Weller's eleventh studio album, Sonik Kicks, was released on 19 March 2012. The Green Songfacts reports that it was recorded in Weller’s own Black Barn Studios in Ripley, Surrey, with co-producer Simon Dine and engineer Charles Rees.
Born John William Weller in Stanley Road, Woking, he was also a central figure in the Mod revival. As the leader of the Jam, Paul Weller fronted the most popular British band of the punk era, influencing legions of English rockers that ranged from his mod-revival contemporaries to the Smiths in the '80s and Oasis in the '90s. During the final days of the Jam, he developed a fascination with Motown and soul, which led him to form the sophisti-pop group the Style Council in 1983. As the Style Council's career progressed, Weller's interest in soul developed into an infatuation with jazz-pop and house music, which eventually led to gradual erosion of his audience — by 1990, he couldn't get a record contract in the UK, where he had previously been worshipped as a demi-god. As a solo artist, Weller returned to soul music as an inspiration, cutting it with the progressive, hippie tendencies of Traffic. Weller's solo records were more organic and rootsier than the Style Council, which helped him regain his popularity within Britain. By the mid-'90s, he had released three successful albums which were both critically-acclaimed and massively popular in England, where contemporary bands like Ocean Colour Scene were citing him as an influence. Just as importantly, many observers, while occasionally criticizing the trad-rock nature of his music, acknowledged that Weller was one of the few rock veterans that had managed to stay vital within the second decade of his career.
Amongst Butterflies
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everyday began upon
The summer's kiss of love and adventure
And every June that we fell into
Left a mark upon us too
Etched forever as a moment we'd remember
And we'd remember
The empty woods where we played
The holidays went on forever
And in the woods was a soldier's tomb
The ghost of which looked over you
And God was there amongst the trees
We felt his whisper as the summer's breeze
And every night and every day
I learnt to love it in a special way
As I remember
What it's like to walk amongst butterflies
Ooh, butterflies
Yeah, butterflies
Ooh, butterflies
And in the woods was a soldier's tomb
The ghost of which looked over you
And God was there amongst the trees
We felt his whisper as the summer's breeze
And every night and every day
Touch my soul that way
As I remember
What it's like to walk amongst butterflies
Butterflies
Butterflies
The lyrics of Paul Weller's song Amongst Butterflies paint a picture of idyllic childhood summers spent running along sunny beaches and playing in empty woods. These moments are described as a "summer's kiss of love and adventure" that leave a lasting imprint on the singer's memory.
The mention of a soldier's tomb in the woods adds a layer of depth to the song, suggesting that even in childhood bliss there is a recognition of something darker lurking beneath the surface. However, the singer finds solace in feeling God's whisper in the summer breeze as they walk amongst the butterflies.
The repetition of the word "remember" emphasizes the importance of these childhood memories to the singer, even as they recognize that they can never go back to those carefree days. The use of natural imagery, such as the butterflies and the summer breeze, conveys a sense of peace and tranquility that contrasts with the tension hinted at by the soldier's tomb.
Overall, Amongst Butterflies is a nostalgic ode to the beauty of childhood and the lasting impact of those formative years.
Line by Line Meaning
The sunny sand we ran along
We used to run on a beach with bright sand when the weather was good.
Everyday began upon
Every morning we woke up, ready to face the new day.
The summer's kiss of love and adventure
The summertime gave us a feeling of excitement and love.
And every June that we fell into
Every year we welcomed June with open arms.
Left a mark upon us too
We were left with memories that we would cherish forever.
Etched forever as a moment we'd remember
Those memories were so special, we would carry them with us forever.
And we'd remember
We would never forget how those moments made us feel.
The empty woods where we played
We used to play in the woods, which were always quiet and peaceful.
Every hour of every day
We never got tired of being in the woods, we loved it so much.
The holidays went on forever
The holidays felt like they lasted forever, we enjoyed every second of it.
And in the woods was a soldier's tomb
There was a soldier's grave in the woods.
The ghost of which looked over you
It felt like the spirit of the soldier was watching over us in the woods.
And God was there amongst the trees
We felt like God was in the woods with us, enjoying the beauty of the nature around us.
We felt his whisper as the summer's breeze
We felt the presence of God in the gentle summer breeze.
And every night and every day
We felt God's presence every moment of every day.
I learnt to love it in a special way
We had a special relationship with nature and God in the woods.
What it's like to walk amongst butterflies
Walking among the butterflies gave us a feeling of peace and tranquility.
Ooh, butterflies
Butterflies were a symbol of peace and beauty for us.
Yeah, butterflies
We loved butterflies so much, they were a big part of our experience in the woods.
Touch my soul that way
Nature and God's presence in the woods touched us very deeply and left a profound impact on our souls.
Butterflies
Butterflies continued to represent peace and beauty for us, even long after leaving the woods.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind