Black Honey

This song is generally about the fact that actions have consequences and that we should learn from our mistakes rather than arrogantly or obliviously repeat them. More specifically, the song is about the U.S.’s practice of meddling in foreign countries in pursuit of oil. It causes the listener to consider how certain U.S. policies and military actions related to the pursuit of that oil in the Middle East have helped provoke Middle Eastern animosity toward the U.S. “Black honey” refers to petroleum, and the bees from whom that honey must be removed symbolize the inhabitants of oil-producing Middle Eastern countries. Dustin Kensrue told NPR, in an interview, Lyrically, the song spawned from an image that popped into my head: someone continually swatting at a swarm of bees to get their honey, but somehow not understanding why they would sting back in return." An additional quote that was in Thrice’s press release (link), but was removed from the NPR article is: It seemed like a fitting metaphor for much of U.S. foreign policy. Similarly, the Vagrant Records Thrice bio states, Elsewhere the ominous “Black Honey” considers the detrimental effects of deja vu foreign policy. “We keep doing the same things and expecting to get something good out of it,” says Dustin exasperated. “We’ve built problem on problem on problem, and now we find ourselves with ISIS and people are like—maybe we’ll do more of the same! It hasn’t worked yet: so maybe we need more of holistic approach to what we’re doing.” An older Thrice song, “The Sky Is Falling”, covered similar themes and was a regular on Thrice’s Summer 2016 To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere tour setlist

[Verse 1] I keep swinging my hand through a swarm of bees 'Cause I, I want honey on my table I keep swinging my hand through a swarm of bees 'Cause I, I want honey on my table [Pre-Chorus] But I never get it right No, I never get it right [Chorus] I keep swinging my hand through a swarm of bees I can't understand why they're stinging me But I'll do what I want, I'll do what I please I'll do it again 'til I've got what I need I'll rip and smash through the hornet's nest Do you understand I deserve the best? And I'll do what I want, I'll do what I please I'll do it again 'til I've got what I need [Verse 2] I try to stick this pin through a butterfly 'Cause I, I like all the pretty colors It just fell apart, so I flung it in the fire To burn with all the others [Pre-Chorus] 'Cause I never get it right No, I never get it right [Chorus] I keep swinging my hand through a swarm of bees I can't understand why they're stinging me But I'll do what I want, I'll do what I please I'll do it again 'til I've got what I need I'll rip and smash through the hornet's nest Do you understand I deserve the best? 'Til you do what I want, I'll do what I please I'll do it again 'til I've got what I need [Bridge] This time, I'll get it right This time, I'll get it right It's gonna be this time, I'll get it right God, let it be this time I get it right [Alternative Chorus] So I'm cutting that branch off the cherry tree Singing, "This will be my victory," Then I see them coming after me And they're following me across the sea And now they're stinging my friends and my family And I don't know why this is happening But I'll do what I want, I'll do what I please I'll do it again 'til I've got what I need [Outro] I keep swinging my hand through a swarm of bees 'Cause I, I want honey on my table