Papillon
Radar Bros. Lyrics

Hello weak butterfly in my arms
The singer is holding a fragile butterfly that has come a long way, possibly indicating distance or migration, only to die while in their embrace.

You traveled so far to die in my arms
The butterfly's journey was long and ended in its death in the singer's arms.

School's out today, and the spring air is still
It's a quiet, still day during a break from school.

You move like a riverboat through the thick, brushy hills
The butterfly's movements are smooth and steady like a riverboat moving through a dense landscape.

Timed like a lung
The rhythm of the butterfly's movements is like the expansion and deflation of a lung, indicating a steady pace.

You expand
The butterfly expands its wings, possibly to take flight.

You deflate
The butterfly's wings fold back down, possibly indicating a rest or pause in its journey.

In the hot night
The setting now shifts to a hot, summer night.

Crows fight beetles in the firelight
The image of crows fighting beetles in a firelight is a metaphor for the harshness and struggles of life, even on a peaceful night.

Hello weak waterfall in my arms
The artist is now holding a weak waterfall, which is quite an abstract image.

You traveled so long to die in my arms
Similar to the butterfly, the waterfall has gone on a long journey and now ends in its death in the singer's arms.

You land in the river
The waterfall lands in the river below, indicating its natural course.

But the river is a river
The river is just what it is, and the waterfall's landing in it is not significant or extraordinary.

No more like an overturned ferry
The imagery of an overturned ferry suggests chaos or destruction, which is not present in the interaction between the river and waterfall.

You sink to the floor
The waterfall falls to the bottom of the river, where it blends in with the environment.

You're an apple in the weeds
The waterfall is now compared to an apple surrounded by weeds, implying insignificance or abandonment.

You're a glowing green eye
Another abstract image, the waterfall is now described as a glowing green eye, suggesting a mysterious or powerful quality.

School's out today, and the fires won't go out
Despite a break from school, there is still unrest or chaos in the singer's world.

I'd love to come over, but the wind's blowing south
The singer is prevented from visiting due to a shift in the wind, potentially indicating a change in circumstances or situation.

But while we've been sleeping, the bushes are burning
Despite the quietness of school being out, there is still disturbance or turmoil happening in the world around them while they sleep.