We Need The Bumblebee

Last evening, in Toronto, a swinging group called the 'Raging Grannies' gave the world premiere performance of a new song about bumblebees. The 'Grannies' had the audience at a 'Pollinator Cabaret' held at the Gladstone Hotel clapping time and singing along - they brought the house down. The event was held in celebration of International Pollinator Week.

With the hope that others will sing in praise of the bumblebee this Pollinator Week, here are the complete lyrics of the new song:

We Need The Bumblebee

(to the tune of The Blue-tail Fly)

Words by Dave Barr

1.

The winds, the woods, the skies are free

The world of earth and the world of sea

There's fruit in the garden for you and me

But not without the bumblebee

Chorus:

People need fruit and veggies too

People need fruit and veggies too

People need fruit and veggies too

We need the bumblebee

2.

Each bloom in the garden is colored fine

Each smells so good upon the vine

To spread some pollen both far and wide

It calls the bumblebee inside

Chorus

3.

The bumblebee's got pretty hair

With black and yellow stripes so fair

She carries baskets on each flight

To pack the pollen in real tight

Chorus

4.

The fruit comes from the flow'r you see

That's healthy food for you and me

Flow'rs need pollen so the fruit can grow

The bumble's visit makes it so

Chorus

5.

The bee starts early on her run

Before the world warms in the sun

She gathers nectar and pollen food

Takes them home to feed her brood

Chorus

6.

The bumble's home is in the ground

An empty mouse nest she has found

She raises daughters who can't wait

To help her fly and pollinate

Chorus

7.

Poor bumblebee she's under threat

We hit her with the worst things yet

Disease and nasty pesticides

And take her habitat besides

[skip Chorus]

8. (slowly)

We've got to save the bumblebee

Her fate is linked to us you see

We need her flight from flow'r to flow'r

(spritely)

To save our food with pollen power!

(last two words shouted out)

Chorus

[Words Copyleft (Ɔ) by Dave Barr, 2010: Creative Commons Licence. Image from a photo by D. Barr]