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.
Remember
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I remember your arms wrapped around my neck twenty one shells wrapped in a nest.
Endlessness. Didn't last.
I won't change given the chance.
I remember no place for me to hide. Before you came home at night.
And I remember you turnin' out the lights all i ever saw was the red in your eyes.
No big surprise. Happened nearly every night your own flesh & blood.
I remember not knowing what to say & how calm you had remained your child still born with no name.
I remember the never ending summer rain.
Please don't let what was get in the way of whats next.
Don't forget that whats to come hasn't come yet.
In Devendra Banhart's "Remember," he reflects on memories of an emotional past relationship in a stream-of-consciousness style. The first verse describes the intimacy of the relationship, with Banhart recalling a happy moment of his partner helping him zip up his dress and holding him tightly with 21 shells (perhaps a reference to the Tarot card The World, which is often depicted with a wreath of 21 laurel leaves). However, the end of the verse is marked by a sense of finality and impermanence, with Banhart acknowledging that the "endlessness" of the relationship did not last and that he won't change given the chance.
The second verse takes a darker turn as Banhart recalls feeling trapped and helpless before his partner's arrival home each night, and the anger and violence that often followed. He also references a miscarriage or stillbirth that the couple went through, with the child being "still born with no name." The final line of the verse suggests that Banhart had questions about why his partner was capable of such cruelty.
The chorus brings a message of hope and acceptance, with Banhart urging the listener to not let the memories of the past interfere with their future. He reminds the listener that the future is unknown and holds endless possibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember a far away laugh a sweet caress you'd help me zip up my dress.
I recall a time when I heard a pleasant laugh from far away while you lovingly assisted me in zipping up my dress.
And I remember your arms wrapped around my neck twenty one shells wrapped in a nest.
I recollect the warmth and comfort of your embrace, as if you held a precious collection of shells tightly bound together in a nest of love.
Endlessness. Didn't last.
The sense of infinite bliss that we once shared eventually came to an end.
I won't change given the chance.
Despite the circumstances, I am steadfast in my commitment to remain the same person I always was.
I remember no place for me to hide. Before you came home at night.
I reminisce about the time when I had no sanctuary to escape to before your arrival each night.
And I remember you turnin' out the lights all i ever saw was the red in your eyes.
I recall how you would extinguish the lights, leaving only the crimson hue of your glaring eyes to be seen.
No big surprise. Happened nearly every night your own flesh & blood.
It wasn't shocking to me that this was a regular occurrence, especially considering the fact that it was happening to your own child.
I did wonder why.
Although it was a familiar occurrence, I couldn't help but ponder on the reason behind it all.
I remember not knowing what to say & how calm you had remained your child still born with no name.
I recall feeling at a loss for words, and the eerie sense of peace you maintained despite the fact that your child was stillborn and nameless.
I remember the never ending summer rain.
I remember the endless downpour of rain during a particularly long and never-ending summer.
Please don't let what was get in the way of whats next.
I implore you to not let the past hinder what is yet to come.
Don't forget that whats to come hasn't come yet.
Remember that the future is still unwritten, and that there is always a new chapter waiting to be written.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEVENDRA BANHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheANATOMIKAblogmag
I remember. (Yo recuerdo)
Recuerdo una risa lejana,
una dulce caricia,
tú me ayudarías a abrochar mi vestido.
Recuerdo tus brazos alrededor de mi cuello,
veintiún cascarones envueltos en mi nido.
La eternidad...
no duró.
No cambiaré
dada las circunstancias.
Recuerdo no tener lugar para esconderme
antes de que llegaras a casa por la noche.
Te recuerdo apagando las luces,
todo lo que siempre veía era el rojo en tus ojos;
no era gran sorpresa...
ocurría casi cada noche.
Era tu propia sangre,
y claro que que me pregunté por qué.
Recuerdo no saber qué decir
y cuánta calma habías tenido;
tu hijo muerto al nacer sin nombre.
Recuerdo la interminable lluvia de verano.
Oh, por favor no permitas
que lo que sucedió en el camino se interponga en
lo que está por venir, no ha llegado aún.
@amrantenang160
I remember a faraway laugh
A sweet caress
You'd help me zip up my dress
I remember your arms around my neck
21 shells wrapped in my nest
Endlessness
Didn't last
I won't change
Given the chance
And I remember no place for me to hide
Before you came home at night
I remember you turning out the lights
All I ever saw was the red in your eyes
No big surprise
Happened nearly every night
Your own flesh and blood
I did wonder why
I remember not knowing what to say
And how calm you had remained
Your child stillborn with no name
I remember the never-ending summer rain
Oh
Please don't let what was get in the way of what's next
Don't forget
That what's to come hasn't come yet
@brianlash154
I remember the late nights I spent listening to this song, lost in an ocean of thought, memories and emotions
@mazrio128
Me too. Right now ;)
@luisnafate6207
Me too, right now 🥺
@tristanvogel7034
@@luisnafate6207now me.
@luisnafate6207
A cold October night, our alcohol problems. The moon and the cold wind are my witnesses to an "te amo siempre, Isaac..."
@sidDkid87
"don't forget /
that what's to come /
hasn't come yet" 🎶
@sidnomis1
This has to be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard...
@onlyyesterday1967
this song is absolutely perfect...
@tatianalabordef
canciones que te hacen recordar personas que aún no conoces.
@engrapadora2000
this is maybe, one of the most beautiful masterpieces on youtube thanks a lot regards from Chile