Founded in Detroit, Michigan, United States in 1959, The Supremes began as a quartet called The Primettes. Founding members Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, all from the Brewster-Douglas public housing project in Detroit, were the sister act to The Primes (later The Temptations). In 1960, Barbara Martin replaced McGlown, and the group signed with Motown in 1961 as The Supremes. Martin left at the end of 1961, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson carried on as a trio. After they achieved success in the mid-1960s with Ross as the lead singer, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1967, and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong. Ross left the group for a solo career in 1970, and was replaced by Jean Terrell. After 1972, the lineup of the Supremes changed frequently, with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene all becoming members before the group ended its eighteen-year existence in 1977.
Honey Bee
The Supremes Lyrics
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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 Supremes' song "Honey Bee" is a love song about the persistence of love. The lyrics speak of a woman who is initially resistant to a man's advances, but eventually gives in to his love. The metaphor of the honey bee is used to describe the man's persistence in "stinging" the woman with his love. The lyrics convey the idea that love can sometimes be painful, but it is also sweet and transformative. The woman's resistance to the man's love is eventually overcome, and she is grateful for the happiness that his love has brought into her life.
The use of the honey bee as a metaphor for love is interesting because it highlights both the sweetness and pain that can come with it. The idea of love as something that stings and hurts, but also brings joy and sweetness, is a powerful one. The lyrics also speak to the transformative power of love. The woman's life is rearranged and her heart is changed by the man's love. The metaphor of love as a breath of spring and sunshine is also interesting, as it suggests that love is a force of nature that brings new life and warmth to our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
The singer enjoys the pain of their love's stings and wants them to continue
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me
Repeating the same sentiment as the first line
When I first saw you standin' there
The singer is reminiscing about when they first met their love
Temptation filled your smile
The person's partner was very seductive when they first met
I had to hold on to my heart
The artist had to resist their attraction to their partner
But you were so persistent
The partner was very insistent and continued to pursue the singer
You wore down my resistance, now
The singer eventually gave in to their attraction to their partner
Honey bee, you're such a part of me
The artist is now deeply in love with their partner and couldn't live without them
Honey bee, you stung the heart of me
The partner's love has deeply affected the artist's heart
Honey bee, keep on stingin' me, mm
Repeating the sentiment of wanting their partner to continue loving them
You started a fever burnin' deep inside of me
The partner's love has ignited a strong passion within the singer
Since you stung me with your sweet love
The partner's love has had a lasting effect on the artist
My whole life is rearranged
The singer's life has completely changed since meeting their partner
My heart looks like love has changed
The singer's heart has been transformed by their partner's love
Into my life like a breath of spring
The partner's love brought new life and excitement into the singer's life
Came your love like the sunshine
The partner's love brought light and warmth to the artist's life
To stop the rain
The partner's love ended the artist's troubles and unhappiness
Dried all my tears
The partner's love brought the singer happiness and positivity
Darlin' I've been blessed
The singer feels incredibly lucky and grateful to have their partner
With your honey sweet love
The partner's love is sweet and wonderful
And I must confess
The artist is revealing their true feelings
Our love's dear, ooh, baby
The artist loves their partner very much
This taste of honey you're givin' me
The partner's love is sweet like honey
Has sweetened all my bitterness
The artist's partner has made their life much more pleasant and enjoyable
And finally pushed my fears aside
The partner's love has helped the singer overcome their fears and anxieties
In return I'll send in your direction
The singer wants to show their love to their partner in their own way
All my sweet lovin' affection
The singer will express their love and affection to their partner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEBBIE DEAN, DEKE RICHARDS, DENNIS LUSSIER, JANIE BRADFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind