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.
Howard
Dent May Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
rock and roll songs
Out on the road until it
all went wrong
He's been down since
the band broke up
Singing them songs got
em all chocked up
Howard's going bald now
He feels like a hack
He thought that he was
burned out,
But he's back
Howard
Howard
Howard's got a one man show
Howard
Howard
Howard's got a one man show
Making that money always
felt so good
Living the life like
a young man should
Playing all night getting
stoned all day
Howard Abbey don't
feel so great
Howard's getting fatter
He's rusty in the sack
Nothing really matter's,
cause he's back
Howard
Howard
Howard's got a one man show
Howard
Howard
Howard's got a one man show
LA LA LA
LAA LAA LAA
LA LA LA
Ladies and gentlemen
All the way from
Oxford, Mississippi
Howard
Howard
Howard
Howard's got a one man show
Howard
Howard
Howard's got a one man show
Howard's got a one man show
The lyrics to Dent May’s song Howard tell the story of a former rockstar whose glory days are over. Howard Abbey had once been out on the road, living the rock and roll lifestyle, until it all went wrong. Since the band broke up, he has been feeling down and singing the songs that used to make him famous now just choke him up. Despite this, Howard decides to give it another go and sets up a one man show. He’s out there, making money again, but he’s not the young man he used to be. He’s getting fatter, he’s rusty in the sack, and he feels like a hack. However, none of these things really matter since he’s back in the game.
The lyrics in Howard reflect a common story of musicians who lose their fame and their way. It shows the struggle of continuing to be successful in an industry that values youth and new, fresh talent. Howard sings rock and roll songs, which symbolize the classic sound of a time long gone. But when he sets up his one man show, it is unclear if he is trying to revive the past, or if he’s moved on and is creating something new. The song does not provide an answer to this question, as it seems to be focused more on the character of Howard himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Howard Abbey sang rock and roll songs
Howard Abbey used to sing rock and roll songs
Out on the road until it all went wrong
Howard Abbey used to tour but something went wrong
He's been down since the band broke up
Howard Abbey has been feeling down since the band broke up
Singing them songs got em all chocked up
Singing those songs made them emotional
Howard's going bald now
Howard Abbey is losing his hair
He feels like a hack
He feels like a fraud
He thought that he was burned out, But he's back
He previously thought he was burnt out but now he's back
Howard's got a one man show
Howard Abbey now has a one-man music act
Making that money always felt so good
Howard used to enjoy making money
Living the life like a young man should
Howard used to live life like a young person
Playing all night getting stoned all day
Howard used to play music all night and get high all day
Howard Abbey don't feel so great
Howard Abbey doesn't feel very good
Howard's getting fatter
Howard Abbey is gaining weight
He's rusty in the sack
Howard's sexual performance has declined
Nothing really matter's, cause he's back
Howard Abbey is back and doesn't care about anything else
LA LA LA LAA LAA LAA LA LA LA
Instrumental
Ladies and gentlemen All the way from Oxford, Mississippi Howard
Announcing Howard Abbey from Oxford, Mississippi
Contributed by Olivia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tate Mindflayer
His voice makes my heart melt. So classy. So powerful. So utterly fantastic. The Good Feeling Music gives me a distinct 60s pop nostalgia trip like no other, and indeed makes me yearn for more indie artists that weren't so dependent on electronica to produce great music. And yes! Superb video!
Gabriela Aguilar
Ah, I just love it, and I saw him last night playing in Manchester, his music makes me so happy all the time!! awesome.
ludwigmww
He is a super nice guy. Seen him twice and going to see him a third time at Bestival in september.
FUKKAKE
I hung out with him for ages after his show when he played in my home town, hes one of the soundest people i've ever met.
funkstrong
Slide guitar is so subtle but so awesome in this tune.
Howard Carson
I now have a theme song! I was feeling left out. Suck it Barbra Ann!
Tina Lovasic
This is blowing my MIND! AHHHHHH! Thank you :)
Elise O
Sweeeet. I love all-greenscreened music videos.
TTSvideo
I like listening to it but not sure if I would buy it. But kudos to the guy for being different and and catchy.
mental slime
Dent May is a-MAY-zing