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.
See Saw
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It sees and then some
And i'll get some extra fingers growing
Yeah get some extra fingers growing
In, in, in
Your eyes are ramble
Light of candle
Get some amber fluid flowing
Your lips are greying
And your mouth is saying
Get some other diamonds sparkling
Get some other people talking
You young dumb ripe thing
You're brave and you're antsy
You strong lunged new thing
You're here to get this baby dancing
You're here to get this baby dancing
You're here to get this baby dancing
You're here to get this baby dancing
You're here to get this baby dancing
You're here to get this baby dancing
I always knew
I always knew
I always knew
The lyrics of the song See Saw by Devendra Banhart are cryptic and open to interpretation. The first stanza talks about the see-saw nature of the mind, how it sees one thing and then something else. The second line talks about the singer of the song growing some extra fingers, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for being able to do more, to take control of the situation. The next stanza talks about his eyes being a wanderer, but he wants to get some amber fluid flowing, which can be interpreted as wanting to calm down and focus.
The third stanza talks about the singer's lips being greying and his mouth saying something, but he wants to get some other diamonds sparkling, which could be a metaphor for wanting to say something meaningful. He also wants to get other people talking, which could mean he wants to start a conversation or a dialogue. The chorus talks about the singer being young, brave, and antsy, and wanting to get the baby (the situation he's in) dancing. He's here to make something happen, and he always knew he would.
Line by Line Meaning
Your head's a see saw
Your mind is constantly shifting and changing, like a see saw.
It sees and then some
Your head processes more information than usual, and then some.
And i'll get some extra fingers growing
I will learn and acquire new skills, like having extra fingers to get things done.
Yeah get some extra fingers growing
Encouragement to the artist's own growth and improvement.
Your eyes are ramble
Your eyes wander, sometimes aimlessly.
Light of candle
Your gaze is like a flickering flame.
Now get some amber fluid flowing
Drink some liquor to unwind and let go.
Get some amber fluid flowing
Repeated emphasis to the idea of drinking alcohol.
Your lips are greying
Your lips have lost their youthful color and vitality.
And your mouth is saying
Even though you have matured physically, you still have things to say.
Get some other diamonds sparkling
Encourage and uplift others by making them shine.
Get some other people talking
Motivate others to speak up and participate.
You young dumb ripe thing
Addressing a young, inexperienced, but promising individual.
You're brave and you're antsy
You have the courage to take risks, but you can also be fidgety.
You strong lunged new thing
Your enthusiasm and energy are invigorating and contagious.
You're here to get this baby dancing
You are here to create excitement and joy, and get everyone dancing.
I always knew
The artist had a premonition or strong intuition about the situation/person.
I always knew
The singer is confident in his intuition and foresight.
I always knew
The repetition accentuates the idea of having had a long-standing conviction or belief.
Contributed by Audrey M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thais Nicols
on Mi Negrita
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