Don't be fooled by him, he's fine
Rock-and-roll Ken doll, he's a national end-all
He's an off and on friend of mine

Where have I been?
Got any what?
Who have I seen?
I spy a May queen
You were miles above me
Girls in your arms
The changing of her majesty's guard is truly amazing

Got any what?
Disease, hashish, a mind?
Do I have any what?

Where have I been?
Got any what?
Who have I seen?
I spy a May queen
You were miles above me
Girls in your arms
You could've planted a farm
All of them hayseeds


Lyrics submitted by iKickDogs

May Queen Lyrics as written by Phair

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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May Queen song meanings
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  • +2
    Song Meaning

    I think this is fairly clearly about her infatuation with a guy, probably Nash Kato, who is out of her league, and nominally/ostensibly her friend (maybe almost a "frienemy"), but effectively aloof. "May Queen" refers to someone who is semi-exalted, kind of like homecoming queen. She is not saying he's gay, maybe instead that he's a shallow/vapid dandy/pretty-boy, "a rock and roll Ken doll". They see each other, and he is always surrounded by an always-different set ("the changing of Her Majesty's guard") of very good-looking but also-vapid women--"all of them hayseeds", which I take as a somewhat less demeaning alternative to 'bimbos'. So he is above her, in the sense of out of her league. But he sees her and asks her (maybe a formulaic set of the always-same) basic questions, either to genuinely hit her up for drugs ("Got any what?"), or else to make a joke of their standard banter, or maybe to tease her about her dope smoking. To me, a great little song, fairly simple, but with nice imagery and good music, maybe about the third- or fourth-best song on Exile in Guyville (which says a lot!).

    NAwlinsContrarianon January 09, 2011   Link

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