In 1975, after a failed stint at managing & relaunching the image of the notoriously hard living and chaotic band the New York Dolls, Malcolm nurtured the formation of one of the most infamous punk bands in history, The Sex Pistols. He became their manager, and controlled their contracts, as well as most importantly to him, their image in the media. The venture ended in a disastrous US tour, and a film called "The Great Rock And Roll Swindle" that featured McLaren, and glorified his untraditional Situationist PR approach and manipulative Svengali-esque role in the band's career.
In the '80s, after the Sex Pistols had long broken up, Malcolm became the manager of another band, Adam and the Ants which veered away from punk's coarse format via new romantic pirate garb and poly rhythmic African style drumming. When Adam Ant rebelled and left the band, Malcolm repackaged the musicians with a 14 year old Anglo/Burmese girl named Annabella Lwin to form the band Bow Wow Wow. He soon used his headline making skills to propel the band and their underage lead singer to the top of the charts with a nude album cover scandal.
In the early 1980's, Malcolm began producing his own records, beginning with the hits "Buffalo Gals" and "Double Dutch" from the groundbreaking 1983 album "Duck Walk" which used NYC hip hoppers and scratch DJ's The World Famous Supreme Team, as its foundation. Future members of Art of Noise performed on, produced, and/or jointly composed various tracks. He next turned to opera, masterminding a pop adaptation of "Madam Butterfly" on the album "Fans" using an assortment of female vocalists, and skilled musician Robby Kilgore on the tracks.
McLaren has released numerous other albums and tracks since, including contributions to the movie soundtracks of Carry On Columbus, and Kill Bill 2, but his musical career peaked with his 1980's works. McLaren's original "Double Dutch" era material has since been reappropriated and sampled by sucessful artists including Mariah Carey, Eminem, Amerie and De La Soul.
In his later years, McLaren occasionally contributed to newspapers and magazines, directed and produced films and appeared on British reality television programmes. He died on the morning of 8 April 2010, following a battle with cancer.
Madam Butterfly
Malcolm McLaren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That was her name in those days
And I was her man
I'm going back to visit her
She got a problem
She got a little Cho Cho
Cho Cho San was her name
And this is her tale of woe
[Foreign content]
Today's the day when I see clear
A tiny thread of smoke appears
Where blue skies fall upon the ocean
And shake this staid emotion
All the while I sing this song
I see a dot on the horizon
Growing bigger every second
Gleaming white in my direction
Who on earth can it be
Coming up the path for me?
What on earth will he say?
Shall I run to him or run away?
Freaking out, he's come to get me
My feet are stuck but just won't let me
Run to him do I dare?
Madam Butterfly don't blow it
Calling Butterfly, Madam Butterfly
That's the name he used to give me
He's my man till the day I die
Oh, sweet Butterfly, so sweet Butterfly
She's waiting
He'll be back, I have faith in this love track
Pinkerton's the name
Lieutenant Colonel Pinkerton, sir
U.S. Navy
I'm a bounder
I married a Yankee girl
But I went back to visit old Japan
Where there she was, Cho Cho San
Gotta have something to believe in
My white honkey, I do miss him
Someday soon he'll come around
Just to stop my nervous breakdown
Call me fool, call me stupid
Bend my arrow kill this cupid
Say it with me
He'll be back
I have faith in this love track
Calling Butterfly, Madam Butterfly
That's the name he used to give me
He's my man till the day I die
Oh, sweet Butterfly, so sweet Butterfly
She's waiting
He'll be back, I have faith
[Foreign content]
Cho Cho San
My little wife
My sweet butterfly
That's the name I'll give her
When I return
[Foreign content]
Little sweet sweet Butterfly
I hear him crowing faintly
He thinks I'm just still sweet sixteen
I guess I'll tease him gently
Calling Madam Butterfly
His angel plucked right from the sky
Hide my baby in mystic places
I feel the fear that I might die
Right in his arms and his embraces
Softly kissing my eyelashes
Got no right, no right to doubt it
Ain't no doubt, no doubt about it
Call me fool, call me stupid
Bend this arrow kill this cupid
I have faith I'll always pray
My white honkey's here to stay
Calling Butterfly, Madam Butterfly
Butterfly, Butterfly have no fear
I'll be back to wipe your tears
Oh, sweet Butterfly, so sweet Butterfly
She's waiting
I'll wait for him with unshakable faith
He'll be back
[Foreign content]
He'll be back
I'll be back
The first verse of Malcolm McLaren's song Madam Butterfly sets up the story of Cho Cho San, who was the singer's wife in Nagasaki. The second verse is sung by Cho Cho San herself, as she prepares to see her husband again after his absence. She sees a tiny thread of smoke signaling his ship's arrival and becomes nervous about their reunion. The chorus then repeats the name "Madam Butterfly," which was the nickname that the singer gave to Cho Cho San. The third verse introduces Pinkerton, the Lieutenant Colonel from the Navy who married Cho Cho San, but left her alone for years.
The song is an adaptation of Giacomo Puccini's 1904 opera Madama Butterfly, which is about a young Japanese woman named Cio-Cio San, who falls in love with an American naval officer, Pinkerton, and is eventually abandoned by him. The song's lyrics and music capture the essence of the opera and portray the intense emotions of the characters. The singer's longing for his wife and Cho Cho San's fear and hope for their reunion are palpable throughout.
Line by Line Meaning
Back in Nagasaki I got married to Cho Cho San
I once got married to a woman named Cho Cho San in Nagasaki.
That was her name in those days
At the time we got married, Cho Cho San's name was Cho Cho San.
And I was her man
I was Cho Cho San's husband.
I'm going back to visit her
I am planning to return and visit Cho Cho San again.
She got a problem
Cho Cho San has a problem.
She got a little Cho Cho
Cho Cho San has a child named Cho Cho.
Cho Cho San was her name
Cho Cho San's name is Cho Cho San.
And this is her tale of woe
The following is a story of Cho Cho San's hardship.
Today's the day when I see clear
I understand clearly what is happening today.
A tiny thread of smoke appears
I see a small signal in the distance.
Where blue skies fall upon the ocean
The horizon where the sky meets the ocean.
And shake this staid emotion
This sight invigorates me and changes my mood.
All the while I sing this song
As I sing this song, I observe the horizon.
I see a dot on the horizon
I see a small object in the distance.
Growing bigger every second
It is getting closer to me quickly.
Gleaming white in my direction
It is a shiny, white object heading towards me.
Who on earth can it be
I wonder who this person could be.
Coming up the path for me?
Are they coming to meet me?
What on earth will he say?
What will this person say to me?
Shall I run to him or run away?
Should I approach this person or flee?
Freaking out, he's come to get me
I am anxious and scared because he is coming to find me.
My feet are stuck but just won't let me
I feel immobilized and cannot move away from this person.
Run to him do I dare?
Do I have the bravery to approach him?
Madam Butterfly don't blow it
I must keep my composure and not ruin this moment.
Calling Butterfly, Madam Butterfly
This person used to call me Butterfly or Madam Butterfly.
That's the name he used to give me
This person used to call me by those names.
He's my man till the day I die
This person is and always will be my partner.
Pinkerton's the name
The name of the person is Pinkerton.
Lieutenant Colonel Pinkerton, sir
Pinkerton is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Navy.
I'm a bounder
I am a man without principles or morals.
I married a Yankee girl
I married an American woman.
But I went back to visit old Japan
I returned to Japan to visit again.
Where there she was, Cho Cho San
In Japan, I found Cho Cho San again.
Gotta have something to believe in
I need something to hold onto and believe in.
My white honkey, I do miss him
I miss my American lover.
Someday soon he'll come around
I am confident he will come back to me soon.
Just to stop my nervous breakdown
To ease my anxiety and stress.
Call me fool, call me stupid
Insult me if you must.
Bend my arrow kill this cupid
I will try to forget my feelings for Pinkerton.
Say it with me
Agree with what I'm saying.
He'll be back
I am confident that Pinkerton will return to me.
Calling Butterfly, Madam Butterfly
This person calls me Butterfly or Madam Butterfly again.
Butterfly, Butterfly have no fear
Do not be afraid, Butterfly.
I'll be back to wipe your tears
I will come back to comfort you.
She's waiting
Cho Cho San is waiting for Pinkerton to return.
I'll wait for him with unshakable faith
I too wait for Pinkerton with unwavering belief that he will come back.
Cho Cho San
This person is addressing Cho Cho San.
My little wife
This person is referring to Cho Cho San as their spouse.
My sweet butterfly
This person calls Cho Cho San their 'sweet butterfly.'
That's the name I'll give her
I have decided that 'sweet butterfly' will be Cho Cho San's new nickname.
When I return
This person is referring to returning to Nagasaki.
Little sweet sweet Butterfly
This person is addressing Cho Cho San affectionately.
I hear him crowing faintly
I can faintly hear Pinkerton calling to me.
He thinks I'm just still sweet sixteen
Pinkerton still thinks of me as young and innocent.
I guess I'll tease him gently
I will playfully flirt with Pinkerton.
Butterfly, Madam Butterfly
Pinkerton calls me Butterfly or Madam Butterfly.
His angel plucked right from the sky
This person believes Pinkerton sees them as an angelic figure.
Hide my baby in mystic places
I will keep our child safe in hidden locations.
I feel the fear that I might die
I am scared that I will not survive this situation.
Right in his arms and his embraces
I long to be in Pinkerton's comforting arms.
Softly kissing my eyelashes
Pinkerton is gently kissing my eyelids.
Got no right, no right to doubt it
I have no reason to question Pinkerton's love for me.
Ain't no doubt, no doubt about it
I am certain that Pinkerton loves me.
Call me fool, call me stupid
Insult me if you must.
Bend this arrow kill this cupid
I will try to forget my romantic feelings for Pinkerton.
I have faith I'll always pray
I have faith in Pinkerton's return.
My white honkey's here to stay
I believe that Pinkerton will always be with me.
He'll be back
I am confident that Pinkerton will come back to me.
I'll be back
This person plans to return again to Japan and to Cho Cho San.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MALCOLM ROBERT ANDREW MCLAREN, STEPHEN E HAGUE, JAMES TURBITT WALTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jairokb2079
Back in Nagasaki
I got married to Cho Cho San
That was her name in those days
And I was her man
I'm going back to visit her
She got a problem
She got a little Cho Cho
Cho Cho San was her name
And this is her tale of woe
Take it away Cho Cho
Today's the day when I see clear
A tiny thread of smoke appears
Where blue skies fall upon the ocean
And shake this staid emotion
All the while I sing this song
I see a dot on the horizon
Growing bigger every second
Gleaming white in my direction
Who on Earth can it be
Coming up the path for me?
What on Earth will he say?
Shall I run to him or run away?
You might also like
Mockingbird
Eminem
I Know Places
Taylor Swift
Suburban Legends (Taylor’s Version) [From The Vault]
Taylor Swift
Freaking out, he's come to get me
My feet are stuck and just won't let me
Run to him do I dare?
Madam Butterfly don't blow it
Calling Butterfly, Madam Butterfly
That's the name he used to give me
He's my man till the day I die
Oh, sweet Butterfly, so sweet Butterfly
She's waiting
He'll be back, I have faith in this love track
Pinkerton's the name
Lieutenant Colonel Pinkerton, Sir
U.S. Navy
I'm a bounder
I married a Yankee girl
But I went back to visit old Japan
Where there she was, Cho Cho San
Gotta have something to believe in
My white honky, I do miss him
Someday soon he'll come around
Just to stop my nervous breakdown
Call me fool, call me stupid
Bend my arrow kill this cupid
Say it with me
He'll be back
I have faith in this love track
Calling Butterfly, Madam Butterfly
That's the name he used to give me
He's my man till the day I die
Oh, sweet Butterfly, so sweet Butterfly
She's waiting
He'll be back, I have faith
Cho Cho San
My little wife
My sweet butterfly
That's the name I'll give her
When I return
Little sweet sweet Butterfly
I hear him crowing faintly
He thinks I'm just still sweet sixteen
I guess I'll tease him gently
Calling Madam Butterfly
His angel plucked right from the sky
Hide my baby in mystic places
I feel the fear that I might die
Right in his arms and his embraces
Softly kissing my eyelashes
Got no right, no right to doubt it
Ain't no doubt, no doubt about it
Call me fool, call me stupid
Bend this arrow kill this cupid
I have faith I'll always pray
My white honky's here to stay
Calling Butterfly, Madam Butterfly
Butterfly, Butterfly have no fear
I'll be back to wipe your tears
Oh, sweet Butterfly, so sweet Butterfly
She's waiting
I'll wait for him with unshakable faith
He'll be back
He'll be back
I'll be back
@SaberRaine
One of the most beautiful tracks to come out from the 80s I will always love this song so beautiful and so different to everything else from that time. A beautiful classic to me.
@nataliatkacheva9617
Тебя уносит в то время, назад, в молодость, где всё впереди, ответ, так?
@markroose8686
Let's mix a Puccini opera with a dance beat! Only a genius like Mclaren could pull this off...
@marie-laurerichard402
Magnifique 😍
@TheBlindwig
wish there were more like him...music today is so...unmoving
@charliegreyfriars3691
Oh dear, one born every minute. 🙄
@paulmchugh8695
Loved this ? If it brings some people to another music world so be it ? ❤
@paulmchugh8695
There shouldn’t be rooms in the world of anything music less of all ❤
@alee7750
This song is 30+ years old and still sounds great!
@debra1232
Nearer 40-yrs