music and lyrics

When we were living in Texas, my good friend Sara introduced me to the sounds of Frances England, a children's folk singer. Well, I don't know if she calls herself a folk singer -- maybe not -- but the songs are 'folky' to me and just so sweet and catchy, and this CD, after being packed away for awhile, has been resurrected and is the current soundtrack for out rides to the grocery store, Target, and, well, most everywhere else we drive. I love all of the songs, but there is one, 'Busy as a Bee,' that makes me think of Eli at the stage he is in now. His mind is a racetrack with matchbox cars of every color and kind in it, racing and whizzing by, constantly. He is never finished for the day. I guess neither are we, with the piles of books and magazines on our nightstands that we hope to read after the daylight is gone, and the kids are in bed, and we finally get a chance for us.

The other night we were closing up shop downstairs, turning all the lights off, and Eli was still sitting on the floor in our living room, intently delivering cargo by train, over bridges and through tunnels. So you'll see why I love this song. My favorite part is when she says, "busy, busy, busy, busy, busy..."(you have to listen to the song to get the full effect!).

Busy As A Bee
Frances England

Last night about a quarter to eight, you came into my room
You said, “Honey, it’s getting late, it’s getting late.”
I said, oh no Momma this cannot be,
I got too many things to do before I sleep, before I sleep
I got trucks to pull and train tracks to lay before the break of day

Last night about a quarter to eight, you came into my room
You said, “Honey, it’s getting late, it’s getting late.”
I said, oh no Momma this cannot be,
I got too many things to do before I sleep, before I sleep
I got stories to read and games to play before the end of day

Don’t you know I’m busy, busy, busy as a bee
Don’t you know I’m busy, busy, busy as a bee
No sleep for me

Last night about a quarter to eight, you came into my room
You said, “Honey, it’s getting late, it’s getting late.”
I said, oh no Momma this cannot be,
I got too many things to do before I sleep, before I sleep
I got songs to sing and stories to tell,
I got animals to talk to, make sure they’re doing well, before I sleep

Don’t you know I’m busy, busy, busy as a bee
Don’t you know I’m busy, busy, busy as a bee
No sleep for me

:::

And -- you can listen to it here. Just click on 'music' and then the first CD cover 'Fascinating Creatures.' It's number 6. Shaun's favorite is 'Blue Canoe' (number 11), and Eli loves 'Tricycle' (number 2).

We're off to visit family and friends in Louisiana tomorrow, so I hope to be back, checking in with pictures! My friend Rachel says she wants pictures of the bayou, which she thinks is so beautiful. So, I will try to get some for her, as well as some of Eli swimming with my new disposable underwater cameras. He has been swimming something crazy at the Y these days, and both of our parents have pools, so I can't wait to see what he does, busy bee that he is.

Gotta run. Babysitter coming in 30 minutes, and I still have to wash my hair and get dressed. And then the rest of the afternoon will be devoted to packing. Oh, happy day.