Honeysuckle Rose
"Fats" Waller Lyrics
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When they see you out with me.
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose
When you're passin' by flowers droop and sigh,
And I know the reason why.
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose
Don't buy sugar,
You just have to touch my cup.
You're my sugar.
It's sweeter when you stir it up.
When I'm taking sips from your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips.
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose
Don't buy sugar,
You just have to touch my cup.
You're my sugar.
It's sweeter when you stir it up.
When I'm taking sips from your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips.
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose
In "Honeysuckle Rose," Fats Waller swoons over his significant other, likening her to the sweetest flower in the garden. He sings that whenever they are out together, other people become jealous of their relationship, specifically comparing the honeybee's envy of their partnership. The lyrics suggest that the singer's lover is so desirable that even flowers "droop and sigh" as she passes them by. He notes that her touch is like sugar, making everything sweeter, especially when she is stirring his cup. The chorus repeats the sentiment, emphasizing that this person is indeed the singer's honeysuckle rose.
While the lyrics of "Honeysuckle Rose" are romantic, they also employ a number of metaphors and similes to bring the sentiment to life. The comparison of the singer's lover to a honeysuckle rose even provides a title for the track, and the repeated references to sweeter things like sugar and honey reinforce the idea that this person is simply too good for the singer to be with. Overall, the song is a classic example of early jazz music with its emphasis on the joy of love and revelry.
Line by Line Meaning
Every honey bee fills with jealousy,
When they see you out with me.
You are so charming that even the bees feel envious of me when they see us together.
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose
You are worth your weight in gold to me, and I treasure you like a sweet-smelling honeysuckle rose.
When you're passin' by flowers droop and sigh,
And I know the reason why.
The flowers can't help but wilt in your presence because you exude an aura of beauty that is impossible to ignore.
Don't buy sugar,
You just have to touch my cup.
You're my sugar.
It's sweeter when you stir it up.
You add sweetness to my life that can't be bought in any store. You are like sugar, and everything becomes better when you are involved.
When I'm taking sips from your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips.
Kissing you is like tasting the sweetest honey possible - it's so delicious and abundant that it seems to drip off your lips.
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose
I can't emphasize enough how much you mean to me - you are like a honeysuckle rose, a valuable and rare beauty that I cherish deeply.
Goodness knows
You're my honeysuckle rose
I want everyone to know how special you are to me - truly, you are like a honeysuckle rose that I hold dear and treasure with all my heart.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRVING CAESAR, JOSEPH MEYER, ROGER WOLFE KAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SpencerMusicSchool
As a stride pianist myself.. nothing makes me more joyous they watching Papa Fats sing and play stride. So cheeky great fun. Love the eyebrows and his fun double entendres ..... Masterful
@thedarksage328
Fats Waller. Great piano player and superlative song writer. This man was a genius.
@bmhjohn
Andy Razaf-superlative song writer
@someonesomeone7423
@@bmhjohn Composing the tune is also songwriting
@petervenkman9838
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
@ronaldstrange8981
Loved Fats way back when, and now, aged 87, still do. Introduced my 23 year old grandson to "Your feet's too big" which produced a great laugh. Will always remember in particular "When somebody... which will go with me to my grave. Cheers to all Fats' fans. Keep on playing, and enjoying him. England, December, 2023.
@Mohagnito94
You can't simply watch Fats Waller without smiling.
@lindaregelean8015
Smilin' right now!
@jamesfeldman4234
I tried watching this without smiling and it worked for a little while. But then I broke out laughing.
@LeDiamondDog
😃