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.
When the Sun Shone on Vetiver
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the sun shone on vetiver
When the sun shone down on her
Well, there's silver in that hole
Yeah, there's silver in that hole
Yeah, there's silver and coal
And they're longing for the land
For nature's forgiving hand
And we're drifting
And we're sailing
And we're drifting
And we're sailing
And we're drifting
Sailing...
Now the sun aligns you legs
And your lips and arms and breasts
And the moon pours weather then
And your branches claw around my claws
Your branches claw around my claws
And my leaves brush against your paws
And we're dancing
And we're dancing
And we're dancing...
In ireland my baby waits for me
In greeceland my baby waits for me
In spainland my baby waits for me
In ireland my baby waits for me
In all lands my baby waits for me
Waiting patiently
She's waiting patiently
Waiting patiently
Waiting patiently
I fall in love
with this song every time I listen to it. Devendra Banhart showcases his poetic and metaphorical talent in this piece titled "When The Sun Shone On Vetiver." The first three lines of the song create an image of warmth and brightness. The sun shining on vetiver seems like a highly specific image. Vetiver is a type of grass that is commonly used in perfumes and essential oils to create a warm and earthy scent. Some suggest that Banhart is trying to describe the sensory experience that the scent of vetiver creates, which is like a warm sun shining down. The subsequent lines seem to refer to the earth and natural resources that humans yearn for. "There's silver in that hole" could be a reference to mining and the exploitation of natural resources for personal gain. Nonetheless, the "longing for the land" implies a respect and appreciation for nature, which offers a "forgiving hand" compared to the city lights and industrialization.
The third verse seems to be about a romantic relationship or sexual experience between two people. Banhart's use of strange and dreamy imagery creates a mystical atmosphere. The reference to branches and claws create the image of two different beings coming together, interlocking their natural and raw elements. The line "my leaves brush against your paws" could suggest an animalistic or primal instinct behind their union. Furthermore, the use of repetition of "and we're dancing" emphasizes a moment of emotional and physical connection.
Overall, the lyrics of "When The Sun Shone On Vetiver" create a complex web of references and metaphors that require the listener to dig deep to understand. Devendra Banhart creates a dreamy, poetic, and provocative piece that showcases his impressive songwriting talent.
Line by Line Meaning
When the sun shone on vetiver
The singer reminisces about a moment when the sun shone on the vetiver plant.
Well, there's silver in that hole
There is silver and coal in an unspecified location.
And they're longing for the land
There are people longing for the land, seeking the forgiving hand of nature.
And we're drifting
And we're sailing
The artist and others are drifting and sailing, possibly in a metaphorical sense.
Now the sun aligns your legs
And your lips and arms and breasts
And the moon pours weather then
And your branches claw around my claws
Your branches claw around my claws
And my leaves brush against your paws
And we're dancing
The artist is intimately involved with someone, with their body parts aligning and their branches (metaphorical or not) intertwining.
In ireland my baby waits for me
In greeceland my baby waits for me
In spainland my baby waits for me
In all lands my baby waits for me
Waiting patiently
She's waiting patiently
Waiting patiently
Waiting patiently
I fall in love
The singer's lover waits for them in multiple countries, but is always patient. The singer falls in love with them, either for the first time or all over again.
Contributed by Joshua J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thais Nicols
on Mi Negrita
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