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Everything you need to know about the English folk-rock band's uplifting single, taken from their 2026 album 'Prizefighter'.
- Song The Banjo Song
- Lyrics“On the dark side of the earth, where the creatures are out
I'm a man on the moon
And midnight 'round my neck and sunrise on my breath
I'll still wait for you
Will you lay down all the things you've done?... - Artist(s) Mumford & Sons
- Album Prizefighter
- Released January 9, 2026
- Label Universal Music Operations
- Songwriter(s) Jon Bellion, Aaron Dessner, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane
- Producer(s) Aaron Dessner, Jon Bellion, Mumford & Sons
The Background:
The English folk-rock band Mumford & Sons released the stirring track ‘The Banjo Song’ on January 9th as the third single from their highly anticipated album Prizefighter. Their upcoming album is set for a February 20 release, and with Hozier being featured on the lead single, ‘Rubber Band Man’, the conversation around the record is growing by the minute. The band gave an insight into the new album on social media when they announced its release, “We found this creative flow that brought out the best in us as artists, and made us feel comfortable in our skins, and confident in what we have to bring to this mad world of music”.
On ‘The Banjo Song’, the band has worked with musical legends Aaron Dessner and Jon Bellion to produce a track that sits firmly in the folk sound. Even without its impressive production, the song’s comforting message comes across, highlighted when the group posted an acoustic version of the song recorded in a car park on socials. It seems this will be a track that the English band will relish performing live.
Back in November, the band announced that they would be doing a UK Record Store tour to celebrate the release of Prizefighter. But evidently, they’re keen to take the new album further afield too. The Prizefighter European Tour is currently set with dates in Groningen, London, Dublin, Rome and Berlin throughout July 2026 and is guaranteed to showcase the new album in all its live glory. Mumford & Sons will also be heading across to Australia and New Zealand in April and May 2026.
The Sound:
As the title would suggest, the banjo is at the forefront of this tune as it leans into a catchy folk sound, the song kicking off with just the strumming of the strings. The storytelling begins and some distant percussion is then added to the mix.
As we reach the chorus, vocal harmonies fill out the sound along with a larger band creating the classic Mumford & Sons warm and cosy feel. Throughout the track, the banjo stays the star of the show, but the guitar and piano melody carries the story; with Aaron Dessner producing, there’s even the sound of some brass hidden in the mix.
The Meaning:
"On the dark side of the earth, where the creatures are out
I'm a man on the moon
And midnight 'round my neck and sunrise on my breath
I'll still wait for you"
As our protagonist compares himself to the “man on the moon”, we get the idea that he's feeling as isolated and distant as someone can be. Singing about going through midnights and sunrises, it seems that this individual is stuck in a cycle of darkness and light; but even with their own pattern of struggles, they’re declaring that they’ll wait around to support someone who needs it.
"Will you lay down all the things you've done?
Don't turn your face around, you can come undone"
Sometimes it can be easier to turn away from the darkness and try to ignore the things we’re struggling with. But instead, this character is asking their companion to admit to everything that’s bothering them, to make it clear what it is that they need help with and lay it all down in front of them. In a message of support, they’re being encouraged to “come undone” rather than try to hold all their struggles inside.
"Well, hey, did you call? Did you fall?
Do you need someone? Do you need someone?
And hey, I'm a mess myself, but I think
I could be someone if you need someone"
We don’t always have to be perfect in order to help someone else. Even if they didn’t call, then noticing when someone falls might be the signal that we should pay attention to. As our protagonist admits, they’re “a mess” too, but in dark times, it might just be some imperfect company that’s needed.
"When I was alone, it was fine, I could deny all I like
I could just push back and make believe and it was alright
But, hey, did you call? Did you fall?
Do you need someone? I could be someone for you"
As we heard in the first verse, this character knows what it’s like to struggle too - when you’re alone, the easiest thing can be to deny that anything is wrong at all, but that keeps you trapped in a dark cycle. Opening up to somebody else, or letting someone in, is the best way to work through hard times - after all, a problem shared is a problem halved, as the saying goes.
"Now there's gold in your eyes in this rosy-fingered light
Like a man on the moon
Out of sight, out of mind, never raise the alarm
Yeah, I'm just like you"
It seems as if things might be getting better as this character has a sparkle back in their eye, but maybe it’s just a moment as fleeting as the “rosy-fingered light” of dawn. As that cycle of dark and light comes round again, the ambience feels as isolating as being the “man on the moon”. The two characters are as similar as ever - even when help is offered, it can still be difficult to accept it: “Out of sight, out of mind, never raise the alarm/ I’m just like you”.
For the full lyrics to Mumford & Sons' 'The Banjo Song', see below:
“On the dark side of the earth, where the creatures are out
I'm a man on the moon
And midnight 'round my neck and sunrise on my breath
I'll still wait for you
-
Will you lay down all the things you've done?
Don't turn your face around, you can come undone
-
Well, hey, did you call? Did you fall?
Do you need someone? Do you need someone?
And hey, I'm a mess myself, but I think
I could be someone if you need someone
When I was alone, it was fine, I could deny all I like
I could just push back and make believe and it was alright
But, hey, did you call? Did you fall?
Do you need someone? I could be someone for you
-
Now there's gold in your eyes in this rosy-fingered light
Like a man on the moon
Out of sight, out of mind, never raise the alarm
Yeah, I'm just like you
-
Can you lay down all the things you've done?
Don't turn your face around, you can come undone
-
And hey, did you call? Did you fall?
Do you need someone? Do you need someone?
And hey, I'm a mess myself, but I think
I could be someone if you need someone
I was alone, it was fine, I could deny all I like
I could just push back and make believe and it was alright
But, hey, when you call, when you fall
And you need someone, I could be someone for you
-
Ah
Ah
Tell a lie, see a light (Ah)
Burn a bridge, it'll be alright (Ah)
Things don't have to fall apart (Ah)
-
And wait, did you call? Did you fall?
Do you need someone? Do you need someone?
And hey, I'm a mess myself, but I think
I could be someone if you need someone
And I was alone, it was fine, I could deny all I like
I could just push back and make believe and it was alright
And hey, when you call, when you fall
When you need someone, I could be someone for you”
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