Parched land no desert sand, sun is just a dot
And a little bit of water goes a long way, 'cause it's hot
Three good buddies were laughin' and smoking
In the back of a rented Ford
They couldn't know they weren't going far

Each one with the money in his pocket
Could go out and buy himself a brand new car
But they all held the money they had
Money they hoped would take them very far

Sky's bright, the traffic light, now and then a truck
And they hadn't seen a cop around all day (what luck)
They brought everything they needed
Bags and scales to weigh the stuff
The driver said the border's just over the bluff

It wasn't until the car suddenly stopped
In the middle of a cold and barren place
And the other guy turned and spilled
Three boys blood, did they know a trap had been laid?

They're okay the last days of May, but I'll be breathin' dry air
I'm leaving soon, the others are already there (all there)
You wouldn't be interested in coming along, instead of staying here?
It's said the West is nice this time of year, that's what they say


Lyrics submitted by radicaledward76, edited by 3d1mandakng

Then Came the Last Days of May Lyrics as written by Donald Roeser

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Then Came The Last Days Of May song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    "A true story about some guys from Long Island, New York who drove out West to find some illegal substances. Some to smoke and some to sell and unfortunately they met a fate they didn't deserve."

    Buck Dharma - UK Tour 2003

    RedKingon December 29, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song has a basis in fact from people the band knew or heard of. Mostly they were trying to portray that the summer of love was over. You no longer get a smiling hippy handing you a free hit of acid so that you too can know this joy; instead you get the shaft and a shallow grave. Black Sabbath and a few others tried to convey this, but they were considered unique and not an accurate reflection of the way things really were. At the time, the only people who took Iggy Pop seriously were those who were just as messed up as he was. It is worthwhile to note that the sun sets in the West. In ancient history, that direction was known for the sun's death every night and therefore the location of the underworld. Never discount BOC's ability to wax esoteric.

    jeligulaon August 02, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    yeah, you guys got it pretty much right.

    "According to Buck Dharma, "(Then Came The) Last Days Of May" is the true story of three collegiate drug dealers who went to Tucson to score for the fall semester. They were ripped off and shot. While two of the guys died, the other survived to testify against the perpetrators, who were two young men from a notorious wealthy local family. They apparently served about ten years in prison before being released."

    found this info here: members.aol.com/bocfaqman/boc_faq.html

    jahrootson February 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's about a drug deal that goes sour.

    They three kids get money, they have scales to weigh the "stuff", they're heading over the border.

    Then the driver (I think) kills them, "a trap had been laid".

    I'm not too sure on the last verse, but I think it's something about death.

    issgonrainon October 26, 2004   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    You've all missed the central point of awesomeness of this song. It's pretty subtle. Who the fuck is the only person who could be singing this song?

    This song is sung from the POV of the guy who murdered the passengers. The driver is singing this song. He killed them all, took their money, and is now moving on to other things, and inviting you to be his next victim.

    I bet BOC is pretty disappointed how few people got this song.

    muldrakeon February 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think there a few too many words in these^^. Muldrake i never saw it that way until i read your comment just now, and it certainly fits. I just saw BOC in Oct. 2011, and the first time on halloween night in 2008!!(or 09?)!!! The guys playing with Eric Bloom & Buck Dharma are pretty good! Probably from touring with them for so long!!

    HarvesterofEyeson December 06, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    There seems to be 6 people in this song , The "three good buddies" in the back of a rented Ford. The friend of the three good buddies telling most of the story, that some how knows the story without actually being there. That's 4 people

    The "driver" of the car, and "the other guy", both in the front seats. These are people 5 and 6.

    Bags and scales would suggest a drug deal for Pot gone bad.

    The Driver and other guy are the bad guys, with the other guy being the blood spiller.

    For most of this song, this story is told in 3rd tense, by the friend of the three good buddies. This friend some who some how knows the story, but doesn't look to be there, maybe God or some spirit.

    In the last verse the tense changes to first person, to one of the three good buddies, the one who is still alive, but expecting to die soon. He will soon be breathing dry air, he will become a skeleton. The last three lines are probably just sarcastic humour.

    Just My Humble Opinion..!!

    gtrmannon February 15, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    I got to spend 2 days with the band in the 70s we mostly party alot. the song is about 3 boys from IU that went shopping. there was more that did not make the 1st trip, its there tell of the song

    Bucky777on June 03, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Whoever transcribed the lyrics above added and changed several things unnecessarily. Here are the correct lyrics for the studio version.

    Parched land no desert sand Sun is just a dot And a little bit of water goes a long way 'cause it's hot (it's hot) Three good buddies were laughin' and smokin' In the back of a rented Ford They couldn't have known they weren't going far

    Each one with the money in his pocket To go out and buy himself a brand new car But they all held the money they had Money they hoped would take them very far

    Sky's bright with traffic light Now and then a truck And I haven't seen a cop around all day (what luck) They brought everything they needed Bags and scales to weigh the stuff The driver said "The border's just over the bluff"

    Wasn't until the car suddenly stopped In the middle of a cold and barren plain And the other guy turned and spilled Three boys' blood did they know a trap had been lain

    They're OK the last days of May I'll be breathing dry air I'm leaving soon The others are already there (all there) Wouldn't be interested in coming along Instead of staying here? Parched land, no desert sand The sun is just a little dot And a little bit of water goes a long way 'cause it's hot (it's hot) Three good buddies of mine were laughin' and smokin' In the back of a rented Ford They couldn't know they weren't going too far

    Each one with the money in his pocket To go out and buy himself a brand new car But they all held the money they had Money they hoped would take them very far

    Sky's bright, the traffic light Now and then a truck And they hadn't seen a cop around all day (what luck) They brought everything they needed Bags and scales to weigh the stuff The driver said, "The border's just over the bluff"

    Wasn't until the car suddenly stopped In the middle of a cold and barren plain And the other guy turned and spilled Three boys blood did they know a trap had been laid?

    They're OK the last days of May But I'll be breathin' dry air I'm leaving soon The others are already there (all there) Wouldn't be interested in coming along Instead of staying here? It's said the West is nice this time of year That's what they say

    Pajmoon October 29, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think the last verse unfolds before the rest of the song happened. The narrator is invited to come along with this one fellow who is about to join up with two of his buddies who's out in the west smoking and partying. The narrator stays at home and avoids the faith of his buddies.

    Teratologyon March 19, 2015   Link

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