After the release of some EPs and singles, the group signed with Merge Records who released their second album, Long Goodbye, in 2003. After a world tour, they headed back to the studio in fall of 2005 to begin work on their third album, Cannibal Sea, which was released in March of 2006.
Lazy May
The Essex Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kept from all the scene
Woah, oh my lazy May
Careful, I'm a cloud
Lookin' down upon it now
Woah, oh my lazy May
You're beatin' your own drum
Woah, oh my lazy May
Then it's summertime
You say you're lucky to be mine
Woah, oh my lazy May
I, I love you
I, I love you
Oooh my lazy May
I, I love you
I, I love you
Oooh my lazy May
You've never seen a rose
More guarded than those of
Oh, oh my lazy May
But I know what time of day
Those thorns melt away
Oh, oh my lazy May
I, I love you
I, I love you
Oooh my lazy May
I, I love you
I, I love you
Oooh my lazy May
Now the season ends
You say we're better off as friends
Oh, oh my lazy May
Tryin' all you will
I'll marry you still
Oh, oh my lazy May
The Essex Green's song "Lazy May" is a beautiful and poignant tune about the ebb and flow of relationships. The opening line, "Your heart perched in a tree, kept from all the scene," suggests a sense of distance and isolation. It's as if the singer is emotionally guarding themselves, unwilling to engage fully with the world or with their loved ones. Then we hear the line, "Careful, I'm a cloud, lookin' down upon it now," which paints a picture of someone who's observing the situation from a distance, yet still intimately connected to it.
As the song progresses, we see the changing seasons and the changing dynamics between the two lovers. In the winter, the singer beats their own drum, seemingly retreating into themselves again. But come summer, they express gratitude for their partner, saying they're lucky to be theirs. It's an interesting contrast and speaks to the ups and downs of relationships.
The chorus, "I, I love you, oooh my lazy May," encapsulates the heart of the song. Despite the distance, the changes in seasons, and the changing dynamics, the love between the two remains constant.
Overall, "Lazy May" is a beautifully crafted song that captures the complexities of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Your heart perched in a tree
Your heart is guarded and removed from everyone else around you, like a bird in a tree.
Kept from all the scene
You're keeping yourself separate from the hustle and bustle of life, thinking and observing from a distance.
Woah, oh my lazy May
This is a repeating phrase used to emphasize the song's subject- May is doing things at her own pace and making her own marks without worrying what others think.
Careful, I'm a cloud
The artist is observing May with detachment, floating like a cloud above her and being careful not to interfere.
Lookin' down upon it now
The artist is viewing everything that's going on from above, keeping an eye on May.
When the winter comes
Even when things get tougher, May continues to do things her way.
You're beatin' your own drum
May's doing what she wants, regardless of what others might expect or want from her.
Then it's summertime
When things get easier and more pleasant, May feels lucky to be with the person narrating the song.
You say you're lucky to be mine
May feels that her relationship with the artist is a positive aspect of her life, and one she appreciates.
You've never seen a rose
May is a guarded person, and doesn't let much show on the surface.
More guarded than those of
May's defences are stronger than those of a typical person.
But I know what time of day
Even though May puts up a strong front, the artist knows that she can soften up at times.
Those thorns melt away
May's prickly defences disappear when she's comfortable and content with the person she's with.
Now the season ends
As time moves on, May starts to want different things than what the singer can offer.
You say we're better off as friends
May realizes that while the singer is a good person, they're not right for her as a romantic partner.
Tryin' all you will
Regardless of what May might want, the artist is committed to marrying her and working towards a future together.
I'll marry you still
Despite May wanting different things, the artist is still committed to making a life with her.
I, I love you
This is another repeated phrase that reinforces the singer's feelings for May.
Oooh my lazy May
This repeating phrase is a term of endearment for May and emphasizes that the singer loves May just the way she is- seemingly lazy, guarded, and observant.
Contributed by Camden N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.