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.

Thumbs Touch Too Much
Devendra Banhart Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I were more like city girls
if I were more like city girls
If I were more like fancy girls
And thanks little bee, think of me
Here's four photographs
Just for laughs

My Miss Shipwreck sinks

Yes she sings
My Miss Pitchfork pinch
Yes she pinch
My Miss Sidewalk slips
Makes a mess, tickle flesh
When the night doesn't want you
And the sounds all surround you
And the steps to the temple
Are the breasts made of puddles

And if I were more like city girls

If I were more like fancy girls
And all my thumbs touch too much

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Devendra Banhart's song The Thumbs Touch Too Much seem to be exploring the themes of identity, societal norms, and the urban vs rural divide. The singer acknowledges that they are not like "city girls" or "fancy girls", suggesting a disconnect between their own identity and the expectations of society. The repetition of the line "if I were more like" highlights the pressure to conform and the inadequacy felt when failing to meet those standards.

The lines about the singer's "Miss Shipwreck", "Miss Pitchfork", and "Miss Sidewalk" seem to be referring to specific women in their life who embody certain qualities or experiences, such as sinking or slipping. These descriptions are somewhat metaphorical and cryptic, leaving the listener to interpret their meaning.

Towards the end of the song, the lyrics become more surreal and dreamlike, describing "breasts made of puddles" and the "steps to the temple". The overall effect of the song is a kind of disjointed, stream-of-consciousness meditation on identity and belonging.

Line by Line Meaning

If I were more like city girls
I am not like city girls

if I were more like city girls
I wish to be like city girls

If I were more like fancy girls
I am not like fancy girls

And thanks little bee, think of me
I show gratitude towards the little bee and hope it thinks of me

Here's four photographs
I have four photographs to share

Just for laughs
These photographs are just for fun

My Miss Shipwreck sinks
My girl, the shipwreck, is sinking

Yes she sings
Her singing complements the sinking scene

My Miss Pitchfork pinch
My girl, the pitchfork, pinches

Yes she pinch
She does so deliberately

My Miss Sidewalk slips
My girl, the sidewalk, slips