"Where the Bee Sucks" is a song from William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest." The lyrics are found in Act V, Scene I, and they are sung by the character Ariel, who is a spirit serving Prospero, the play's main character. The song is often considered one of the more famous musical pieces within Shakespeare's works.
The lyrics of "Where the Bee Sucks" describe Ariel's carefree and joyful spirit, expressing a sense of freedom. Here are the lyrics of the song:
Where the bee sucks, there suck I; In a cowslip's bell I lie: There I couch when owls do cry. On the bat's back I do fly After summer merrily. Merrily, merrily shall I live now, Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
Over the years, various composers have set these lyrics to music, creating different musical interpretations of the song. It has become a popular piece for musicians and singers, adding a musical dimension to Shakespeare's poetic verses.