Firstpublished:1913Novello and Co. Description: Lyrics authored by the composer.
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Original text and translations
English text
A rose lay basking in the sun
One sultry day in June,
With scarce a breath of welcome wind
To cool the afternoon;
A butterfly on weary wing
Did utter round the rose,
And fain would on its perfumed leaves
Enjoy some sweet repose.
But a prying bee just then came by,
And did all etiquette defy.
“O go away, you prying bee,”
The rose did loudly cry,
“You need not come a-wooing me,
So, neighbour lily try;
She is not so particular
As I am known to be,
So thrust your company on her,
It’s welcome not on me.”
The knowing B
Did clearly C
With half an I
The reason Y
His company
Was wanted not.
(To meet rebuff
It was his lot.)
Then started ’E
(Just after T)
To hum in G
(The major key),
The knowing B
Did clearly C,
did clearly, clearly C.
A snow-white lily drooped her head,
And breathed a gentle sigh,
But soon she raised her head, and smiled,
Now, note the reason why;
Came then a stately butterfly
In plumage O so gay,
“I C U R at home,” he said,
“I’ll woo thee while I may.”
But the same old bee just then came by,
And still did etiquette defy.
“O go away, you prying bee,”
The lily thus did cry,
“We do not want your presence here,
Some other flower try;
You know that two is company,
And, therefore, three is none,
So, fly away, intruding bee,
Until our courting’s done,”
The knowing B
Did clearly C
With half an I
The reason Y
His company
Was wanted not.
(To meet rebuff
It was his lot.)
Then started ’E
(Just after T)
To hum in G
(The major key),
The knowing B
Did clearly C,
did clearly, clearly C.
English text