Songs about insects
November 24, 2012 10:46 AM Subscribe
Looking for songs that contain references to insects.
Asking for an entomologist friend: I am looking for songs with lyrics that contain references to insects. References to less familiar insects, such as lacewings, fleas, caddisflies, or earwigs, would be excellent!
Lyrics don't have to explicitly refer to an insect. This album is a good example - each song is about an insect but they aren't always named.
I've seen this question. Thanks!
Asking for an entomologist friend: I am looking for songs with lyrics that contain references to insects. References to less familiar insects, such as lacewings, fleas, caddisflies, or earwigs, would be excellent!
Lyrics don't have to explicitly refer to an insect. This album is a good example - each song is about an insect but they aren't always named.
I've seen this question. Thanks!
Well, you certainly have to start with Adam and the Ants' Antmusic (or Ants Invasion, if you want to avoid the obvious hit).
posted by scody at 11:03 AM on November 24, 2012
posted by scody at 11:03 AM on November 24, 2012
Queens of the Stone Age – Mosquito Song
Hawksley Workman – Baby Mosquito
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:06 AM on November 24, 2012
Hawksley Workman – Baby Mosquito
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:06 AM on November 24, 2012
2 lovely songs by Devandra Banhart, "Lazy Butterfly" and one of the sweetest songs ever, "Dragonflies".
posted by nathancaswell at 11:07 AM on November 24, 2012
posted by nathancaswell at 11:07 AM on November 24, 2012
Also, from one of my favourite albums ever, The Carpet Crawlers.
posted by thisclickableme at 11:09 AM on November 24, 2012
posted by thisclickableme at 11:09 AM on November 24, 2012
Beeswing (not really about bees) and Boris the Spider are the two that come to mind immediately. Weezer has a song about butterflies. My two favorites are by The Presidents of the United States of America: Dune Buggy and Boll Weevil.
posted by jessamyn at 11:10 AM on November 24, 2012
posted by jessamyn at 11:10 AM on November 24, 2012
Humble Bee by John Westley Harding. Shattered by The Rolling Stones mentions bedbugs.
posted by PussKillian at 11:13 AM on November 24, 2012
posted by PussKillian at 11:13 AM on November 24, 2012
Best answer: If non-english songs are ok, there's El Grillo by Josquin de Prez.
Fly on a Plane by Christine Lavin is funny and cute.
And there's a site devoted to insects in rock music.
These are all kids songs, educational and sort of on the fringes of what you are referring to, but could be fun.
posted by bunderful at 11:16 AM on November 24, 2012
Fly on a Plane by Christine Lavin is funny and cute.
And there's a site devoted to insects in rock music.
These are all kids songs, educational and sort of on the fringes of what you are referring to, but could be fun.
posted by bunderful at 11:16 AM on November 24, 2012
Birds do it, bees do it, even educated FLEAS do it...
We brave
bee stings and all
and we
don't dive
we
cannonball
Those were the first two that sprung to mind. Though I don't know that they are "about" insects so much as they mention them prominently.
posted by Sara C. at 11:16 AM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
We brave
bee stings and all
and we
don't dive
we
cannonball
Those were the first two that sprung to mind. Though I don't know that they are "about" insects so much as they mention them prominently.
posted by Sara C. at 11:16 AM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
One more:
I'm not sure whether Mirah's "Light the Match" is actually about moths, per se, but it's a very mothy song.
posted by Sara C. at 11:19 AM on November 24, 2012
I'm not sure whether Mirah's "Light the Match" is actually about moths, per se, but it's a very mothy song.
posted by Sara C. at 11:19 AM on November 24, 2012
"Song of Purple Summer," from the musical Spring Awakening, contains this lyric: "The earth will wave with corn / The grey fly choir will mourn."
posted by southern_sky at 11:20 AM on November 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by southern_sky at 11:20 AM on November 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Elton John: "You're a butterfly, and butterflies are free to fly, fly away, high away, bye bye"
The Mercy Seat, Nick Cave: "Like a moth that tries to enter the bright eye, I go shuffling out of life just to hide in death a while"
Fly on a Windshield, Genesis: "I'm hovering like a fly, waiting for the windshield on the freeway"
The Bug, Dire Straits: "Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug"
No lyrics, but honorable mention: Flight of the Bumblebee, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
The Lake Isle of Innisfree, lyrics by William Butler Yeats, not clear to me who set it to music: Two different references "Nine bean rows will I have there, and a hive for the honeybee, and live alone in the bee-loud glade"; "And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow; dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings"
posted by Flunkie at 11:20 AM on November 24, 2012
The Mercy Seat, Nick Cave: "Like a moth that tries to enter the bright eye, I go shuffling out of life just to hide in death a while"
Fly on a Windshield, Genesis: "I'm hovering like a fly, waiting for the windshield on the freeway"
The Bug, Dire Straits: "Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug"
No lyrics, but honorable mention: Flight of the Bumblebee, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
The Lake Isle of Innisfree, lyrics by William Butler Yeats, not clear to me who set it to music: Two different references "Nine bean rows will I have there, and a hive for the honeybee, and live alone in the bee-loud glade"; "And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow; dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings"
posted by Flunkie at 11:20 AM on November 24, 2012
Best answer: Ween also has Bumblebee.
They Might Be Giants has Ant.
Weezer's All My Friends Are Insects.
posted by neilbert at 11:26 AM on November 24, 2012
They Might Be Giants has Ant.
Weezer's All My Friends Are Insects.
posted by neilbert at 11:26 AM on November 24, 2012
Human Fly
Buzzin Fly
The Fly
Dragonfly
Butterfly
Blue Tail Fly
Superfly
posted by rongorongo at 11:26 AM on November 24, 2012
Buzzin Fly
The Fly
Dragonfly
Butterfly
Blue Tail Fly
Superfly
posted by rongorongo at 11:26 AM on November 24, 2012
A few oldies for you:
"A Sleepin' Bee" from House of Flowers
"Glow Worm"
"Inchworm" From Hans Christian Andersen
posted by zorseshoes at 11:26 AM on November 24, 2012
"A Sleepin' Bee" from House of Flowers
"Glow Worm"
"Inchworm" From Hans Christian Andersen
posted by zorseshoes at 11:26 AM on November 24, 2012
Bees, by Laura Cantrell, is lovely.
I've also always been fond of Ladybugs' Picnic, if you don't mind it only being a minute long.
And there's Spanish Flea from 1966--not just for Homer Simpson anymore!
posted by theatro at 11:32 AM on November 24, 2012
I've also always been fond of Ladybugs' Picnic, if you don't mind it only being a minute long.
And there's Spanish Flea from 1966--not just for Homer Simpson anymore!
posted by theatro at 11:32 AM on November 24, 2012
Wire - I Am the Fly
Belle & Sebastian - Mayfly
Depeche Mode - Fly on the Windscreen
posted by dayintoday at 11:34 AM on November 24, 2012
Belle & Sebastian - Mayfly
Depeche Mode - Fly on the Windscreen
posted by dayintoday at 11:34 AM on November 24, 2012
Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug
posted by kamikazegopher at 11:36 AM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by kamikazegopher at 11:36 AM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sufjan Stevens - The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades
American Music Club - Firefly
posted by vers at 11:37 AM on November 24, 2012
American Music Club - Firefly
posted by vers at 11:37 AM on November 24, 2012
Admiral Fallow - Beetle in the Box
Arnaldo Antunes - O Mosquito (translation)
The Fall - Aphid
posted by hydrophonic at 11:42 AM on November 24, 2012
Arnaldo Antunes - O Mosquito (translation)
The Fall - Aphid
posted by hydrophonic at 11:42 AM on November 24, 2012
Flaming Lips | The Spiderbite Song
B-52's | Junebug
posted by smirkette at 11:48 AM on November 24, 2012
B-52's | Junebug
posted by smirkette at 11:48 AM on November 24, 2012
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
Vashti Bunyan - Timothy Grub, Glow Worms
posted by hydrophonic at 11:50 AM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Vashti Bunyan - Timothy Grub, Glow Worms
posted by hydrophonic at 11:50 AM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
"Bugs" by pearl Jam
"Lucky Ladybug" by The Four Seasons (also covered by indie band Guv'ner)
posted by TheCavorter at 11:50 AM on November 24, 2012
"Lucky Ladybug" by The Four Seasons (also covered by indie band Guv'ner)
posted by TheCavorter at 11:50 AM on November 24, 2012
Oh, almost forgot 100,000 Fireflies
posted by bunderful at 11:50 AM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by bunderful at 11:50 AM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Not exactly about insects per se, but The Insect God by the Monks of Doom would make a cool and morbidly humorous end to whatever you're preparing.
posted by elendil71 at 11:55 AM on November 24, 2012
posted by elendil71 at 11:55 AM on November 24, 2012
Best answer: Clientele - Lacewings
Wire - I Am the Fly
Incredible String Band - Cousin Caterpillar
The Judge n' Jury: Roaches
posted by ryanshepard at 12:03 PM on November 24, 2012
Wire - I Am the Fly
Incredible String Band - Cousin Caterpillar
The Judge n' Jury: Roaches
posted by ryanshepard at 12:03 PM on November 24, 2012
Ivor Cutler - I Believe in Bugs (and also Squeeze Bees).
posted by scruss at 12:19 PM on November 24, 2012
posted by scruss at 12:19 PM on November 24, 2012
Would You Like to Swing on a Star is practically a musical menagerie. My dad used to sing it to me and I occasionally sign it to the dog. With dog lyrics.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:40 PM on November 24, 2012
posted by DarlingBri at 12:40 PM on November 24, 2012
Sheryl Crow - If it makes you Happy
...put on a poncho, play for mosquitos...
posted by yoga at 1:14 PM on November 24, 2012
...put on a poncho, play for mosquitos...
posted by yoga at 1:14 PM on November 24, 2012
Squash That Fly - Fu Manchu
The entire Mosquito Control EP by Isis.
posted by gally99 at 2:44 PM on November 24, 2012
The entire Mosquito Control EP by Isis.
posted by gally99 at 2:44 PM on November 24, 2012
Joanna Newsome sings a song about moths called Cosmia.
posted by bricksNmortar at 4:24 PM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by bricksNmortar at 4:24 PM on November 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
One more: I Know An Old Woman Who Swallowed A Fly just because it's sweet as hell.
posted by vers at 5:29 PM on November 24, 2012
posted by vers at 5:29 PM on November 24, 2012
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars is a song about a band called 'the Spiders From Mars', not actual spiders.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 5:47 PM on November 24, 2012
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 5:47 PM on November 24, 2012
Funkier than a Mosquito's Tweeter by Ike and Tina Turner
posted by dmo at 7:59 PM on November 24, 2012
posted by dmo at 7:59 PM on November 24, 2012
Flyswatter, by the Eels
"Field mice, head lice
Spiders in the kitchen
Don't think twice 'bout
Whatever keeps you itchin'"
posted by gingerbeer at 8:00 PM on November 24, 2012
"Field mice, head lice
Spiders in the kitchen
Don't think twice 'bout
Whatever keeps you itchin'"
posted by gingerbeer at 8:00 PM on November 24, 2012
No insect-related lyrics (that I can tell anyway) but there's Great Spangled Fritillary by Cocteau Twins
posted by dmo at 8:04 PM on November 24, 2012
posted by dmo at 8:04 PM on November 24, 2012
If this source and a transcription in the comments can be believed, the lyrics to Cocteau Twins Melonella are mostly made up of family names in the order lepidoptera
posted by dmo at 8:18 PM on November 24, 2012
posted by dmo at 8:18 PM on November 24, 2012
The most famous canadian insect=related song [I think] is this song about north ontar-i-o
I also think that your entomologist friend will shudder a little at every 'bug' mention that isn't about the Hemiptera
posted by Acari at 10:12 PM on November 24, 2012
I also think that your entomologist friend will shudder a little at every 'bug' mention that isn't about the Hemiptera
posted by Acari at 10:12 PM on November 24, 2012
These Birds of a Feather beat me to it. I also came in here to recommend Ugly Bug Ball from Disney's Summer Magic. Burl Ives is singing this to a little boy who looks just like The Beaver. That's because it's Jerry's little brother Jimmy.
posted by marsha56 at 10:25 PM on November 24, 2012
posted by marsha56 at 10:25 PM on November 24, 2012
"Misery Is a Butterfly" by Blonde Redhead
posted by milk white peacock at 10:46 PM on November 24, 2012
posted by milk white peacock at 10:46 PM on November 24, 2012
I like bugs Yo Gabba Gabba
"Bees make honey, they don't do it for money, and ants in your pants will surely make you dance."
posted by pick_the_flowers at 11:07 PM on November 24, 2012
"Bees make honey, they don't do it for money, and ants in your pants will surely make you dance."
posted by pick_the_flowers at 11:07 PM on November 24, 2012
Oh, you need Song from Under the Floorboards by Magazine!
The chorus goes:
This is a song from under the floorboards
This is a song from where the wall is cracked
By force of habit, I am an insect
I have to confess I'm proud as hell of that fact
(It's also been covered beautifully by Morrissey and My Friend the Chocolate Cake, among others).
posted by embrangled at 2:25 AM on November 25, 2012
The chorus goes:
This is a song from under the floorboards
This is a song from where the wall is cracked
By force of habit, I am an insect
I have to confess I'm proud as hell of that fact
(It's also been covered beautifully by Morrissey and My Friend the Chocolate Cake, among others).
posted by embrangled at 2:25 AM on November 25, 2012
Another Ivor Cutler track: Yellow Fly
Insects by Altered Images
And - since I am suggesting a list of Scottish-orginated songs about insects I have to add The Midges by Kenneth McKellar
posted by rongorongo at 2:44 AM on November 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Insects by Altered Images
And - since I am suggesting a list of Scottish-orginated songs about insects I have to add The Midges by Kenneth McKellar
posted by rongorongo at 2:44 AM on November 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Kids of Whidney High - Insects
Sean McCollough - I like bugs
posted by stinker at 3:59 AM on November 25, 2012
Sean McCollough - I like bugs
posted by stinker at 3:59 AM on November 25, 2012
Wire's "Outdoor Miner" is about the Serpentine Leaf Miner.
posted by neroli at 10:28 AM on November 25, 2012
posted by neroli at 10:28 AM on November 25, 2012
Mirah and Spectratone International's Fabre-inspired
Share This Place: Stories and Observations
posted by progosk at 2:01 PM on November 25, 2012
Share This Place: Stories and Observations
posted by progosk at 2:01 PM on November 25, 2012
Ziggy Marley's Dragonfly
"Hey Miss Dragonfly, I see you look at me with your beautiful eyes. You must be wondering what type of creature am I."
posted by booth at 6:09 PM on November 25, 2012
"Hey Miss Dragonfly, I see you look at me with your beautiful eyes. You must be wondering what type of creature am I."
posted by booth at 6:09 PM on November 25, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for your answers, everyone! We honestly weren't expecting this many responses. I've marked best answer for the ones she used in her playlist but she enjoyed listening to them all!
posted by elerina at 10:54 PM on November 25, 2012
posted by elerina at 10:54 PM on November 25, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 10:54 AM on November 24, 2012