Bumble bee1, bumble bee, please come back to me
Bumble bee, bumble bee, please come back to me
He got the best old stinger2 any bumble bee that I ever seen
He stung me this morning, I been looking for him all day long
He stung me this morning, I been looking for him all day long
Lord, it got me to the place, hate to see my bumble bee leave home
Bumble bee, bumble bee, don't be gone so long
Bumble bee, bumble bee, don't be gone so long
You's my bumble bee and you're needed here at home
I can't stand to hear him buzz, buzz, buzz
Come in, bumble bee, want you to stop your fuss
You're my bumble bee and you know your stuff
Oh, sting me, bumble bee, until I get enough
Bumble bee, bumble bee, don't be gone so long
Bumble bee, bumble bee, don't be gone so long
You's my bumble bee and you're needed here at home
I don't mind you going, ain't going to stay so long
Don't mind you going, don't be gone so long
You's my bumble bee and you're needed here at home
I can't stand to hear him buzz, buzz, buzz
Come in, bumble bee, I want you to stop your fuss
You's my bumble bee and you know your stuff
Oh, sting me bumble bee, until I get enough
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Note: Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe made their first record in the Columbia Studio in New York on Tuesday, June 18, 1929. One of the songs they recorded was this soon-to-be-famous Bumble Bee. Eight months later, on February 20 and 21, 1930, Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe recorded 12 sides for Vocalion. Although the Columbia version of Bumble Bee was the first version recorded, Columbia did not issue it until after Vocalion had already issued their versions of Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee No. 2 and New Bumble Bee. Memphis Minnie recorded for Vocalion until the label was phased out in 1940;
Note 1: bumble bee, an insect is is often seen, as in this case, as an image of a male lover in blues lyrics. The insect can also represent unwanted brothers and sisters;
Note 2: stinger, a metaphor for the male sexual organ. Stinging therefore meaning having sex.
