From their early days of raw, in your face punk rock and ska, NSP flooded listeners' ears with catchy dynamics and unfiltered oomph. Currently based out of the Philadelphia area, the band has matured like the finest of wines. No Service Project has completely reconstructed ska music and blown open the doors of what is possible with rock by soaking it in reggae overtones and decorating it with thought provoking guitar riffs.
MAY
The No Service Project Lyrics
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December took my happiness with such ease and aggression
When I'm finished packing up I'm gonna head out to the coast
The oxygen I'll breathe in isn't the same air that I know
The sun collapses eyelids leaves a crack across your mouth
Like summer slapped your face and just said, "Shut the fuck up now!"
Forget the place that I have been
Come this May
I dig my hands into the sand and watch them wash away
Sweet breeze I'm sold
Anticipation made an enemy inside of me
Leave me alone
Looking back on it now my sweat still beads ice cold
Like a refreshing reminder to my skin of nights old
My only innocent pleasure, a simple change in the weather
Just keep the senses on defrost and trust that the five know
It's here the flower season
Windows down it's hard to believe I'm breathing
Sunlight eclipses night
Mercury conquers height on the Fahrenheit
And I found out this way
The year doesn't start 'till the first f*****g day of May
The rich rich sunlight thaws my heart and soul
And I'm not cold
Come this may/Come this may
The equinox came and some may say
We're like a preheating oven 'till the end of May
An old man lost his breath today but
Hey hey I feel okay
The song May by The No Service Project is a nostalgic and introspective piece that talks about the emotions that arise after an extended period of cold weather. The vocalist speaks about how the cold air affects the mind, leading to depression and a loss of happiness. When spring arrives and the cold air starts to thaw, there is a sense of relief and hope that comes with it. The desire to travel to the coast and breathe in fresh oxygen transforms into a symbol of renewal and a chance to leave the old behind.
The vocalist then describes the intensity of the sun during this season and how it feels like a refreshing slap in the face that demands one's attention. The lyrics poetically describe how the flower season is here, and with windows down, it's hard to believe one is breathing. The sunlight is symbolic of a new beginning, and it melts the heart and soul, making the singer feel alive and not cold. Ultimately the singer talks about how the song serves as a reminder that the year doesn't start rolling till May, and the feeling that comes with the change in weather signifies that all is well.
Line by Line Meaning
When the cold air finally thaws it's a cure-all for depression
The arrival of warm weather after a cold season can have a positive effect on mental health
December took my happiness with such ease and aggression
The month of December had a negative impact on the singer's emotions
When I'm finished packing up I'm gonna head out to the coast
The singer plans to leave their current location and go to the coast
The oxygen I'll breathe in isn't the same air that I know
The air at the coast will be different from the air the singer is used to breathing
The sun collapses eyelids leaves a crack across your mouth
The brightness of the sun can be so intense that it causes a person to squint and feel dry in their mouth
Like summer slapped your face and just said, "Shut the fuck up now!"
Summer can be so overwhelming that it feels like it is aggressively demanding a person's attention
Forget the place that I have been
The singer wants to move past their current location and start fresh
The second I take it all in
As soon as the singer fully experiences their new environment
Come this May
Refers to the arrival of May and the start of a new season
I dig my hands into the sand and watch them wash away
The singer is enjoying the sensation of being at the beach
Sweet breeze I'm sold
The pleasant wind at the beach is making the singer happy
Anticipation made an enemy inside of me
The excitement of going to the beach is causing the singer anxiety and fear of disappointment
Leave me alone
The singer wants to be left alone to enjoy their solitude at the beach
Looking back on it now my sweat still beads ice cold
The singer still remembers the coldness of their past experiences, despite being at a warm location
Like a refreshing reminder to my skin of nights old
The warmth at the beach is awakening nostalgic memories in the singer
My only innocent pleasure, a simple change in the weather
The singer finds happiness in the small things in life, such as a change in the weather
Just keep the senses on defrost and trust that the five know
The singer advises the listener to stay alert and open to new experiences while trusting their instincts
It's here the flower season
Refers to the arrival of spring and the blooming of flowers
Windows down it's hard to believe I'm breathing
The singer is in disbelief at the positive changes in their life
Sunlight eclipses night
The brightness of the sun can make it seem like nighttime is non-existent
Mercury conquers height on the Fahrenheit
The temperature is warming up and reaching a high point on the Fahrenheit scale
And I found out this way
The singer learned this through their personal experiences
The year doesn't start 'till the first f*****g day of May
The singer sees the arrival of May as the true start of a new year, rather than January 1st
The rich rich sunlight thaws my heart and soul
The warm sun is having a positive effect on the singer's emotional state
And I'm not cold
The singer is no longer feeling emotionally distant or detached
The equinox came and some may say
Refers to the spring equinox, a time of equal hours of daylight and darkness
We're like a preheating oven 'till the end of May
The singer sees the springtime as a time of preparation and anticipation for the upcoming summer months
An old man lost his breath today but
Despite sad events happening in the world, the singer is still able to find joy in their personal experiences
Hey hey I feel okay
The singer is expressing contentment and happiness
Contributed by Layla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.