Not to be confused with Canadian rock and roll pioneer Ronnie Hawkins
Butterfly
Ron Hawkins Lyrics
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While you talk on the phone
And hang up on your husband
If you want to be alone
It might be right, it might be wrong
It might be the unknown
But, we won't think about it
'Til he's standing in the door
Shakin' like a butterfly
Shakin' like a butterfly for you
With thoughts as dark as the pavement
Pitch black in the locust sun
He'd never even met a woman
Who'd had the procedure done
But, Friday night when the clinic's bright
This Clergy-fathers son
Will stand upright
For the 'Right to Life'
With a bible and a gun
Shakin' like a butterfly
Shakin' like a butterfly
Shakin' like a butterfly undone
The air is thick with righteous men
But, your control is paper thin
I'd like to be a fly up on the wall
When you break down your cocoon
And watch the shattered pieces fall
I'll give you a secret
That I know you'll never keep
You give me the killing floor
And I'll promise not to leap
'Cause deep inside our skulls
There is a nest of small cocoons
You'll wake one night in a cockroach sweat
Underneath an insect moon
Shakin' like a butterfly
Shakin' like a butterfly
Shakin' like a butterfly stuck through
Shakin' like a butterfly
Shakin' like a butterfly
Shakin' like a butterfly it's true so true
The song "Butterfly" by Ron Hawkins is a dark, symbolic journey through the complicated emotions of a tumultuous affair. The lyrics are filled with allusions to metamorphosis and transformation, as the singer explores the complex feelings that arise when he and his lover are confronted with the consequences of their actions.
The opening verse sets the tone for the song, describing a moment of intense intimacy between the two lovers as the married woman talks on the phone with her husband. The singer promises to kiss her throat and distract her from her phone call if she wants to be alone. He acknowledges that what they are doing might be wrong, but they won't think about it until the husband catches them in the act. The chorus repeats the image of the butterfly, a symbol of transformation and change, as the woman's husband shakes like a butterfly in response to discovering the affair.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on the religious and societal pressures that surround the issue of abortion. He describes a man he knows who has never met a woman who had undergone the procedure, but who plans to protest outside the clinic regardless. The verse is a critique of the hypocrisy of those who claim to uphold the "right to life" while ignoring the real-world consequences of their actions. The second chorus again references the butterfly, but in a darker context, as the woman's lover is undone by his guilt and shame.
The final verse brings the song to a haunting, surreal conclusion, as the singer describes a moment of shared vulnerability between himself and his lover. He offers her a secret, but knows that she will never keep it. In exchange, he promises not to "leap" and risk exposing their relationship. The imagery switches to the inside of the characters' heads, where a "nest of small cocoons" represents the potential for change and transformation. The final repetition of the chorus brings the song full circle, with the butterfly now symbolizing the inescapable truth of their situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay back and I'll kiss your throat
I'll make you feel comfortable and loved
While you talk on the phone
You can continue doing what you were doing
And hang up on your husband
I'll help you escape from a situation you don't want to be in
If you want to be alone
I won't judge you or pressure you to stay
It might be right, it might be wrong
We don't know the consequences of our actions
It might be the unknown
But sometimes the unknown is worth exploring
But, we won't think about it
Let's just enjoy the moment
'Til he's standing in the door
But we can't ignore reality forever
Shakin' like a butterfly
He's feeling vulnerable and scared
Shakin' like a butterfly
He's showing his exposed side to the world
Shakin' like a butterfly for you
He's doing this out of love for you
With thoughts as dark as the pavement
He's in a dark place mentally
Pitch black in the locust sun
He's surrounded by darkness even in the brightness
He'd never even met a woman
He's inexperienced with women
Who'd had the procedure done
He's referring to an abortion
But, Friday night when the clinic's bright
He's going to protest against abortion
This Clergy-fathers son
He comes from a religious family
Will stand upright
He believes he's doing the right thing
For the 'Right to Life'
He's pro-life
With a bible and a gun
He's using religion and violence to make his point
The air is thick with righteous men
He's surrounded by people who believe they're doing the right thing
But, your control is paper thin
He's questioning your ability to control your own life
I'd like to be a fly up on the wall
He wants to observe you in a vulnerable state
When you break down your cocoon
When you let your guard down
And watch the shattered pieces fall
And witness the aftermath of your vulnerability
I'll give you a secret
He wants to share something intimate
That I know you'll never keep
He's being vulnerable and trusting you
You give me the killing floor
He wants you to put him in a position of vulnerability
And I'll promise not to leap
He's asking for your trust as well
'Cause deep inside our skulls
He believes that we share a common vulnerability
There is a nest of small cocoons
We all have our own layers of protection
You'll wake one night in a cockroach sweat
He's describing a nightmare scenario
Underneath an insect moon
In a surreal and uncomfortable environment
Shakin' like a butterfly
He's still vulnerable
Shakin' like a butterfly
He's still scared
Shakin' like a butterfly stuck through
But he's still standing strong
Shakin' like a butterfly
He's still showing his exposed side to the world
Shakin' like a butterfly
He's still doing this out of love for you
Shakin' like a butterfly it's true so true
His vulnerability and love are genuine
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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