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.
spider
Devendra Banhart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little yellow spider, laughing at the snow
Ah, maybe that spider knows something that I don't know
'Cause I'm Goddamn cold
Little white monkey, staring at the sand
Well, maybe that monkey figured out something I couldn't understand
Well, I came upon a dancing crab, and I stopped to watch it shake
I said, "Dance for me just one more time
Before you hibernate and you come out a crab cake"
Hey there, little snapping turtle, snapping at a shell
Ah, there's mysteries inside, I know
But what they are I just can't tell for sure
And hey ya', little baby crow, you're looking kinda' mean
I think I outta spit before you start letting off your steam
For sure
And hey there, little sexy pig, you made it with a man
And you're got a little kid with hooves instead of hands
And oh, all the animals
All the animals
And hey there, little mockingbird, they sing about you in songs
Ah, where you been?
Have you broke a wing?
I haven't heard you in so long
And hey there, little albatross, swimming in the air
Ah c'mon, you know I can't fly
And I, I think we really outta play fair
And hey there, Mr. Happy Squid, you move so psychedelically
You hypnotize with your magic dance all the animals in the sea
For sure
And oh, all the animals
All the animals
And hey there, Mr. Morning Sun, what kind of creature are you?
I can't stare, but I know you're there
Goddamn, how I wish I knew
And hey there, Mrs. Lovely Moon, you're lonely and you're blue
It's kinda' strange, the way you change
But then again, we all do too
The lyrics to Devendra Banhart's song "Little Yellow Spider" reflect the singer's fascination with the behavior and characteristics of different animals, and his desire to understand the world through their eyes. The song begins with the singer observing a little yellow spider, who seems oblivious to the harsh winter weather. He ponders whether the spider knows something he doesn't about how to survive in difficult conditions.
The singer then goes on to reflect on other animals, including a little white monkey, a dancing crab, a snapping turtle, a baby crow, a sexy pig with a hooved child, a mockingbird, an albatross, and a happy squid, each with their unique characteristics and mysteries. He also addresses the morning sun and the lovely moon, both celestial bodies that have long fascinated humans throughout history.
The song seems to be an invitation to connect with nature, to appreciate the unique qualities of different creatures, and to try to understand the world from their perspective. The choice of animals and the way they are described also invites the listener to consider the strange and surprising diversity of life on this planet, and to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Little yellow spider, laughing at the snow
The spider is carefree and joyful, finding humor in the situation of snow, which the singer cannot understand.
Ah, maybe that spider knows something that I don't know
The singer speculates that the spider's happiness is a result of knowledge or understanding he himself lacks.
'Cause I'm Goddamn cold
The singer reveals his own feelings of discomfort and coldness, which contrast with the spider's apparent contentment.
Little white monkey, staring at the sand
The monkey is focused, perhaps pondering or contemplating something on the sand.
Well, maybe that monkey figured out something I couldn't understand
The artist suggests that the monkey has gained insight or understanding beyond his own comprehension.
Who knows?
The singer admits uncertainty and acknowledges that he may never know what the monkey has learned.
Well, I came upon a dancing crab, and I stopped to watch it shake
The singer encounters a crab, which he finds entertaining or amusing, and takes time to observe.
I said, "Dance for me just one more time
The artist requests one final dance from the crab before it hibernates and potentially becomes a meal.
Before you hibernate and you come out a crab cake"
The artist humorously references the crab's potential fate as food, as it will undergo a transformation from a live animal to a consumable dish.
Hey there, little snapping turtle, snapping at a shell
The turtle is preoccupied with something, perhaps trying to get at the meat inside the shell.
Ah, there's mysteries inside, I know
The singer acknowledges that there is something unknown or intriguing within the shell the turtle is snapping at.
But what they are I just can't tell for sure
The artist admits his own ignorance and the limits of his understanding.
And hey ya', little baby crow, you're looking kinda' mean
The singer observes a young and potentially aggressive crow, which may be considered menacing or unhealthy.
I think I outta spit before you start letting off your steam
The singer wants to avoid potential conflict with the crow and will take action to avoid confrontation.
And hey there, little sexy pig, you made it with a man
The singer observes a pig who has mated with a human, producing an offspring with unusual characteristics.
And you're got a little kid with hooves instead of hands
The offspring of the pig/human union has hands resembling hooves, which is unusual and perhaps concerning.
And oh, all the animals
The artist reflects on the variety and diversity of animals in the world.
And hey there, little mockingbird, they sing about you in songs
The mockingbird is a well-known and celebrated animal in music and culture.
Ah, where you been?
The singer is curious about the whereabouts of the mockingbird and its recent activities.
Have you broke a wing?
The artist is concerned that the mockingbird may be injured or unable to fly.
I haven't heard you in so long
The artist hasn't heard the mockingbird's song recently and misses its presence.
And hey there, little albatross, swimming in the air
The albatross is observed soaring through the sky with grace and freedom.
Ah c'mon, you know I can't fly
The singer envies the albatross's ability to fly, highlighting his own limitations.
And I, I think we really outta play fair
The artist recognizes that not all animals are equally capable and that comparisons and judgments should be made without prejudice.
And hey there, Mr. Happy Squid, you move so psychedelically
The squid is observed moving in an unusual and fascinating way, perhaps resembling the hallucinatory effects of certain drugs.
You hypnotize with your magic dance all the animals in the sea
The singer imagines a scenario in which the squid's movement is so mesmerizing that it entrances other nearby sea creatures.
And hey there, Mr. Morning Sun, what kind of creature are you?
The sun is anthropomorphized as a living creature, prompting the singer to wonder about its identity.
I can't stare, but I know you're there
The artist cannot look directly at the sun, but knows it is present and its effects are visible.
Goddamn, how I wish I knew
The artist desires to know more about the sun's nature and properties.
And hey there, Mrs. Lovely Moon, you're lonely and you're blue
The moon is personified as female and characterized as sad or melancholic.
It's kinda' strange, the way you change
The singer is intrigued by the moon's phases and the way its appearance alters over time.
But then again, we all do too
The artist reflects on the universality of change and the way all living beings undergo transformations over time.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEVENDRA BANHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thais Nicols
on Mi Negrita
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