Some Things That Glitter
Queen + Paul Rodgers Lyrics

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Once I loved a butterfly
Don't wonder how, don't ask me why
But I believed what I'd been told
All things that glitter can't be gold, ooh yeah
All things that glitter can't be gold

Those jealous minds conspired to say
Just let that creature fly away

How can it be she has it all?
Her pride is headed for a fall, ooh yeah
All things that glitter can't be gold

Oh Lord, what races we run
Seeking our place in the sun
Reaching and hoping
We'll find the right one

Now every day a new joy waits
My butterfly grew golden wings
It seems we find as we grow old
Some things that glitter may be gold, ooh yeah
Some things that glitter may be gold

So let us mind what's there to see
Before our hearts become too cold
In spite of all that we've been told
Some things that glitter may be gold, ooh yeah

Some things that glitter may be gold, ooh yeah
Some things that glitter may be gold

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Queen + Paul Rodgers's song Some Things That Glitter speaks about the idea of appearance being deceiving. The writer once loved a butterfly but eventually realized that everything that glitters isn't gold. The opening line of the song "Once I loved a butterfly" symbolizes how the writer loved someone or something based on their appearance. It could also represent an innocent and carefree time in their life.

In the next line, the writer mentions how they believed what they had been told. This could be an indication of how the writer had been conditioned to believe that anything that looks attractive is automatically valuable. However, they later came to the realization that all things that glitter can't be gold. The metaphorical meaning of this line is to imply that things may look good from a distance, but upon closer inspection, they are often not what they seem.

The line "Those jealous minds conspired to say, Just let that creature fly away" suggests that sometimes, external forces beyond an individual's control can cause something or someone valuable to leave. The following lines imply that people might envy someone's good fortune and may spread rumors, which lead to that person's downfall.

Overall, the song advises listeners to take a closer look at what's around them before jumping to conclusions. The line "Some things that glitter may be gold" advises people to practice mindfulness and appreciate the things, people, and experiences in their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Once I loved a butterfly
I once fell in love with a delicate, beautiful creature (metaphorically)

Don't wonder how, don't ask me why
My love for this thing cannot be questioned or explained

But I believed what I'd been told
I trusted what I heard and what I thought I knew about this thing

All things that glitter can't be gold, ooh yeah
But I later realized that not everything that looks valuable and attractive on the surface actually is

Those jealous minds conspired to say
People with negative ulterior motives were determined to criticize and bring down what I loved

Just let that creature fly away
They wanted it gone and out of my life

How can it be she has it all?
Their jealousy and resentment caused them to question why I was allowed to have this beautiful thing in my life

Her pride is headed for a fall, ooh yeah
They believed that my love for this thing would ultimately lead to my downfall

Oh Lord, what races we run
We are constantly striving and competing to achieve our goals and desires

Seeking our place in the sun
We are all searching for success and recognition

Reaching and hoping
We keep trying and wishing for our dreams to come true

We'll find the right one
We will eventually discover what truly matters and what is worth pursuing

Now every day a new joy waits
As time goes on, I continue to discover new sources of happiness

My butterfly grew golden wings
What I once loved and thought was fragile and easy to lose, is now strong and resilient

It seems we find as we grow old
As we gain more life experience, we become wiser and better able to recognize what is truly valuable

Some things that glitter may be gold, ooh yeah
We may find that some things that seem flashy and superficial can actually be quite valuable and meaningful

So let us mind what's there to see
We should pay careful attention to what is in front of us

Before our hearts become too cold
We should not let cynicism and negativity prevent us from recognizing and appreciating what is truly valuable

In spite of all that we've been told
Despite what others may say or believe, we should keep an open mind and be willing to recognize the value in unexpected things

Some things that glitter may be gold, ooh yeah
We should not dismiss things that seem flashy or superficial, because they may turn out to be truly valuable in the end

Some things that glitter may be gold, ooh yeah
Repeating the chorus to emphasize the main message of the song

Some things that glitter may be gold
Repeating the chorus one more time to drive home the point

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MAY, PAUL RODGERS, ROGER TAYLOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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