A Sleepin' Bee
Cannonball Adderley/Nancy Wilson Lyrics
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In the palm of your hand
You're bewitched and deep in
Love's long looked after land
Where you'll see a sun up sky
In the morning dew
And where the days go laughing by
When love comes calling on you
Can't believe what just passed
He's mine for the takin'
I am so happy at last
Maybe I dream but he seems sweet
Golden as a crown
A sleepin' bee done told me
I'll walk with my feet off the ground
When my one true love I have found
Sleep on, bee, don't waken
Can't believe what just passed
He's mine for the takin'
I am so happy at last
Maybe I dream but he seems sweet
Golden as a crown
A sleepin' bee done told me
When I walk with my feet off the ground
When my one true love I have found
The lyrics to Cannonball Adderley/Nancy Wilson's song "A Sleepin' Bee" tell a dreamlike story of being utterly captivated by love. The image of a sleeping bee in the palm of your hand symbolizes the sense of enchantment and surrender that comes with being in love. It evokes a feeling of delicacy and vulnerability, as if the slightest disturbance could shatter the spell. The singer is deeply in love, describing a world where everything is transformed – the sky is brighter, the days are filled with laughter. The bee becomes a messenger of love, assuring the singer that they will experience a profound sense of joy and freedom when they find their "one true love."
The repetition of the line "Sleep on, bee, don't waken" emphasizes the desire to preserve this magical moment and the fear of it slipping away. The singer can't believe their luck, finally finding someone who makes them so happy. They acknowledge the possibility that it might all be a dream, but the experience feels real and extraordinary. The mention of walking with "feet off the ground" suggests the intoxicating feeling of being in love, as if defying gravity and experiencing a heightened sense of euphoria.
Line by Line Meaning
When a bee lies sleepin'
When someone you love is peacefully resting
In the palm of your hand
In the center of your affection and care
You're bewitched and deep in
You are enchanted and completely immersed
Love's long looked after land
A place where love has been nurtured for a long time
Where you'll see a sun up sky
A place where you will witness a sky glowing with warmth and happiness
In the morning dew
In the gentle and refreshing beginning of a new day
And where the days go laughing by
And where the passing days are filled with joy and laughter
When love comes calling on you
When love unexpectedly and eagerly seeks your presence
Sleep on, bee, don't waken
Continue to rest peacefully, without stirring
Can't believe what just passed
Unable to comprehend the amazing experience that just happened
He's mine for the takin'
He now belongs to me, and I can claim his love
I am so happy at last
I am overwhelmed with joy and contentment finally
Maybe I dream but he seems sweet
Perhaps it feels like a dream, but he appears incredibly kind and affectionate
Golden as a crown
As precious and valuable as a majestic crown
A sleepin' bee done told me
A bee that was peacefully resting conveyed to me
I'll walk with my feet off the ground
I'll experience such elation that I'll feel as if I'm floating above the earth
When my one true love I have found
When I discover the person who is truly meant for me
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annamariacorda8916
When a bee lies sleepin'
In the palm of your hand
You're bewitched and deep in
Love's long looked after land
Where you'll see a sun up sky
In the mornin' dew
And where the days go laughin' by
When love comes callin' on you
Sleep on, bee, don't waken
Can't believe what just passed
He's mine for the takin'
I am so happy at last
Maybe I dream but he seems sweet
Golden as a crown
A sleepin' bee done told me
I'll walk with my feet off the ground
When my one true love I have found
Sleep on, bee, don't waken
Can't believe what just passed
He's mine for the takin'
I am so happy at last
Maybe I dream but he seems sweet
Golden as a crown
Sleepin' bee done told me
When I walk with my feet off the ground
When my one true love I have found
@annamariacorda8916
When a bee lies sleepin'
In the palm of your hand
You're bewitched and deep in
Love's long looked after land
Where you'll see a sun up sky
In the mornin' dew
And where the days go laughin' by
When love comes callin' on you
Sleep on, bee, don't waken
Can't believe what just passed
He's mine for the takin'
I am so happy at last
Maybe I dream but he seems sweet
Golden as a crown
A sleepin' bee done told me
I'll walk with my feet off the ground
When my one true love I have found
Sleep on, bee, don't waken
Can't believe what just passed
He's mine for the takin'
I am so happy at last
Maybe I dream but he seems sweet
Golden as a crown
Sleepin' bee done told me
When I walk with my feet off the ground
When my one true love I have found
@williamhowell4854
Great song...Great memories! Thank you.
@blujafunk
one of the most memorable piano introductions
@coulton-davisjazz2872
blujafunk Zawinul! Then he lays out for the first A section. Nice arrangement. No frills but hip as hell.
@StarlingFlight
Simply the best.
@kanachannel1006
great stuff!!!! ルイス ヘイス❤️
@kalinapetey37
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. I have been waiting months for someone to post this. I think I still have this vinyl but it is all warped.
@jsamc
Barbara Streisand's cover is a mockery so over the top. Nancy does it for me !! She always has and always will . RIP .
@tubens44
Many thanks for posting. Ms Nancy is at her best & Cannonball's Combo is composed of Allstars. Google the names, 'specially Joe Z.
@suzannekruger5414
Barbra Streisand later sang, and recorded this very song. Barbra slowed the tempo down. Ive always wondered where she'd heard A sleeping Bee.