Don’t Be Angry, Mr. Bee

DESCRIPTION: "A very little (boy) one day, planted a sunflower seed... What a wonderful feast he thought it would be For a fine little hungry honeybee!" So he brings a bee to the flower. It stings him. The boy complains, "Don't be angry Mr. Bee, why do you bite me."
AUTHOR: George A. Stevens (source: sheet music at the Bodleian and also sold on Amazon)
EARLIEST DATE: probably sung by A. Solomon in 1910; Boldeian dates the sheet music c. 9=1909
KEYWORDS: flowers children injury bug | sunflower bee
FOUND IN: Britain(England(Lond))
RECORDINGS:
Mrs. B. H. Cutler, "Unknown "Sunflower Seed" Song" (Piotr-Archive #222, recorded 08/29/2022)
NOTES [127 words]: I suspect, both from what Mrs. Cutler said and from the form of the song, that this is one of those dreadful songs taught in schools to teach... behavior, or something. But I can't prove it. And given its racist language, I'm not sure I want to know.
Derek PIotr points out a column in the "Colac Herald," November 21, 1810, which says "Mr. A. Solomon, the well-known and popular blind musician" (presumably Aaron Solomon), was reported as singing a song 'Don't Be Angry Mr. Bee." He thinks that that is a reference to this song, and he is likely right, but it's beyond proof unless a list of Solomon songs turns up.
I assume it goes without saying that bees don't bite, they sting. And die as a result. Which makes me suspect that the bee is actually a wasp. - RBW
Last updated in version 7.1
File: DPio222

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