Mansun came to prominence in the mid-nineties British indie/ guitar-rock resurgence, despite pursuing their own path away from any of the emerging scenes. Their first album Attack of the Grey Lantern could easily have been lost amidst the wave of new music in the British (Britpop) scene at that time if it had not been for the majestic Wide Open Space. The single charted at number 15 in the UK. The album then went on to reach no. 1 in the UK charts. Many of the tracks from the album and the associated EP's formed part of a grand concept piece. The band created a twisted town inhabited by bizarre characters such as "Dark Mavis", "Stripper Vicar", "Flourella" and "Egg-Shaped Fred".
Between their 1st and 2nd album they released the Closed for Business EP which departed from the themes that had run through all Mansun's previous releases, while musically very similar to the tracks from Attack of the Grey Lantern.
The band's second album Six was a radical departure from the first album. The tracks segued into each other creating two musical sections which were separated by an "intermission". Musically, the songs were far more produced in sound. The album artwork was also very complex containing many references to the cult (and often surreal) 60's TV show "The Prisoner". This perfectly suited the music which had the feeling of a nonsensical prog extravaganza. The artwork together with the way that the complex structure of the songs/time signatures blended into each other gave the impression of a very ambitious progressive rock concept album, though lyrically there is little to suggest that there is a central theme to the album. While generally critically appreciated, Six was not a huge commercial success, though the album did reach no. 6 in the UK album charts.
For their third album, Little Kix, Mansun again changed direction. This time the songs were slickly produced (over-produced in some senses) with strong pop sensibility. The album was obviously an attempt by the band to produce an album with more maturity, but was perhaps too polished. Little Kix reached no. 12 in the UK charts.
Mansun disbanded in May 2003. This was a culmination of band tensions which had seen one of the original members leave (Stove King). Disappointed by the poor reception of their 3rd album, the band folded with little fanfare of their passing.
Due to pressure from their fans, EMI released the posthumous "4th album", Kleptomania, which was a three CD set containing rough recordings of tracks slated to be on the unfinished 4th album, b-sides and rarities.
Butterfly
Mansun Lyrics
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And I feel a new beginning
The beauty of a butterfly that turns into something new
And I feel a new beginning
So I go to work and smile
And I'm happy with myself
A brave face for my crowd
With prescription medicine
My trouble surges
The beauty of a butterfly that turns into something new
And I feel a new beginning
The beauty of a butterfly that turns into something new
And I feel a new beginning
There is beauty on my own
Where I gloss over my flaws
At least I like to think I do
Correct my errors and my faults
To be someone who is appeased
With who I am for
The beauty of a butterfly that turns into something new
And I feel a new beginning
The beauty of a butterfly that turns into something new
And I feel a new beginning
Again, again
Right then, I have to make a choice
I'm gonna start right over as another boy
Just got to poke me, kick me off my arse
Make it rhyme, make it bland, make it sell
So she said "Knew you off the TV
Never mind, you must have had it easier
Than me, tell me what's your secret"
Make it rhyme, make it bland, make it sell
The beauty of a butterfly that turns into something new
And I feel a new beginning
The beauty of a butterfly that turns into something new
And I feel a new beginning
Again, again, again, again
Again (the beauty of a butterfly)
Again (the beauty of a butterfly)
The lyrics of Mansun's song "Butterfly" are complex and multi-layered. It seems to explore the theme of change, growth, and transformation. The first stanza of the song repeats the line "The beauty of a butterfly that turns into something new, and I feel a new beginning," emphasizing the transformative power of a butterfly. This image is often associated with transformation, growth, and metamorphosis, which could suggest the artist's desire to change or evolve into something new.
The second stanza takes a different turn as the singer talks about going to work and putting on a brave face for the crowd, despite feeling troubled inside. The line "Correcting all my faults with prescription medicine" could be interpreted as the singer turning to medication to help him cope with his issues. However, the line "My trouble surges" suggests that this isn't a long-term solution.
The third stanza is more introspective, with the singer talking about finding beauty within himself and accepting his flaws. The line "At least I like to think I do" suggests that he is still struggling with self-acceptance. The line "To be someone who is appeased with who I am for" suggests that he is seeking inner peace and satisfaction in his own identity.
The final stanza changes the tone of the song again, with the singer talking about starting over as another person. The line "Make it rhyme, make it bland, make it sell" suggests that he is potentially talking about the music industry, where commercial success often requires artists to produce music that is formulaic and easy to sell. The line "Tell me what's your secret" suggests that he is dissatisfied with his current level of success and wants to know the secret to making it big.
Overall, "Butterfly" is a complex and powerful song that explores themes of change, transformation, and self-acceptance. It is a reflection on the struggles of the artist with his identity and the pressure to conform to industry standards.
Line by Line Meaning
The beauty of a butterfly that turns into something new
Change can be beautiful and lead to new beginnings
And I feel a new beginning
This change inspires a sense of hope and renewal
So I go to work and smile
I put on a brave face even if I'm not truly happy
And I'm happy with myself
Despite my flaws, I try to find contentment within myself
A brave face for my crowd
I present a confident image to those around me
Correcting all my faults
I try to improve myself by fixing my mistakes
With prescription medicine
I use medication to cope with my issues
My trouble surges
My problems become overwhelming
There is beauty on my own
I try to see the beauty in myself, despite my imperfections
Where I gloss over my flaws
I try to ignore my shortcomings and focus on my strengths
At least I like to think I do
I try to convince myself that I am content with who I am
Correct my errors and my faults
I strive to better myself by fixing my mistakes
To be someone who is appeased
I want to find peace and contentment within myself
With who I am for
I accept myself for who I am
Again, again
Once more, repeatedly
Right then, I have to make a choice
I am at a turning point and must choose which path to take
I'm gonna start right over as another boy
I want to reinvent myself and start fresh
Just got to poke me, kick me off my arse
I need a push to get out of my rut and make a change
Make it rhyme, make it bland, make it sell
I feel pressure to create something marketable and appealing
So she said "Knew you off the TV
Someone recognizes me from my television appearances
Never mind, you must have had it easier
They assume my success came easily to me
Than me, tell me what's your secret"
They want to know how I achieved success
Again (the beauty of a butterfly)
The transformative power of change is beautiful
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DOMINIC CHAD, PAUL EDWARD DRAPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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