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.
Michigan State
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They bend backwards when she breathes
And it whistles
And sweetness is all sweetness was
Bees are black eyed birds that buzz
And my love has my favorite ears
They lean forwards when she hears
Well evil is all evil was
And I said oh Michigan, Michigan state
How I'd love to live in you
Oh I've never been to Michigan state
Still I'd wanna live in you
And you can't talk without your tongue
Don't try and drown without your lungs son
Well my snail has my favorite slow
The shell helps the snail still the skin lays low
And if my snail has my favorite slow
Then my cold has my favorite snow
But if my snail's cold and comes to a halt
Then my sea has my favorite salt
The salt keeps the sea from feeling sweet
And my toes have my favorite feet
And if I sweat salt
And the earth sweats heat
Oh Michigan, Michigan state
How I'd love to live in you
I've never been to Michigan state
Still I'd want to live in you
Michigan state state state state
The lyrics of the song "Michigan State" by Devendra Banhart are open to interpretation, but they have a dream-like quality that allows the listener to form their own narrative. In essence, the lyrics are a stream of consciousness poem that celebrates various body parts of the singer's loved ones and uses metaphors to evoke emotions and sensations. The opening lines, "My friend has my favorite teeth, They bend backwards when she breathes," set the tone, as Banhart turns a physical characteristic into a playful image. The line "And sweetness is all sweetness was" can be interpreted as an acknowledgment of the transience of pleasure, while the line "Birds are blue-eyed knees that buzz" is an example of Banhart's fondness for surrealism and wordplay.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the lyrics are not about Michigan State in the literal sense, but rather a longing for a place that represents a feeling of security and contentment. The refrain "Oh Michigan, Michigan state, How I'd love to live in you, I've never been to Michigan state, Still I'd want to live in you" is repeated throughout the song as a mantra that reflects the singer's desire for a place where he can feel at home. The lyrics also touch on the themes of nature and the environment, with references to bees, birds, snails, and salt.
Overall, "Michigan State" is a whimsical and poetic song that invites the listener to interpret its meaning in their own way. It celebrates the joys of being alive, the beauty of the natural world, and the longing for a place to call home.
Line by Line Meaning
My friend has my favorite teeth
I admire my friend's unique teeth that bend backwards when she breathes
And it whistles
The sound produced by my friend's teeth is like a whistle
And sweetness is all sweetness was
Sweet things are simply meant to be enjoyed for their taste
Bees are black eyed birds that buzz
Bees are small insects that make a buzzing sound and have dark-colored eyes
And my love has my favorite ears
I appreciate how my lover's ears lean forwards when she hears something interesting
They lean forwards when she hears
My lover's ears show how attentive she is when listening to others
Well evil is all evil was
Any form of evil has always been wickedness
Birds are blue-eyed knees that buzz
Birds are creatures with blue eyes that make a buzzing noise, especially when they fly
And I said oh Michigan, Michigan state
I express my fondness for Michigan state by saying its name
How I'd love to live in you
It would be great to reside in Michigan state
Oh I've never been to Michigan state
I have yet to visit Michigan state
Still I'd wanna live in you
Despite not having visited, I desire to stay in Michigan state
And you can't talk without your tongue
The tongue is essential in speech, one can't communicate without it
Don't try and drown without your lungs son
It is impossible to drown in water without one's lungs
Well my snail has my favorite slow
I appreciate how slow my snail moves
The shell helps the snail still the skin lays low
The shell protects and guides the snail as it moves with its soft body intact
And if my snail has my favorite slow
Assuming my snail's speed remains constant
Then my cold has my favorite snow
I prefer the type of snow that's created in cold weather
But if my snail's cold and comes to a halt
In case my snail gets too cold and stops moving
Then my sea has my favorite salt
I appreciate the type of salt that comes from the ocean
The salt keeps the sea from feeling sweet
The salt present in the water prevents it from being too sweet
And my toes have my favorite feet
I find my own toes most appealing
And if I sweat salt
When I perspire, salt is one of the substances that come out
And the earth sweats heat
The earth releases heat to warm up the environment
Michigan state state state state
A playful repetition of the state's name
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Devendra Banhart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rafael
My friend has my favorite teeth
They bend backwards when she breathes
And it whistles
And sweetness is all sweetness was
Bees are blackeyed birds that buzz
And my love has my favorite ears
They lean forwards when she hears
Well evil is all evil was
Birds are blue-eyed knees that buzz
And i said oh michigan, michigan state
How i'd love to live in you
Oh i've never been to michigan state
Still i'd wanna live in you
And you can't talk without your tongue
Don't try and drown without your lungs son
Well my snail has my favorite slow
The shell helps the snail still the skin lays low
And if my snail has my favorite slow
Then my cold has my favorite snow
But if my snail's cold and comes to a halt
Then my sea has my favorite salt
The salt keeps the sea from feeling sweet
And my toes have my favorite feet
And if i sweat salt
And the earth sweats heat
Oh michigan, michigan state
How i'd love to live in you
I've never been to michigan state
Still i'd want to live in you
Michigan state state state state
Carl Rosati
This is the track that brought me to Devendra so many years ago now, whilst wandering the abbey at Whitby (UK). Cripple Crow was the last album I enjoyed unfortunately
Iris Boswell
Same
Natan Moraes
Tá faltando energia, mas tá bom.
Melhor q eu!!😂😂
Brooke
first devendra banhart song i ever heard. oh my heart.
Slim Aldo
and 12 years later...
E. B. Okung
Ah ah ah!
Anna Black
lol
Aditya Khanna
oh well then... all by myself here..
Chad Neu
I'll join you.