It’s Not Always Funny

Song Meaning

Devendra Banhart's "It's Not Always Funny" operates in the liminal space between absurdity and existential dread, a territory he's expertly mapped throughout his career. The song's meaning isn't a neatly packaged narrative, but rather a series of surreal vignettes that evoke a sense of disorientation and detachment. The opening lines, with their jarring imagery of "touch of your eyes putting on my shoes" and "shaves my wife's wig off," plunge the listener into a world where logic is suspended, and the familiar is made strange. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the human condition, where humor serves as a coping mechanism against the weight of existence. The phrase "it's not always funny, baby, but I hope that you don't mind / When I tell you that it sure is sometimes" becomes the song's central thesis. It acknowledges the inherent absurdity of life while simultaneously finding solace in moments of levity. The repetition of "sometimes" in the outro underscores the fleeting and unreliable nature of joy in a world that often feels chaotic and meaningless. Banhart isn't offering easy answers; instead, he's inviting us to embrace the contradictions and uncertainties that define our experience. The lyrics hint at themes of alienation and identity loss, with lines like "I came to see the sights, not to find me lurking / In some fancy shop" and "Love to tell you my name but been here so long / Seems I forgot." These lines suggest a sense of displacement and a struggle to find meaning in a world that often feels superficial and overwhelming. The imagery of "last call in Hell" further reinforces the sense of being trapped in a cyclical pattern of disillusionment, where the promise of escape is always just out of reach. Ultimately, "It's Not Always Funny" is a poignant reflection on the human condition, reminding us that even in the face of absurdity, there is still room for humor, connection, and fleeting moments of grace.