February 2019 saw the release of Kehlani’s third mixtape While We Wait, which served as a prelude to what would be their second album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t. The highly-anticipated album was released on May 8, 2020 to positive reception, with the album cover and music videos being shot in their home due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the time.
On April 29, 2022, Kehlani released their third album Blue Water Road, with features from Blxst, Justin Bieber, Syd, Jessie Reyez, Ambré and Thundercat.
Butterfly
Kehlani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't no goin' back no more, no more
We're in the same bed, cannot lay awake
Let's fill up this space with us
Butterfly, yeah, yeah
You make me feel brand new
No longer lookin' for somethin'
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin' late
No longer lookin' for somethin'
Oh, oh, oh
So you seem to think you're invisible
You're so far from silhouette
You tell on yourself between every word
And leave all this room for me
Butterfly, yeah
I miss feelin' for you
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin' late
No longer lookin' for somethin'
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin' late
No longer lookin' for somethin'
You speak in dictionaries while fearing less than all will understand
Virgo moon, I'm so used to your dance
Tongue too swole to comprehend
I see you duck and dodge at every bend
Afraid to play your card, be forced to show your hand
I hope you take from this that it'll make you no less of a man
To break your walls and simply grab my hand
Love shouldn't be contraband
It shouldn't trample on your confidence
Shouldn't be seen as less than compliments
In "Butterfly," Kehlani expresses her thoughts and feelings towards a potential relationship that she is scared of. She acknowledges that both parties are afraid of what could happen if they take things further. They both want to fill up the space between them but are scared to do so. The metaphor of a butterfly is used to describe the feeling of being reborn or starting fresh with someone new. This person makes her feel brand new and brings a rush of excitement that scares her but also intrigues her.
She also mentions how the other person might think they are invisible, but they are not. They are far from being a silhouette and give away bits of themselves with every word they say. Kehlani recognizes that this person is afraid to show their true feelings and to reveal themselves to her completely. However, she hopes that they understand that breaking down their walls and taking a chance on love does not make them less of a man.
The song ends with the message that love should not be seen as a taboo or something to be feared. It should not be something that makes one's confidence tremble, but rather something that should be celebrated and seen as a compliment.
Line by Line Meaning
Know we're scared of us, what this might become
We acknowledge our fears of a possible consequential relationship
Ain't no goin' back no more, no more
We are determined to move on with this relationship, there is no going back
We're in the same bed, cannot lay awake
We cannot keep pretending to be asleep in the same bed
Let's fill up this space with us
We should fill up the space between us with our love and connection
Butterfly, yeah, yeah
The transformation of our relationship is akin to a butterfly’s metamorphosis
You make me feel brand new
You make me feel renewed and refreshed, like a brand new person
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin'
I can feel the change coming, and it excites me like a runner’s rush
No, don't go lookin' for somethin'
Let's not seek new partners or look for something that is not between us
So you seem to think you're invisible
You act as if no one sees or understands you
You're so far from silhouette
You can't be defined by a mere outline, you are much more complex
You tell on yourself between every word
You reveal your true self with every word that you say
And leave all this room for me
You make space for me to really see you
I miss feelin' for you
I miss the intimacy of feeling for you
You speak in dictionaries while fearing less than all will understand
You use complex words while still fearing that nobody will really understand you
Virgo moon, I'm so used to your dance
I am used to your cautious, meticulous ways, typical of a Virgo moon
Tongue too swole to comprehend
Your tongue is too swollen to fully articulate your true feelings
I see you duck and dodge at every bend
I see you avoiding confrontation and changing directions at every turn
Afraid to play your card, be forced to show your hand
You are scared of revealing too much and being vulnerable
I hope you take from this that it'll make you no less of a man
I hope you realize that being vulnerable doesn't diminish your masculinity
To break your walls and simply grab my hand
Let's break down our emotional walls and hold hands
Love shouldn't be contraband
Love shouldn't be forbidden or illegal
It shouldn't treble on your confidence
Love should not shake or weaken your confidence
Shouldn't be seen as less than compliments
Love shouldn't be seen as less important than compliments, it should be equally valued
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Aliandro Prawl, Ambre Perkins, Kehlani Ashley Parrish, Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, Leon Thomas, Scott Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
iamaashif
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Know we're scared of us, what this might become
Ain't no goin' back no more, no more
We're in the same bed, cannot lay awake
Let's fill up this space with us
[Pre-Chorus]
Butterfly, yeah, yeah
You make me feel brand new
[Chorus]
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin' late
No longer lookin' for somethin'
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin' late
No longer lookin' for somethin'
[Verse 2]
Oh, oh, oh
So you seem to think you're invisible
You're so far from silhouette
You tell on yourself between every word
And leave all this room for me
[Pre-Chorus]
Butterfly, yeah
I miss feelin' for you
[Chorus]
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin' late
No longer lookin' for somethin'
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin' late
No longer lookin' for somethin'
[Outro]
You speak in dictionaries while fearing less than all will understand
Virgo moon, I'm so used to your dance
Tongue too swole to comprehend
I see you duck and dodge at every bend
Afraid to play your card, be forced to show your hand
I hope you take from this that it'll make you no less of a man
To break your walls and simply grab my hand
Love shouldn't be contraband
It shouldn't trample on your confidence
Shouldn't be seen as less than compliments
Betül R
Know we're scared of us, what this might become
Ain't no goin' back no more, no more
We're in the same bed, cannot lay awake
Let's fill up this space with us
Butterfly, yeah, yeah
You make me feel brand new
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin'
No, don't go lookin' for somethin'
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin'
No, don't go lookin' for somethin'
Oh, oh, oh
So you seem to think you're invisible
You're so far from silhouette
You tell on yourself between every word
And leave all this room for me
Butterfly, yeah
I miss feelin' for you
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin'
No, don't go lookin' for somethin'
Oh, I feel it comin', got a rush like I'm runnin'
No, don't go lookin' for somethin'
You speak in dictionaries while fearing less than all will understand
Virgo moon, I'm so used to your dance
Tongue too swole to comprehend
I see you duck and dodge at every bend
Afraid to play your card, be forced to show your hand
I hope you take from this that it'll make you no less of a man
To break your walls and simply grab my hand
Love shouldn't be contraband
It shouldn't treble on your confidence
Shouldn't be seen as less than compliments
Scarlett
Kehlani deserves more recongnition she is incredible
Chema
her voice is something else tbh, love it
Whoo Theeem
Kehlani is A.R.T 😍
Jont
@ScarlettP you put the dame comment on every video
Cynthia Macaringue
Loved her as soon as I heard her for the first time with Hailey Kyoko
Josephine Fargas
ScarlettP i agree
Arielle
I feel like you can literally see/hear Kehlani's spiritual growth in this new project. Definitely my favorite project of hers and I've been a fan since Cloud 19. It's been amazing to watch her grow into the beautiful, strong, and wise woman she is today!!! Go Lani! We are so proud of you!
Niara Patterson
Arielle Francois perfectly described, been a fan of hers since I saw her perform at a live music street show in Oakland back in 2014 and she's grown so much I feel like she's an older sister 😭
RAD
Totally agree 😄
Arielle
NAYA BEAUTY Yes!!! I feel like I’m more than just a fan. I feel like a legit supporter! She’s grown so much and I’m so proud. I feel like I’m watching my big sister fr lol😂