caterpillar
Big Brother & the Holding Company and Janis Joplin Lyrics


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I'm a caterpillar
I'm a caterpillar
Crawling for your love
Crawling for your love
Crawling for your love,
For your love.

I'm a butterfly
I'm a butterfly
Flying for your love
Flying for your love
Flying for your love,
For your love.

Well, I'll be anything that you want me to be.
Baby, I'd even would be a-climbing up your tree.

I'm a pterodactyl
I'm a pterodactyl
Dying for your love
Dying for your love
Dying for your love
For your love.

I'm an abominable snowman
I'm an abominable snowman
Calling for your love
Calling for your love
Calling for your love
For your love.

Well now baby, I'll be anything that you want me to be,
Baby, a big monkey, a little monkey, a chimpanzee.

Oh now,
I'm a caterpillar
I'm a caterpillar
Falling for your love
Falling for your love
Falling for your love
For your love.

Oh baby,
Falling for your love
Falling for your love
Falling for your love
For your love.

Falling for your love
Falling for your love




Falling for your love
For your love.

Overall Meaning

The song Caterpillar by Big Brother & The Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin is a representation of the lengths one goes for love. The singer compares herself to different creatures and takes on their characteristics, transforming from a crawling caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly, a dying pterodactyl, and even an abominable snowman. Despite transforming and changing herself in various ways for love, the singer realizes that she is falling for this person and will do anything to be with them.


The lyrics are symbolic of the transformation that one undergoes while in love. The caterpillar, a crawling insect, represents the beginning of a relationship where everything is new and takes time to develop. The butterfly, on the other hand, symbolizes the transition from a crawling creature to one that can fly representing growth and development in a relationship. The pterodactyl and abominable snowman represent the different stages of love where one can feel like they are dying or out of place, but they still call out for that person's love.


Overall, the song depicts the idea that love makes people transform and adapt to different situations. The song displays the lengths one is willing to go for love, even if it means undergoing a transformation.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm a caterpillar
I'm still in the beginning stages of my transformation and growth.


Crawling for your love
I'm putting in the effort to pursue and win your love, just like a caterpillar crawling towards its goal.


For your love.
I'm doing all of this for your love and affection.


I'm a butterfly
I've transformed and grown into something beautiful, just like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.


Flying for your love
I'm soaring and putting in an even greater effort to pursue and win your love.


Well, I'll be anything that you want me to be.
I'm willing to change and adapt to fit your needs and desires.


Baby, I'd even would be a-climbing up your tree.
I'll go to any length to please you, even if it means climbing up something as difficult as a tree.


I'm a pterodactyl
I'm comparing myself to an extinct prehistoric creature to show the extremes I'm willing to go for your love.


Dying for your love
I'm being dramatic to emphasize how much I desire and need your love.


I'm an abominable snowman
I'm again comparing myself to something fantastical to emphasize the extremes of my love and desire.


Calling for your love
I'm now emphasizing how much I'm reaching out and asking for your love, just like the abominable snowman calls out in search of companionship.


Oh now,
I'm transitioning to a new idea or thought.


Falling for your love
I'm now portraying myself as vulnerable and helpless, falling like a caterpillar from a tree, because of my love and desire for you.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: PETER S ALBIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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