May
Jordan Rakei Lyrics


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It was a dark night
When I heard the news
Rolled up my sleeves and walked
Like a landslide, overly abused
Yet told myself to call
Yes my mother, vaguely confused
She told me not to ball
Ball my eyes, 'cause my eyes are red
With nothing left at all, no
So I gather, my composure
Head quickly for the door
And yet alarm bells ring, they ring louder now
Frequent the lady called
"Call me your grandmother?
I loved her so much more
Than nobody else, left on this earth
I'm in this state of awe

As we March through the madness
April was unclear
Suddenly it turned to sadness
Hopes turned into fears
And it was May
It was May
It was May
It was May

Guess it was a day, the day of reckoning
Six feet beneath us all
Yet we held on, held each other tight
Withstand this winter storm
'Cause we're here now, yes we're here now
Moments like this are raw
It's my family tree planting it's roots
stronger than before

As we March through the madness
April was unclear
Suddenly it turned to sadness
Hopes turned into fears
And it was May
It was May
It was May
It was May

You left
You left
Without a chance to say
Without a chance to say goodbye at all
A chance to say goodbye at all

As we March through the madness
April was unclear
Suddenly it turned to sadness
Hopes turned into fears
And it was May
It was May




It was May
It was May

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jordan Rakei's "May" are a poignant and heartfelt ode to family, love, loss, and the passage of time. The song begins with the singer receiving the news of someone's passing and trying to keep their emotions in check, while reaching out to their mother for comfort. However, the situation worsens when they hear from their grandmother, who loved the departed dearly. The singer is left to contemplate their feelings of loss and confusion as they try to carry on through the tumult of life.


The chorus repeats the titular word "May" four times, which serves not only as a reference to the month, but also as a metaphor for the theme of transition and change. The lyrics convey a sense of both sadness and resilience, as the singer acknowledges the hardships they've faced while also emphasizing the bonds of family and the importance of staying strong in the face of adversity. The final stanza touches upon the pain of parting with a loved one without the chance to say goodbye, yet the singer finds solace in the fact that their family has grown closer and more grounded through the experience.


Overall, "May" is a deeply evocative and personal song that speaks to the universal human experience of love, loss, and hope. The lyrics are beautifully crafted to capture the raw emotions of grief and resilience, and in doing so, they offer a sense of comfort and understanding to anyone who has ever struggled with the complexities of life.


Line by Line Meaning

It was a dark night
The setting was dark and somber


When I heard the news
I learned of something significant


Rolled up my sleeves and walked
I prepared myself to take action


Like a landslide, overly abused
Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted


Yet told myself to call
I urged myself to make a phone call


Yes my mother, vaguely confused
I phoned my mom, feeling unsure of the situation


She told me not to ball
My mom advised me not to cry excessively


Ball my eyes, 'cause my eyes are red
My eyes were bloodshot from crying


With nothing left at all, no
Feeling completely empty


So I gather, my composure
I collected myself emotionally


Head quickly for the door
I hurried out of the house


And yet alarm bells ring, they ring louder now
The situation grew increasingly concerning


Frequent the lady called
I received calls from a woman often


"Call me your grandmother?
The woman wanted to be called grandma


I loved her so much more
She had a special affection for someone


Than nobody else, left on this earth
There was no one else quite like this person left alive


I'm in this state of awe
Feeling stunned and overwhelmed


Guess it was a day, the day of reckoning
This was a fateful day


Six feet beneath us all
Referring to death and the grave


Yet we held on, held each other tight
We clung to each other for support and comfort


Withstand this winter storm
Overcome this difficult time


'Cause we're here now, yes we're here now
We made it through and are still present


Moments like this are raw
These events are intense and emotional


It's my family tree planting it's roots
Family connections become stronger


stronger than before
More resilient than previously


You left
Someone departed


Without a chance to say
Without the opportunity to speak


Without a chance to say goodbye at all
Having no chance to say farewell


As we March through the madness
Moving through a tumultuous period


April was unclear
April was a time of confusion and uncertainty


Suddenly it turned to sadness
Sadness appeared abruptly


Hopes turned into fears
Anticipation changed to apprehension


And it was May
This all took place in May


It was May
This all took place in May


It was May
This all took place in May


It was May
This all took place in May




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jim Macrae, Jordan Rakei

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@nickm8249

It was a dark night, when I heard the news
Rolled up my sleeves and walked
Like a landslide, overly abused
Yet told myself to call
Yes my mother, vaguely confused
She told me not to bawl
Bawl my eyes, β€˜cause my eyes are red
With nothing left at all
So I get there, my composure
Head quickly for the door
And yet alarm bells ring, maybe not enough
Frequent the lady called
Called me, your grandmother, I loved her so much more
Than nobody else, left on this earth
I'm in this state of roar
As we marched through the madness
April was unclear
Suddenly it turned to sadness
Hopes turned into fears
And it was May, it was May, it was May, it was May
Guess it was a day, the day of reckoning
Six feet beneath the soil
Yet we held on, held each other tight
With standards soon to storm
β€˜Cause we're here now
Yes we're here now
Moments like this are raw
It's my family tree planting it's roots stronger than before
As we marched through the madness
April was unclear
Suddenly it turned to sadness
Hopes turned into fears
And it was May, it was May, it was May, it was May
You left
You left
Without a chance to say
Without a chance to say goodbye at all
A chance to say goodbye at all
As we marched through the madness
April was unclear
Suddenly it turned to sadness
Hopes turned into fears
And it was May, it was May, it was May, it was May



All comments from YouTube:

@Eddie_Olavo

I'm here every single day since I started to listen to Jordan. Thank you guys <3

2 years now!

@dillonpritchett9594

Where to start?
Got into Jordan a week ago from a song with Common on Spotify. Then checked out this record. Heard β€œMay” man. Was biking on a crisp morning to work and was balling my eyes to this song. Just lost my dear Grandfather this May.

Much love and respect. You’re a gem in my world.

-from Minneapolis

@finderzkeeperz

I just found out the meaning of the song, about the passing and burial of his dearly loved grandmother... and then I listened the song again and almost cried. What a beautiful but sad song! <3

@karmixentertainmentstudios7193

From where? How did you know? I wanna find it too...

@mazvita18

@@karmixentertainmentstudios7193 listen to the lyrics, he's literally talking about the day his grandmother passed and he found out

@karmixentertainmentstudios7193

@@mazvita18 oh yeah yeah.... I just realized, lolol

@gidgetmoore-hopper2286

My beloved late son Eric,Jr was born in May...he is now in Heaven waiting for me! This song is something special!😍πŸ”₯πŸ’―

@franciscommisso7355

You continually expose your soul to anybody willing to listen. On behalf of those that have managed to break free from musical tradition, we thank you for sharing.

@dannyxander5021

To Jordan and his team, thank you for all of the great work. I play the album's so much that my 5 year old has memorized a couple of songs. Every time we get in the car she says, papa put on Blues Clues. :) Houston, TX

@jeremyhenderson2131

Danny Xander 🀘🏾htx

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