The Last of the Honey Bees
Sam Burchfield Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Leaves changing colors
Orange and red and gold
And I'm building forts
And diggin' holes
Out in the backyard
Feels like a million dollar life
In the life
I don't wanna grow up, 'cause some day I'm gonna be dead and gone
But something in my skeleton bones has got to carry on
So I'll carry on

Deep in the forest
The queen of the honey bees is makin' a stand
And I wanna be there
It's gonna be grand
And I wanna be there

I don't wanna grow up, 'cause some day I'm gonna be dead and gone
But something in my skeleton bones has got to carry on
So I guess I'll carry on

Mother, protect us
Shelter my brothers with a heavenly host
Holy Ghost
Refugees
Honey bees

I don't wanna grow up, 'cause some day I'm gonna be dead and gone
But something in my skeleton bones has got to carry on

Got to carry on
Carry on, now
Yeah

You got to, hey
You got to carry on
Oh, you got to carry on, now, now, now
You got to carry on

Deep in the forest

The queen of the honey bees is makin' a stand
And I wanna be there

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sam Burchfield's song, "The Last of the Honey Bees," convey a bittersweet nostalgia for childhood, mixed with a deep concern for the future. The beginning of the song paints a picture of autumn, with leaves changing colors and the singer building forts and digging holes in the backyard. This setting creates a sense of comfort and safety, as the singer reflects on a time when life felt perfect. However, the underlying worry about the future is hinted at in the lyrics, "I don't wanna grow up, 'cause some day I'm gonna be dead and gone / But something in my skeleton bones has got to carry on / So I'll carry on." The singer acknowledges that they cannot stay in this idyllic moment forever, but they can carry on with the things they believe in.

Later in the song, the singer sings about the queen of the honey bees making a stand in the forest. This imagery represents the fight for the survival of endangered species and the importance of protecting the environment. The lyrics, "Mother, protect us / Shelter my brothers with a heavenly host / Holy Ghost / Refugees / Honey bees," invoke a sense of desperation and urgency, as the singer begs for protection for their loved ones and the natural world. Despite the weight of these concerns, the song ends on a hopeful note, with the exhortation to "carry on." The repetition of this phrase reinforces the idea that even in the face of uncertainty, one must continue to try to make a difference.

Line by Line Meaning

Leaves changing colors
The seasonal change brings about a colorful environment

Orange and red and gold
The leaves change to different colors

And I'm building forts
The singer is enjoying childhood activities

And diggin' holes
The artist is exploring his backyard

Out in the backyard
The location of the childhood activities

Feels like a million dollar life
The singer is content and happy with his current lifestyle

In the life
The singer is enjoying his current youthfulness

I don't wanna grow up, 'cause some day I'm gonna be dead and gone
The artist fears aging and death

But something in my skeleton bones has got to carry on
The artist wants to leave a legacy

So I'll carry on
The artist will continue to live and build a legacy

Deep in the forest
The location of the bees

The queen of the honey bees is makin' a stand
The queen bee is fighting for the survival of her species

And I wanna be there
The singer wants to witness and be a part of the bees' battle

It's gonna be grand
Simply put: it's going to be great

Mother, protect us
The singer is asking for protection from a higher power

Shelter my brothers with a heavenly host
The artist is asking for protection for everyone around him

Holy Ghost
A reference to the Holy Spirit

Refugees
A comparison between the singer and the bees who are searching for a place to survive

Got to carry on
The singer reiterates his desire to continue living and building a legacy

Carry on, now
An encouragement to continue living and creating a legacy

You got to, hey
A call to action or reminder to the listener to live their life fully

Oh, you got to carry on, now, now, now
Continuation of the call to live life fully with urgency

You got to carry on
Final reinforcement of the message to continue living and creating a legacy

Writer(s): Samuel Edward Burchfield

Contributed by Lucy S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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