Aperpareplane (Early Recording)

Song Meaning

Devendra Banhart’s "Aperpareplane (Early Recording)" drifts in on a hazy, dreamlike current, immediately establishing a space outside the rigid structures of waking thought. The made-up word "aperpareplane" itself acts as a portal, suggesting a vehicle for the soul—less a mode of transportation and more a state of being. Annie, a recurring figure, seems to serve as a guide within this landscape, her pronouncements holding a cryptic authority. The lyrics hint at a carefully constructed world, where even physical attributes like "jaws and arms the right length" are deliberate, designed to lull the listener (or perhaps Banhart himself) into a peaceful slumber. It's a world sculpted for comfort, a refuge from the harsh edges of reality. The song flits between images of flight and grounded existence. The "aperpareplane" contrasts sharply with the "life of paper airplanes / Flown from parking lots," highlighting the difference between transcendent experience and mundane reality. The paper airplanes, though simple, retain a childlike wonder, "smiling at the streetlights." This juxtaposition suggests a longing for escape, even within the confines of everyday life. The "crimson dress and nice clothes" evoke a sense of carefully curated beauty, a facade perhaps, but one intended to soothe and provide solace. The song navigates the tension between genuine connection and constructed comfort. Ultimately, "Aperpareplane" feels like an exploration of inner space, a quest for belonging and peace. The final lines, "years being to roll your way / Reading a book of the way you look / Singing a song of where you belong," suggest a journey towards self-acceptance. It's an acceptance found not through grand gestures or external validation, but through quiet contemplation and the recognition of one's place within the world, however unconventional that place may be. Banhart offers not a concrete answer, but a feeling—a gentle reassurance that even amidst the chaos, there is a space for us to find our own song, our own aperpareplane.