In 2012 his album Do Things was released.
He was discovered by Animal Collective during the recording of Merriweather Post Pavilion while attending one of their shows down in the Magnolia State. Dent May has "found his home” in the music of Serge Gainsbourg and Lee Hazlewood. May was also a member of a Mississippi power pop group called The Rockwells.
Eastover Wives
Dent May Lyrics
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But some boys they want you to be numb
Be careful what you're waiting for
Them boys are knocking at your door
But something's gonna happen to you
When you wear that gown
If you're from my town
You'll get around
Cuz Eastover wives sneak out at night
Cuz they're lonely
And they're beautiful
Eastover wives lead miserable lives
And they're boring
I admit to myself I've seen
Good women do wrong
Good women do wrong
Young girls your wedding days will come
Some boy you hope will be the one
Be careful that it's gonna last
You got your whole life honey, don't move so fast
Cuz something's gonna happen to you
When you wear that gown
If you're from my town
You'll get around
You'll get around
Cuz Eastover wives sneak out at night
Cuz they're lonely
And they're beautiful
Eastover wives lead miserable lives
And they're boring
I admit to myself I've seen
Good women do wrong
Good women do wrong
High school sweethearts
They only talk about the weather
Never sleep together
Looks like she's cracking under pressure
High school sweethearts
They only talk about the weather
Never sleep together
Now she's looking for some pleasure
Well
She'll get around
She'll get around
Cuz Eastover wives sneak out at night
Cuz they're lonely
And they're beautiful
Eastover wives lead miserable lives
And they're boring
I admit to myself I've seen
Good women do wrong
Good women do wrong
The lyrics of Dent May's song Eastover Wives underscore the mundane and unfulfilling lives of housewives in a small town. It begins by cautioning young girls about the pressures and expectations of marriage, and the warning signs that they should be careful about what they are waiting for. The boys are knocking at their doors and may want them to be numb, and they could get around if they are from the same town. However, something is going to happen to them when they wear that gown, implying that marriage and family life come with baggage and issues that are not immediately apparent.
The chorus is a repetition of the song's title, "Cuz Eastover wives sneak out at night, Cuz they're lonely and they're beautiful, Eastover wives lead miserable lives, And they're boring, I admit to myself I've seen, Good women do wrong, Good women do wrong." This reiterates the theme that these women's lives are unhappy and monotonous, which leads them to seek pleasure by cheating on their faithful husbands. The song further points out that even the seemingly happy, high school sweethearts who never sleep together have their own pressures, and the wife may crack under the weight of the expectations, leading her to seek pleasure elsewhere.
Overall, the song highlights the struggles and limitations of people, especially women, in small towns living a conventional life of marriage and kids, leading to loneliness and boredom, which may eventually lead to wrongdoing for some.
Line by Line Meaning
Young girls your wedding days will come
The song addresses young girls and reminds them that their wedding days are inevitable.
But some boys they want you to be numb
The song warns young girls that some boys want them to have no emotional attachment and that they must be careful when choosing a partner.
Be careful what you're waiting for
The song advises young girls to be careful about their expectations regarding relationships and marriage.
Them boys are knocking at your door
The song refers to boys who are seeking relationships and are approaching young girls, indicating that the girls should be cautious of the boys they let into their lives.
But something's gonna happen to you
The song suggests that getting married brings about significant changes in one's life.
When you wear that gown
The song equates wearing a wedding gown with the act of getting married.
If you're from my town
The song seems to suggest that people from a certain place or community are more likely to engage in extramarital affairs.
You'll get around
The song implies that people from his town are promiscuous and sleep around.
Cuz Eastover wives sneak out at night
The song specifically talks about women from the Eastover area, who engage in secret affairs in the evening.
Cuz they're lonely
The song suggests that these Eastover wives are in unsatisfactory marriages and seek emotional fulfillment from other partners.
And they're beautiful
The song seems to imply that these Eastover wives are physically attractive, which could be a reason why they attract admirers.
Eastover wives lead miserable lives
The song suggests that the Eastover wives are unhappy and unfulfilled in their marriages.
And they're boring
The song implies that the Eastover wives' unhappy and unfulfilled lives have made them dull and uninteresting.
I admit to myself I've seen
The song marks an admission from the singer that he has seen good women make poor choices that go against societal norms.
Good women do wrong
The song highlights that even the most virtuous women can make poor choices when they find themselves trapped in unhappy situations.
High school sweethearts
The song talks about people who have been in a relationship since high school.
They only talk about the weather
The song suggests that the couple has run out of things to say to each other and only engage in small talk.
Never sleep together
The song implies that the couple's relationship has become platonic and lacks sexual intimacy.
Looks like she's cracking under pressure
The song suggests that one of the partners is struggling with the relationship's issues.
Now she's looking for some pleasure
The song suggests that one of the partners is seeking excitement and pleasure outside of the relationship.
She'll get around
The song implies that this partner will engage in extramarital affairs or promiscuity.
Writer(s): May James Dent
Contributed by Annabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.