Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me
Encyclopedia
Shoo, Fly, Don't Bother Me! was most likely written by T. Brigham Bishop
and first published in 1869 by White, Smith & Perry. It has remained popular since that time. Today, it is commonly sung by children, and has been recorded on many children’s records, including Disney Children's Favorites 3
, performed by Larry Groce
and the Disneyland Children's Sing-Along Chorus.
The original song was published as "Shew! Fly, Don't Bother Me. Comic Song and Dance or Walk Round. Sung by Cool Burgess and Rollin Howard
, melody by Frank Campbell, words by Billy Reeves, arr. by Rollin Howard."
The song remained popular over the decades, and was commonly sung by soldiers during the Spanish-American War
of 1898, when flies and the yellow fever
mosquito were a serious enemy.
The lyrics have been altered to remove content from the original song now considered offensive, so that today only the chorus is sung. The original version reads thus:
, one of the characters references the song's title. The Australian children's show Play School
recorded a version for the albums There's A Bear In There, sung by Noni Hazlehurst, and In The Car, sung by John Hamblin
.
Thomas Brigham Bishop
Thomas Brigham Bishop is best known as an American composer of popular music...
and first published in 1869 by White, Smith & Perry. It has remained popular since that time. Today, it is commonly sung by children, and has been recorded on many children’s records, including Disney Children's Favorites 3
Disney Children's Favorites 3
Disney Children's Favorites 3 is a collection of 23 best-loved songs for kids. The songs are performed by Larry Groce and The Disneyland Children's Sing-Along Chorus. The Choral Director is Betty Joyce...
, performed by Larry Groce
Larry Groce
Larry Groce is an American singer-songwriter and radio host. Since 1983, Groce has served as the host and artistic director of Mountain Stage, a two-hour live music program produced by West Virginia Public Radio and distributed by NPR. He first entered the national spotlight in 1976 when his...
and the Disneyland Children's Sing-Along Chorus.
The original song was published as "Shew! Fly, Don't Bother Me. Comic Song and Dance or Walk Round. Sung by Cool Burgess and Rollin Howard
Rollin Howard
Rollin Howard was an American minstrel performer, best known for his female blackface impersonations.Howard was born as Ebenezer G.B. Holder in New York City around 1840, and appeared in minstrel productions from approximately 1860 to 1870. He appeared in other dramatic performances both before...
, melody by Frank Campbell, words by Billy Reeves, arr. by Rollin Howard."
The song remained popular over the decades, and was commonly sung by soldiers during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
of 1898, when flies and the yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
mosquito were a serious enemy.
Lyrics
The lyrics are public domain:
Shoo, fly, don't bother me,
Shoo, fly, don't bother me,
Shoo, fly, don't bother me,
For I belong to somebody.
- I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning star,
- I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning star.
Oh, shoo, fly, don't bother me,
Shoo, fly, don't bother me,
Shoo, fly, don't bother me,
For I belong to somebody.
The lyrics have been altered to remove content from the original song now considered offensive, so that today only the chorus is sung. The original version reads thus:
I think I hear the angels sing,
I think I hear the angels sing,
I think I hear the angels sing,
The angels now are on the wing.
I feel, I feel, I feel,
That's what my mother said,
The angels pouring 'lassesMolassesMolasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar beets into sugar. The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word melaço, which ultimately comes from mel, the Latin word for "honey". The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet,...
down,
Upon this niggerNiggerNigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
's head.
- Shew! fly, don't bother me,
- Shew! fly, don't bother me,
- Shew! fly, don't bother me,
- I belong to Comp'ny G
14th Regiment Alabama InfantryThe 14th Regiment Alabama Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 14th Alabama was mustered in at Richmond, Virginia on August 1, 1861....
.
- I feel, I feel, I feel,
- I feel like a morning star,
- I feel, I feel, I feel,
- I feel like a morning star.
- I feel, I feel, I feel,
- I feel like a morning star.
- I feel, I feel, I feel,
- I feel like a morning star.
If I sleep in the sun this nigger knows,
If I sleep in the sun this nigger knows,
If I sleep in the sun this nigger knows,
A fly come sting him on the nose.
I feel, I feel, I feel,
That's what my mother said,
Whenever this nigger goes to sleep,
He must cover up his head.
- Shew! fly, don't bother me,
- Shew! fly, don't bother me,
- Shew! fly, don't bother me,
- I belong to Comp'ny G.
- I feel, I feel, I feel,
- I feel like a morning star,
- I feel, I feel, I feel,
- I feel like a morning star.
- I feel, I feel, I feel,
- I feel like a morning star.
- I feel, I feel, I feel,
- I feel like a morning star.
In popular culture
In the 1998 film A Bug's LifeA Bug's Life
A Bug's Life is a 1998 American computer animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures in the United States on November 25, 1998. A Bug's Life was the second Disney·Pixar feature film after Toy Story, and the third American computer-animated film after Toy...
, one of the characters references the song's title. The Australian children's show Play School
Play School (Australian TV series)
Play School is an Australian educational television show for children produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It is the longest-running children's show in Australia, and the second longest running childrens show in the world. An estimated 80% of pre-school children under six watch the...
recorded a version for the albums There's A Bear In There, sung by Noni Hazlehurst, and In The Car, sung by John Hamblin
John Hamblin
John Hamblin is an Australian children's television presenter and actor, best known for presenting Play School from 1970 to 1999.Hamblin grew up in Suffolk, England, and did his national service in Cyprus before returning to England to become an actor...
.