Then Came The Last Days Of May Lyrics

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 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 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
But I'll be breathin' dry air
I'm leavin' soon
The others are already there (all there)
Wouldn't be interested in comin' along
Instead of staying here?
It's said the West is nice this time of year
It's what they say
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Cover art for Then Came The Last Days Of May lyrics by Blue Öyster Cult

"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

Cover art for Then Came The Last Days Of May lyrics by Blue Öyster Cult

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.

Cover art for Then Came The Last Days Of May lyrics by Blue Öyster Cult

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: http://members.aol.com/bocfaqman/boc_faq.html

Cover art for Then Came The Last Days Of May lyrics by Blue Öyster Cult

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.

Cover art for Then Came The Last Days Of May lyrics by Blue Öyster Cult

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.

Song Meaning

Yup - you got it

Not Valid

"The driver is singing this song."

Absolutely! Makes perfect sense. It must be the driver. That's why he sings:

The driver said, "The border's just over the bluff"

Who else could it be but the driver? Yep, BOC is pretty disappointed.

Not Valid

The driver is not telling the story. The 5th line says 'Three good buddies of mine...' Also, the driver was not the killer, 'And the other guy turned and spilled, Three boys blood...'

Must be has Buck said (cuz he wrote it?). One of the 3 buddies survived.

Not Valid
Cover art for Then Came The Last Days Of May lyrics by Blue Öyster Cult

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!!

@HarvesterofEyes I fixed those lyrics, they should be completely accurate now.

Cover art for Then Came The Last Days Of May lyrics by Blue Öyster Cult

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..!!

Cover art for Then Came The Last Days Of May lyrics by Blue Öyster Cult

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

Song Meaning
Cover art for Then Came The Last Days Of May lyrics by Blue Öyster Cult

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

Disregard this post and read the next as the wrong lyrics were mysteriously inserted towards the end. It posted properly the second time.

Cover art for Then Came The Last Days Of May lyrics by Blue Öyster Cult

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.