Taylor was born as Cora Walton on a farm just outside Memphis, Tennessee. In 1954, Taylor left Memphis for Chicago with her husband, truck driver Robert "Pops" Taylor. In the late 1950s she began singing in Chicago blues clubs and was spotted by Willie Dixon in 1962, leading to wider performances and her first recording contract. In 1965, Taylor was signed by Chess Records, for which her single Wang Dang Doodle (written by Dixon, and a hit for Howlin' Wolf five years earlier) became a major hit, reaching number four on the R&B charts in 1966 and selling a million copies. Taylor recorded many versions of this Dixon-penned song over the past several decades and added more material, both original and covers, but never repeated that initial chart success.
National touring in the late 1960s and early 1970s improved her fan base, and she became accessible to a wider record-buying public when she signed with Alligator Records in 1975. Recording over a dozen albums for that label (many nominated for Grammy awards), she came to dominate the female blues singer ranks, winning 24 W. C. Handy Awards -- more than any other artist. After her recovery from a near-fatal car crash in 1989, the 1990s found Taylor in movies such as Blues Brothers 2000. She opened a blues club on Division St. in Chicago in 1994, but closed it in 1999. Taylor released a new album in 2007 called "Old School."
Koko Taylor influenced such musicians as Bonnie Raitt, Shemekia Copeland, Janis Joplin, Shannon Curfman, and Susan Tedeschi.
Koko Taylor died on the afternoon of June 3rd 2009 (at the age of 80), while recovering from surgery to repair gastrointestinal bleeding. Koko Taylor is still referred to by fellow blues musicians and her fans as the "Queen of the Blues".
Queen Bee
Koko Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, I'm a queen bee, buzzin' 'round your hive
When you hear me buzzin'
Please, let me come inside
I'm young and able to buzz all night long
I'm young and able to buzz all night long
When you hear me buzzin'
Well, I'm a queen bee, won't you be my friend?
Well, I'm a queen bee, won't you be my friend?
Together we can make honey
Like the world never seen [Incomprehensible]
Well, I'm a queen bee, [Incomprehensible] all night long
Well, I'm a queen bee, [Incomprehensible] all night long
Well, I could buzz at you, baby, when your gal is gone
The lyrics to Koko Taylor's "Queen Bee" can be interpreted as a lighthearted and flirtatious expression of sexuality, with the "queen bee" persona asserting her dominance and seductive power over a potential partner. The repeated phrase "buzzin' 'round your hive" conjures up images of a busy, bustling beehive, with the queen bee at the center of it all. The invitation to "let me come inside" is a playful nod to sexual intimacy, with the buzzing representing the excitement and passion that comes with physical attraction.
The second verse reinforces the idea of the queen bee as a young, vibrant and potent force: "I'm young and able to buzz all night long / When you hear me buzzin' / Some stinging's going on." Here, the buzzing takes on a slightly darker connotation, hinting at the possibility of pain and pleasure being intertwined in the sexual encounter.
The final verse softens the tone a bit, with the queen bee expressing a desire for companionship and collaboration: "Well, I'm a queen bee, won't you be my friend? / Together we can make honey / Like the world never seen [Incomprehensible]." The imagery of making honey suggests productivity, positivity, and creation, with the queen bee inviting her partner to join her in a mutually beneficial relationship.
Overall, "Queen Bee" is a fun and playful blues song that celebrates sexuality and the power of feminine energy.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm a queen bee, buzzin' 'round your hive
I am a strong and dominant woman who is in charge and I want to be the center of attention.
When you hear me buzzin',
Please, let me come inside
When you hear me expressing myself freely, please allow me to be heard and included in the conversation.
I'm young and able to buzz all night long
When you hear me buzzin'
Some stinging's going on, [Incomprehensible]
I am young, vibrant, and full of energy, and when I express my thoughts and opinions, it may cause some controversy or disagreement.
Well, I'm a queen bee, won't you be my friend?
Together we can make honey
Like the world never seen [Incomprehensible]
I am looking for allies and supporters who share my vision, and together we can create something unique and special that has never been seen before.
Well, I'm a queen bee, [Incomprehensible] all night long
Well, I could buzz at you, baby, when your gal is gone
I have the power and confidence to be assertive and make my presence known at all times, especially when there is no competition around.
Contributed by Joseph D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fábio Andrade
Caralho...som da porra!!! 2020, chapado, agradecendo pela postagem! 🇯🇲😎✌🏻🇧🇷paz
Alejandro Rayon
Reyna de Reynas la Sra. Koko Taylor, bravo
Belén Espinosa
Queen Bee
Koko Taylor
Well, I'm a queen bee,
buzzin round your hive
I'm a queen bee, buzzin round your hive When you hear me buzzin,
you better come inside.
I'm young and able to buzz all night long
Aw I'm still able, to buzz all night long
When you hear me buzzin,
some stinging's going on.
Hear me buzz!
SOLO
D D G D A G D D (A) X2
Well I'm a Queen bee,
won't you be my freind,
I'm a Queen bee,
won't you be my freind,
Together we can make honey,
like the world never seen.
Want you to love me,
love me with your own free will,
You got to love me baby,
love me with your own free will,
You forgot to tell me you were married, honey, don't you get me killed, oh yeah yeah.
SOLO
Well I'm a queen bee,
I buzz all night long
I'm a queen bee now,
I buzz all night long
Well I could buzz at you baby /
when your gal is gone / oh yeah yeah.
Antonio Di Lucia
dynamite blues
Francois Froge
3♥