Prospero’s Books: Where the Bee Sucks Songtext
von Michael Nyman

(Ariel)
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. {original text ends here}

(Piano Interlude)

Where the bee sucks, there suck I: {my additions and repetitions}
In a cowslip′s bell I lie;
There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly. . .

(Cello & Harpsichord Soli)

Where the bee sucks, there suck I:
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
(Interlude a key higher)

. . . hangs on the bough . . .
. . . shall I live now . . .

Coda
Merrily shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
In a cowslip′s bell I lie;
Where the bee sucks, there suck I!

Tell me where is fancy bred, {he}
Or in the heart, or in the head?
How begot, how nourishèd? Reply, reply.
It is engender′d in the eyes, {she}
With gazing fed;
And fancy dies, and fancy dies {together}
In the cradle where it lies.

Let us all ring fancy's knell; {he}
I′ll begin it, –ding, dong, bell.
Let us all ring fancy's knell;
I′ll begin it, –ding, dong, bell.
Ding, dong, bell. {together}


(Harp /Strings Interlude)

Tell me where is fancy bred, {she}
Or in the heart or in the head?
How begot, how nourishèd?
Reply, reply.
It is engender'd in the eyes, {he}
With gazing fed; (fancy dies) {she}
And fancy dies, and fancy dies {together}
In the cradle where it lies.

2
Let us all ring (let us all ring) {he & she alternating}
Fancy′s knell; (ring fancy's knell) I'll begin it, –ding, dong, bell.
Let us all ring (let us all ring) fancy′s knell; (ring fancy′s knell)
I'll begin it, –ding, dong, bell.
Ding, dong, bell.

Coda
Ding, dong, ding, dong, ding, dong, bell.