In 1959, Ross was brought to the attention of Milton Jenkins, the manager of the local doo-wop group The Primes, by Mary Wilson. Primes member Paul Williams convinced Jenkins to enlist Ross in the sister group The Primettes, which included Wilson, Florence Ballard and Betty McGlown.
In 1976, Billboard magazine named her the female entertainer of the century. In 1993, The Guinness Book Of World Records listed her as the most successful female artist ever (the title is now attributed to Madonna), partly due to her combined total of eighteen number-one singles, six of them recorded solo and the remaining dozen from her work with the Supremes.
Ross was also one of the few pop singers to find modest success in the acting world winning an Academy Award nomination for her role as Billie Holiday in the 1972 film, "Lady Sings the Blues" as well as having hits with other film roles such as "Mahogany", "Out of Darkness" and "Double Platinum", not to mention her role in "The Wiz".
Ross has been awarded many lifetime achievement accolades from many organizations and media outlets: she has been featured on BET, Soul Train, and awarded multiple times at the NAACP Image Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007 and given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement in 2011.
Ross' professional vocal collaborators have included the following during her career: Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Julio Iglesias, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Smokey Robinson, among many others.
Honey Bee
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
When I first saw you standin' there
Temptation filled your smile
I had to hold on to my heart
But you were so persistent
You wore down my resistance, now
Honey bee, you're such a part of me
Honey bee, you stung the heart of me
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me, mm
You started a fever burnin' deep inside of me
Since you stung me with your sweet love
My whole life is rearranged
My heart looks like love has changed
Honey bee, you're such a part of me
Honey bee, you stung the heart of me
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
Into my life like a breath of spring
Came your love like the sunshine
To stop the rain
Dried all my tears
Darlin' I've been blessed
With your honey sweet love
And I must confess
Our love's dear, ooh, baby
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
This taste of honey you're givin' me
Has sweetened all my bitterness
And finally pushed my fears aside
In return I'll send in your direction
All my sweet lovin' affection
Honey bee, you're such a part of me
Honey bee, you stung the heart of me
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
Honey bee, you're such a part of me
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
Honey bee, you stung the heart of me
The lyrics of Diana Ross's "Honey Bee" are about falling in love with someone, despite resistance, and feeling the transformative power of love. The song compares being stung by a honey bee to the experience of falling in love. The singer describes how they initially tried to resist the allure of the person they were drawn to, but in the end, gave in to their feelings. The bee metaphor is used throughout the song to illustrate how the love of this person has transformed the singer's life, sweetened their bitterness, and pushed their fears aside. The lyrics express gratitude for having experienced this transformative love and promise to return it with "sweet lovin' affection".
In essence, the song's message is about how love has the power to change people's lives and make them better. The bee metaphor serves as a clever way to illustrate the transformative power of love while still keeping the lyrics light and playful. Diana Ross's smooth, soulful voice adds to the song's joyful and celebratory vibe.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
The singer is asking the 'honey bee,' which is a metaphor for her lover, to continue affecting her with their love.
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the importance of the message.
When I first saw you standin' there
The singer recalls the moment when she met her lover for the first time.
Temptation filled your smile
The person she met had an irresistible, seductive quality to them.
I had to hold on to my heart
Despite feeling attracted, the singer was careful not to let her emotions take over too quickly.
But you were so persistent
The lover continued to pursue the singer, even though she was hesitant at first.
You wore down my resistance, now
Eventually, the lover's persistence and charm overpowered the singer's initial reluctance.
Honey bee, you're such a part of me
The singer expresses how much their lover has become a key aspect of her life and identity.
Honey bee, you stung the heart of me
Using the metaphor of the honey bee, the singer conveys that her lover's love has affected her deeply.
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me, mm
Reiterating the message that the singer wants her lover to continue giving her such strong feelings.
You started a fever burnin' deep inside of me
The singer describes how her lover ignited a strong passion and desire within her.
Since you stung me with your sweet love
Using the metaphor of the honey bee again, the singer says that her lover's love has affected her deeply in a positive way.
My whole life is rearranged
The intensity of the singer's feelings has completely transformed her life and perspective.
My heart looks like love has changed
The singer's heart is now filled with a new understanding and experience of love, which is reflected in her outward behavior and demeanor.
Into my life like a breath of spring
The arrival of the lover in the singer's life is compared to a joyful, rejuvenating change of season.
Came your love like the sunshine
The lover's love is compared to the warmth and brightness of the sun, which brings happiness and light into the singer's life.
To stop the rain
The metaphorical rain represents the negative emotions the singer experienced prior to meeting her lover. Her lover's love has brought an end to those negative feelings and experiences.
Dried all my tears
Continuing with the metaphor of rain, the singer expresses how her lover's love has dried up all of her sadness and tears.
Darlin' I've been blessed
The singer acknowledges that she feels incredibly lucky and grateful to have her lover in her life.
With your honey sweet love
Using the metaphor of honey again, the singer describes her lover's love as being sweet and comforting.
And I must confess
The singer admits how deeply she feels for her lover.
Our love's dear, ooh, baby
The singer expresses how valuable and precious her romantic relationship is.
This taste of honey you're givin' me
Using the metaphor of honey once more, the singer says that the love from her lover is delightful and satisfying.
Has sweetened all my bitterness
The love from her lover has made the singer's life happier and more fulfilling, helping her overcome any negative feelings or experiences she had previously.
And finally pushed my fears aside
The love from her lover has given the singer the courage to conquer her fears and face life with greater confidence.
In return I'll send in your direction
The singer will reciprocate her lover's affection and kindness with love of her own.
All my sweet lovin' affection
The singer will express her love and affection for her lover in sweet and meaningful ways.
Honey bee, you're such a part of me
Repeating the line to emphasize the importance of the lover in the singer's life.
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
Repeating the chorus to reinforce the idea that the singer desires her lover's affection and love to continue.
Honey bee, you stung the heart of me
Repeating the chorus again, using the metaphor of the honey bee to express how deeply the lover's love has affected the singer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEBBIE DEAN, DEKE RICHARDS, DENNIS LUSSIER, JANIE BRADFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind