Water May Walk

Song Meaning

Devendra Banhart's "Water May Walk" unfolds like a series of Zen koans set to music, its meaning less a linear narrative and more an invitation to meditate on interconnectedness. The cyclical nature of the lyrics, the repetition of "may walk" and the invocation of familial figures – water, daughter, mother, father, brother – hints at the fundamental elements that constitute existence and the ties that bind us. There's a powerful sense of cyclical return, a suggestion that these elements are in constant motion, perpetually recreating themselves. The image of "Marth fell asleep in a perfect fire" introduces an element of transience and perhaps acceptance of inevitable change. Fire, often symbolic of both destruction and purification, suggests a peaceful surrender to a transformative process. Is Marth a personification of something else, like the old self? The lyrics don't say, but invite the listener to sit with the possibilities. The second half of the song deepens the ecological and spiritual themes. The "earth has its eyes / The sea has eyes too" suggests a pantheistic view, where nature itself possesses consciousness and agency. The invocation of "brown mother eyes / Blue mother blue" further emphasizes the nurturing and life-giving aspects of the natural world. These 'eyes' are not just for seeing, but are 'stems of space', connecting us to something larger than ourselves. This notion is furthered by the lines "Mother may grow / Daughter may grow / Father may grow / And swallow the seed / Of trees in the chest of my mind." Banhart evokes the subconscious mind, the fertile ground from which new ideas and perspectives can emerge. Ultimately, "Water May Walk" offers a message of hope and resilience. The lines "Love will still live / When our time is done / And earth be light, be light" resonate with a belief in the enduring power of love and the cyclical nature of life itself. Despite the transient nature of individual existence, love transcends time, and the earth will continue its cycle of renewal. The repetition of “I’ve got some to give / I’d like to give some” reinforces the importance of contribution and connection. The song is a gentle reminder to embrace the interconnectedness of all things, to find solace in the natural world, and to contribute positively to the ongoing cycle of life. The "song meaning" of "Water May Walk" lies not in a definitive answer, but in the questions it provokes and the sense of wonder it inspires.