Little Fly
Ephemeral Dance of Life: Interpreting Esperanza Spalding's 'Little Fly'
Lyrics
Little fly,
Addressing a small creature, possibly a fly
Thy summer's play
Referring to the fly's carefree activities during summer
My thoughtless hand
Admits to accidentally disturbing the fly's play with a careless gesture
Has brushed away
Expresses the unintentional act of brushing away the fly
Am not I
Questions if the speaker is not similar to the fly in some way
A fly like thee?
Compares the speaker to the fly, highlighting similarities
Or art not thou
Questions if the fly is not similar to a human like the speaker
A man like me?
Poses the idea of shared qualities between the fly and the speaker
Oh, oh, oh
Repetition of "Oh" indicates a contemplative or emotional moment
Little fly
Addressing the fly again with a sense of realization
For I dance
Stating the speaker's engagement in joyful activities like dancing
And drink, and sing,
Listing additional joyful activities: drinking and singing
Till some blind hand
Anticipating a future event where an external force may disrupt the speaker's joy
Shall brush my wing
Implies vulnerability, suggesting potential harm to the speaker
If thought is life
Philosophical reflection on the importance of thought in life
And strength and breath
Associating thought with life, strength, and breath
And the want
Emphasizes the negative consequence of lacking thought: death
Of thought is death
Highlights the essential nature of thought for survival
Oh, oh, oh
Repetition of "Oh" continues the contemplative or emotional tone
Little fly
Addressing the fly again after the reflective interlude
Then am I
Asserts a state of happiness, possibly contrasting with previous reflections on life and death
A happy fly
Reiterates the speaker's identification with the fly's happiness
If I live,
States that whether the speaker lives or dies, they are content
Or if I die
Concludes with the acceptance of life's uncertainties and the speaker's contentment
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