May

Song Meaning

Devendra Banhart's "May" drifts in on a current of wistful longing, a sonic postcard from the landscape of unfulfilled desire. The opening lines, "Far as the eye can see / Wish I was a little more / So far from me / Must be why I love you so," immediately establish a core theme: the magnetic pull of the unattainable. This isn't just about romantic infatuation; it's a deeper yearning for self-actualization, projected onto an external figure. The distance between the singer's perceived self and his ideal fuels the intensity of his affection, a common psychological defense mechanism where we idealize what we lack. The object of affection, therefore, becomes a symbol of personal completion. The recurring phrase "How come? How come?" acts as a plaintive refrain, a childlike expression of confusion and frustration. It’s the sound of someone grappling with the irrationality of attraction, the maddening paradox of wanting what you can't have. This sense of being "lost in no dream" suggests a state of waking reverie, a perpetual waiting without a clear endpoint. The "land of the upsell" hints at the pervasive commodification of emotions, a world where even vulnerability feels like a transaction. Banhart implicates himself in this transactional landscape, confessing, "I, too, am desperate," acknowledging the universal human need for connection and validation in a hyper-capitalist society. The repetition of "Farewell, farewell" introduces a note of resignation, a quiet acceptance of the distance. Yet, this melancholy is undercut by the insistent repetition of "I want you here," a raw, almost desperate plea that strips away any pretense of detachment. The sheer number of repetitions borders on obsessive, underscoring the depth of the singer's yearning. The song's beauty lies in its ability to hold these conflicting emotions in delicate balance: the acceptance of absence and the persistent, almost primal need for presence. Banhart captures the essence of human desire in its most vulnerable and contradictory form.