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.
Rejoicing in the Hands
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the dark, we are without a light
Half asleep, we calmly waiting through her night
Half asleep, we wait 'til she arrives
Clouds of birds are covering the dark blue sky
Clouds of birds are covering the sky
A rush of wind is gently playing with their wings
All rejoices, all we are in her hands
All rejoice, we are in her hands
Our lives of sun are rising like the land
All rejoice, we are in her hands
The lyrics to Devendra Banhart’s song Rejoicing in the Hands evoke the beauty and mystery of the natural world, and the inextricable relationship humans have with it. The first stanza describes the sense of disorientation and vulnerability that comes with being in the dark without the light of the moon, which is often considered feminine and associated with the cyclical nature of life. The phrase “we are without her empress light” suggests that we are in a state of longing and dependence for this powerful force.
The second stanza is a luminous vision of the night sky and the birds that populate it. At once, the birds are both a swarm that darkens the sky and individual creatures that are subject to the whims of the wind. The stars, too, are both singular and countless, invoking the sublime vastness of the universe. All of these elements culminate in the phrase “all we are in her hands,” in which “her” could represent the moon or the larger force of nature. This line suggests that humans are at the mercy of this force, but that there is comfort and joy to be found in surrendering to it.
The final stanza ties the themes of dependence and joy together, depicting a world in which “all” is in “her” hands and everything is harmonious. The reference to “lives of sun” rising like the land suggests growth and renewal, and perhaps the sense that our lives are cyclical like the moon’s phases. The chorus is a celebration of this interconnectivity, the smallness of humans in the face of a larger force, and the joy that comes from being a part of something greater.
Line by Line Meaning
In the dark, we are without her empress light
When it's dark, we don't have her guiding light
Half asleep, we calmly waiting through her night
We're half-asleep, waiting patiently through her night
Clouds of birds are covering the dark blue sky
The sky is covered in a flock of birds
A rush of wind is gently playing with their wings
The wind softly moves the birds' wings
And yellow stars are standing all arise
The bright yellow stars shine
All rejoices, all we are in her hands
Everyone celebrates, knowing that we are in her care
Our lives of sun are rising like the land
Our lives are beginning to bloom like the land under the sun
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEVENDRA BANHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thais Nicols
on Mi Negrita
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