This is not hard to figure out, but that doesn't subtract from the painful truth the song carries. He's talking about the United States going to war in the Middle East for personal gain (oil is black honey) and the effects that it has on us. We keep getting stung each time we go to someone else's country and destroy people's homes and lives while our government pretends to be waging war for our safety. If you don't want to get stung, don't swing your hand through the swarm of bees. It also references the greed and selfishness of American culture "do what I want, do what please, I'll do it again till I got what I need", and "do you understand I deserve the best". The swarm following us home across the sea is a reference to sleeper cells and domestic terrorism in western countries: San Bernardino, Paris, Brussels, etc. ISIS is just the newest swarm we have created ourselves and are following us home to "sting" our friends and family. The butterfly part is interesting in that it seems to be reflecting on our wastefulness and carelessness in destroying things over and over and not learning the result of our actions (threw it in the fire to burn with all the others). The part he repeats "but I never get it right" and then "this time I'll get it right" parallels this. We keep going to war, to reap death and destruction, while a select few profit, and then blame the "bees" for stinging us. We are doomed to do this over and over until we realize the result of our actions. Taken from another chat.
Sorry, This was taken from an interview with the band explaining what the song is about. What you are saying is basically in the explanation if you read it.@@petrjanata2245
Hornets don't make honey. I can't connect with music that is fiction rather than autobiography. For a long time I've wanted to like thrice. Can't seem to.
It may be intentional; like an allegory, or whatever they call that...... First he says bees, then he says he never gets it right, the he says he rips through a hornets nest and he's getting stung.... So maybe he's looking for a swarm of bees for honey but only finds hornets that sting him..... So he's forcefully smashing through life looking for sweetness; but you get what you give and all he finds is angry hornets that sting him; like how he rudely swung his hand through the peaceful bees. Could be about people, all the different people in the car - looking for love as a child and just getting passed around and never feeling right, could be about drugs that he's looking for peace and only ends up hurting more..... Could be about anything - I've never looked for what this artist says it's about. Allegory isn't the right word; but I think you know what I mean...... Doesn't mean you should like the song; but if the honey bee/hornet thing is what's holding you back then hopefully this view will help. This is the only Thrice song I've heard and I came looking for the lyrics so I could understand what he's saying. I grew up on a farm, we had natural bee hives in the back of the back forty. I once stepped on a hornets nest that was built into the middle separating two properties hump with a fence on it that ran the length of the property next door drainage ditch... We stepped on to the hump from the willow tree. Stupid me didn't just step into the small shallow ditch and then up to run; I continued to shuffle my getting stung butt back to the tree where we started the fence crawling race at......then had to run half the field to get back to the house to get help to get them out of my hair. Man it sucked. I felt so bad for stepping on them !! And the stings hurt. I think they were hornets, yellow jackets, Idk I was like 6 or 7, and I didn't ask them, or keep any for inspection. Hahaha. Damn I rambled the he'll out of this reply. Sorry dude.
I appreciated your response. I'm just going to ramble some thoughts out. Your interpretation was pretty interesting and added some depth. I was also looking up the lyrics and happened upon an article where the author discussed what he meant. I've found that in doing so a song often loses a lot of depth. Looking up lyrics, and worse, reading the author's thoughts.
@@personalinformation9963 that's a really good interpretation I guess I definitely understand how he's comparing insects to human relationships. With bees he wants the honey but gets the stings. With hornets he's looking for honey but only getting stung and tearing it all down in his anger With butterflies he's trying to mount them up as something to see, but again with his inherent violence he rips them up and destroys them entirely in his rage I think allegory is the word but yeah I definitely relate as someone that destroys everything that hurts me as I quest for sweetness.
![Thrice - Black Honey [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/C9GTEsNf_GU/mqdefault.jpg)
![Thrice - Black Honey [Official Video]](/img/tr.png)
the audio quality is pretty low but the lyrics are actually readable so that's a plus
This is not hard to figure out, but that doesn't subtract from the painful truth the song carries. He's talking about the United States going to war in the Middle East for personal gain (oil is black honey) and the effects that it has on us. We keep getting stung each time we go to someone else's country and destroy people's homes and lives while our government pretends to be waging war for our safety. If you don't want to get stung, don't swing your hand through the swarm of bees. It also references the greed and selfishness of American culture "do what I want, do what please, I'll do it again till I got what I need", and "do you understand I deserve the best". The swarm following us home across the sea is a reference to sleeper cells and domestic terrorism in western countries: San Bernardino, Paris, Brussels, etc. ISIS is just the newest swarm we have created ourselves and are following us home to "sting" our friends and family. The butterfly part is interesting in that it seems to be reflecting on our wastefulness and carelessness in destroying things over and over and not learning the result of our actions (threw it in the fire to burn with all the others). The part he repeats "but I never get it right" and then "this time I'll get it right" parallels this. We keep going to war, to reap death and destruction, while a select few profit, and then blame the "bees" for stinging us. We are doomed to do this over and over until we realize the result of our actions. Taken from another chat.
Its not just about US wars. Black honey is everything we dont need but still crave for it. Its about human nature, not your government
Sorry, This was taken from an interview with the band explaining what the song is about. What you are saying is basically in the explanation if you read it.@@petrjanata2245
This is so good but you must hear “The Wave” or “Whispering Wolf” by SLT 🤘🐺🎶
@@petrjanata2245Eh not really.
That's your own projection..
Very nice
I like this song
It's a unique song❤
Something about this song is good but makes me feel nauseaus
Yup
That foxhavens logo looks like a college or university logo
What you do? delete everyone else's comments
Hornets don't make honey.
I can't connect with music that is fiction rather than autobiography.
For a long time I've wanted to like thrice. Can't seem to.
It may be intentional; like an allegory, or whatever they call that...... First he says bees, then he says he never gets it right, the he says he rips through a hornets nest and he's getting stung.... So maybe he's looking for a swarm of bees for honey but only finds hornets that sting him..... So he's forcefully smashing through life looking for sweetness; but you get what you give and all he finds is angry hornets that sting him; like how he rudely swung his hand through the peaceful bees. Could be about people, all the different people in the car - looking for love as a child and just getting passed around and never feeling right, could be about drugs that he's looking for peace and only ends up hurting more..... Could be about anything - I've never looked for what this artist says it's about.
Allegory isn't the right word; but I think you know what I mean...... Doesn't mean you should like the song; but if the honey bee/hornet thing is what's holding you back then hopefully this view will help.
This is the only Thrice song I've heard and I came looking for the lyrics so I could understand what he's saying.
I grew up on a farm, we had natural bee hives in the back of the back forty. I once stepped on a hornets nest that was built into the middle separating two properties hump with a fence on it that ran the length of the property next door drainage ditch... We stepped on to the hump from the willow tree. Stupid me didn't just step into the small shallow ditch and then up to run; I continued to shuffle my getting stung butt back to the tree where we started the fence crawling race at......then had to run half the field to get back to the house to get help to get them out of my hair. Man it sucked. I felt so bad for stepping on them !! And the stings hurt.
I think they were hornets, yellow jackets, Idk I was like 6 or 7, and I didn't ask them, or keep any for inspection. Hahaha.
Damn I rambled the he'll out of this reply. Sorry dude.
I appreciated your response. I'm just going to ramble some thoughts out. Your interpretation was pretty interesting and added some depth. I was also looking up the lyrics and happened upon an article where the author discussed what he meant. I've found that in doing so a song often loses a lot of depth. Looking up lyrics, and worse, reading the author's thoughts.
@@personalinformation9963 that's a really good interpretation
I guess I definitely understand how he's comparing insects to human relationships. With bees he wants the honey but gets the stings.
With hornets he's looking for honey but only getting stung and tearing it all down in his anger
With butterflies he's trying to mount them up as something to see, but again with his inherent violence he rips them up and destroys them entirely in his rage
I think allegory is the word but yeah I definitely relate as someone that destroys everything that hurts me as I quest for sweetness.
its kind of a metaphor u fool
I think he’s talking about addiction 😢