Butterfly In Reverse
Counting Crows Lyrics
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You're better than the world
They took a lot of time
Getting it right on this girl
I said, Mary-Ann
You're better than the world
They did a lot of things right on this girl
Had a lot of girlfriends
I should have known them
Click your heels and count back from there
Do you want to go back?
You should have known
That the butterfly in reverse here is me
Mary-Ann
You're better than the world
They took a lot of time
Getting it right on this girl
I said, Mary-Ann
You're better than the world
They did a lot of things right on this girl
Where'd you want to go to
With nothing beside you
But webbing and curfews and rain?
And everything that hurts you
Is locked up inside you
Like butterflies with wings
And other perfect things
We go swimming in the sunshine
Dangling from clotheslines
Separate and fall into me
But did you ever see me?
Me, absolutely?
Me, but all you, but still me?
Mary-Ann
You're better than the world
They took a lot of time
Getting it right on this girl, I said
Mary-Ann
You're better than the world
They did a lot of things right on this girl
"Butterfly In Reverse" by Counting Crows is a song about a girl named Mary-Ann who is portrayed as someone who is special and better than the rest of the world. The lyrics suggest that Mary-Ann was created with a lot of thought and care, implying that there is something extraordinary about her. However, the lines "Had a lot of girlfriends, I should have known them" suggest that the singer didn't fully appreciate Mary-Ann's worth and only realizes it now in hindsight. The line "the butterfly in reverse here is me" further emphasizes this point by suggesting that the singer has become a lesser version of themselves compared to Mary-Ann.
The song then switches to imagery of webbing, curfews, and rain, suggesting a sense of entrapment and sadness. The line "everything that hurts you is locked up inside you like butterflies with wings and other perfect things" implies that Mary-Ann has gone through a lot of pain but has hidden it away inside her. The song then concludes with a request to Mary-Ann to see the singer for who they truly are, suggesting that the singer is not fully seen by Mary-Ann despite being familiar with each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Mary-Ann
Addressing Mary-Ann as the person he is talking to
You're better than the world
Mary-Ann is exceptional and better than the rest of the world
They took a lot of time
Someone put a lot of effort into creating and shaping Mary-Ann
Getting it right on this girl
The person who created Mary-Ann did a great job and made her perfect
I said, Mary-Ann
The person is still talking to Mary-Ann
They did a lot of things right on this girl
The person who created Mary-Ann did a great job on many aspects of her
Had a lot of girlfriends
The person had many past relationships
I should have known them
The person regrets not knowing their past girlfriends better
Click your heels and count back from there
Think back to the past and try to remember
Do you want to go back?
The person is asking Mary-Ann if she wants to revisit the past
You should have known
The person is continuing to suggest that Mary-Ann should know the answer
That the butterfly in reverse here is me
The person is the reason why things have turned out differently (in reverse) from how they were supposed to be
Where'd you want to go to
Asking Mary-Ann where she wants to be
With nothing beside you
Without any materials or possessions
But webbing and curfews and rain?
Only accompanied by negative or restrictive things
And everything that hurts you
All the pain and hurt that Mary-Ann feels
Is locked up inside you
All the pain and hurt is internalized and not expressed or released
Like butterflies with wings
The pain and hurt is held inside like butterflies, beautiful but trapped
And other perfect things
Other perfect things are also trapped inside, unable to escape or be expressed
We go swimming in the sunshine
The two people enjoy each other's company and have fun together
Dangling from clotheslines
Having fun and enjoying life's little moments
Separate and fall into me
They may be physically apart, but mentally and emotionally connected
But did you ever see me?
The person is asking if Mary-Ann truly sees him for who he is
Me, absolutely?
The person is asking if Mary-Ann truly knows and understands the real him
Me, but all you, but still me?
Even though the person may seem different to Mary-Ann, he is still the same person underneath it all
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM DURITZ, BEN MIZE, CHARLES GILLINGHAM, DANIEL VICKREY, DAVID BRYSON, DAVID IMMERGLUCK, MATTHEW MALLEY, RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind