Ven amor disfruta mi grasa
Come love, enjoy my fat
Fe y amor
Faith and love
Fe o amor
Faith or love
Fe y amor
Faith and love
Fe o amor
Faith or love
Fe y amor
Faith and love
Fe o amor
Faith or love
Fe y amor
Faith and love
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Devendra Banhart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thais Nicols
<3
@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
@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
@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.
@angelenergia2163
Wow, beautiful ❤️🔥 was this long ago? I’d love to see him in Miami today.
@Dolando17
ew imagine being born in miami 💀💀
@jamesresendiz5018
A good friend of mine shared this album with me almost 10 years ago in Brazil. Album became an instant classic to me and I always come back to it. Thank you Marina Doida 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 👽 🛸 💨
@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?