Life is all around us – there is so much we miss because we are in a hurry or making too much noise or simply too big to notice smaller creatures..
The Bug Lover’s Song Book is an ongoing project, with songs about different insects and bugs, plus piano accompaniment..
watch this space for more information about performances..meanwhile here’s some lyrics to give a flavour..pity the poor wasp at the end of a summer, and don’t blame her, weary exhausted worker, for trying to get at some source of sweetness (and even getting drunk on fermented fruit)..you can hear the song at http://www.bigwaspsurvey.org/category/newspress/
I Be a Wasp
You may see a bee, but a bee is not me,
I’m a wasp, I be a wasp.
I have a bad reputation for causing havoc in the kitchen
And general consternation
When there’s sugar around, or jam to be found
But that’s only because I’m a wasp that is lost,
And seeking some sweetness at the end of my days
Want to go out in a jam-filled haze
I’m a wasp that is lost, have pity on me
Though I sting, I’m a wasp, not a bee.
I worked all year to serve my Queen
And now there’s no job left for me.
It’s all falling apart, the home’s a mess
I’m drunk and disorderly.
I can’t work out where to go in life
So I hover around your jammy knife
I’m a wasp that is lost, have pity on me
Though I sting, I’m a wasp, not a bee.
So hide the sugar, and cover the jam
And don’t pay attention to me
I’ll fly away on drooping wings
In thirst and misery.
On some rotting fruit I will end my days
Buzzing around, all sugar-crazed
I’m a wasp that is lost, have pity on me
Though I sting, I’m a wasp not a bee.
And another insect lacking in charisma, to humans (though not to those who feed on them) – consider the plight of the Arctic mosquito..
Song of the Arctic Mosquito contemplating a melting iceberg
Chorus
It’s a hard life, it’s a hard life,
Searching for food in a barren landscape
It’s a hard life, it’s a hard life,
Hunting for blood to nourish my eggs
v1.
Flying around on my slender wings
Desperately searching for prey
My only goal to lay my eggs
Before death takes me away
v2.
Hated and feared by humankind
Because of the diseases I bear
They try to destroy me, forgetting that
I am food for others to share
(chorus)
v3.
As the ice caps melt and the permafrost dissolves
There’ll be more stagnant ponds where we can thrive
We exist to explore every possible niche
Like all creatures, we aim to survive
v4
We can bring down an army, destroy a city
Though we are fragile and small
The warm blood of mammals is nectar to us
We’ll watch your civilisation fall
(last chorus)