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.
Tonada Yanomaninista
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're a young and lazy ol' wild boar
Yep, we followed the stork, it led us to camp
We didn't get lost but we lost a chance
1901 was the year of the bleedin' horse
And I was lonely, lonely
1902 the Devil sucked off the moon
My ear to your chest
Your back to the ground
Please move, mama, please make a sound
That war party's lookin' for you and lookin' for me
Damn, damn, we weren't scared
Just unprepared, so we followed the caw
'Till our eyes were locked in
We became her and she became them
And then I heard the voice of heaven
Sayin' don't be scared of anything
I heard the voice of the land
The beautiful land, sing
I recognize you mother
In a little playful touch from death
As above so below
You're in control of the rest
Then the six nippled frog
Ran across the golden moss
Followin' behind us, behind us
And the W.A.C.
Was pointing Remington's at the trees
They couldn't find us
Can't find us
The song "Tonada Yanomaninista" by Devendra Banhart is a mix of surrealist and dreamy imagery, drawing heavily from folk and psychedelic rock music. The song tells the story of a group of people who have chosen to live wild and free in the wilderness, far away from civilization. The first verse, "We burned all our clothes, blew Yopo up our nose, We're a young, lazy ol' wild boar, Yep, we followed the stork, it led us to camp, We didn't get lost but we lost a chance," sets the tone for the song, describing the characters' unconventional lifestyle and their journey to find a place to belong.
The second verse references specific years, "1901 was the year of the bleedin' horse, And I was lonely, lonely, 1902 the Devil sucked off the moon, Please hold me, please hold me," which adds to the surrealism of the song. These dates have no direct reference to any historical events; they serve as poetic devices to create a mood of mystery and other-worldliness. The lyrics "My ear to your chest, Your back to the ground, Please move, mama, please make a sound, That war party's lookin' for you and lookin' for me," suggest a sense of danger and heightened awareness, indicating that the characters are on high alert.
In the third verse, the singer hears the voice of the heaven and the land, encouraging him to let go of his worries and embrace the beauty of the natural world. The line "I recognize you mother, In a little playful touch from death, As above so below, You're in control of the rest," suggests that the characters are at peace with their mortality and that they trust the forces of nature to take care of them.
Overall, "Tonada Yanomaninista" is a poetic and evocative song that conveys a sense of wonder and enchantment. The lyrics paint vivid pictures of a world beyond our everyday experience, where magic and mystery abound.
Line by Line Meaning
We burned all our clothes, blew Yopo up our nose
We shed our material possessions and indulged in a hallucinogenic experience
We're a young and lazy ol' wild boar
We are carefree and adventurous beings, moving at our own pace
Yep, we followed the stork, it led us to camp
We allowed fate to guide us to our destination
We didn't get lost but we lost a chance
We may not have been physically lost, but we missed an opportunity
1901 was the year of the bleedin' horse
A reference to a historical event, possibly symbolizing turmoil or instability
And I was lonely, lonely
The singer felt isolated and disconnected
1902 the Devil sucked off the moon
Another reference to a historical event, possibly symbolizing chaos or disruption
Please hold me, please hold me
The artist longs for comfort and closeness
My ear to your chest
The artist is listening intently to their companion
Your back to the ground
The companion is lying still or perhaps lifeless
Please move, mama, please make a sound
The singer is desperate for signs of life or response from their companion
That war party's lookin' for you and lookin' for me
There is danger or trouble approaching
Damn, damn, we weren't scared
Despite the danger, the singer and their companion remained fearless
Just unprepared, so we followed the caw
They were not ready for the challenge, but still managed to find a way forward
'Till our eyes were locked in
They became fixed on a particular point or direction
We became her and she became them
They merged or blended with their surroundings
And then I heard the voice of heaven
The artist had a spiritual experience
Sayin' don't be scared of anything
The voice offered reassurance and guidance
I heard the voice of the land
The singer felt a strong connection to nature
The beautiful land, sing
The beauty of the natural world was overwhelming
I recognize you mother
The artist has an epiphany or realization
In a little playful touch from death
Death is personified as a playful force
As above so below
A reference to the concept of interconnectedness in spirituality
You're in control of the rest
The artist has surrendered control and placed trust in a higher power
Then the six nippled frog
A surreal image that defies explanation
Ran across the golden moss
Another strange image that evokes a sense of wonder or magic
Followin' behind us, behind us
The singer and their companion are being followed or observed
And the W.A.C.
A reference to the Women's Army Corps
Was pointing Remington's at the trees
The presence of weapons suggests a military or violent element
They couldn't find us
The singer and their companion successfully evaded capture
Can't find us
The singer and their companion remain hidden and safe
Contributed by Ian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@AKAHEADACHE
entonces de esa experiencia surge esta cancion una de mis favoritas waaaa, yopo=tonada yanomaminista!!
@edgardozamora7483
The best song
@hannahleiighh
awwwwwwwwww baby
@caminoreal03
Where are the comments? I am surprised.
@briandavidhall
same