Devendra Obi Banhart (born May 30, 1981) is a Venezuelan American singer-so… Read Full Bio ↴Devendra Obi Banhart (born May 30, 1981) is a Venezuelan American singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. His first few records were released on the Young God Records label from New York City. His most recent CD was released by Nonesuch. He is one of the most popular artists to come out of the "New Weird America" movement, which includes performers such as Faun Fables, Viking Moses, Jack Rose, Jana Hunter, Arborea, The MV & EE Medicine Show, Currituck Co., Six Organs of Admittance, and The Royal We, among others. He also often joins the band known as Vetiver.

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.

Seaside
Devendra Banhart Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The shore worn
and born black
I love that
I love that

Seaside
Seaside

The hunter in heaven
is thunder a companion by

My side
My side

Now seen Unseen
Now seen Unseen

The sea is calm
The path on high
It swoops down
to lye by

Your side

Your side
Your side

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Devendra Banhart's song "Seaside" evoke a dreamlike atmosphere by playing with contrasting images of light and dark, movement and stillness, seen and unseen. The repeated phrase "I love that" suggests a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world, even its darker aspects such as the blackness of the worn shore. The use of the word "born" implies an organic connection between the shore and the sea, as though they are always in the process of creating and recreating each other.

Line by Line Meaning

The shore worn
The shoreline is marked by time and use

and born black
And seems as if it was born dark and murky

I love that
But I appreciate it nonetheless

I love that
I still love it

Seaside
The beach

Seaside
Where the land meets the ocean

The hunter in heaven
A person speeding through space in a rocket

is thunder a companion by
Is accompanied by the sound of a thunderstorm in space

My side
Beside me

My side
With me

Now seen Unseen
Things are now in focus, then blurry

Now seen Unseen
Now visible, now obscure

The sea is calm
The water is still and steady

The path on high
The way up high

It swoops down
It dips low to the ground

to lye by
And comes to rest beside

Your side
Near where you are

Your side
Close to you

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEVENDRA BANHART

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Arnaldo

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The shore worn
And born black
I love that, I love that

Seaside, seaside
Seaside, seaside

The hunter in heaven
Is thunder a companion by

My side, my side
My side, my side

Now seen, unseen
Now seen, unseen
Now seen, unseen
Now seen, unseen

The sea is calm
The path on high
It swoops down to lie

By your side, you side
Your side, your side
Your side, your side