Their first EP, The Butterfly Effect (EP), was released in 2001, and charted well on the ARIA Independent charts. This first release, featuring the Triple J single "Take Me Away", was more "nu-metal" than later recordings although contained much of what was to become their signature soundscapes. They followed this with the critically-acclaimed Begins Here, released on 3 August 2003. The album peaked at No. 23 in Australia, reaching gold sales accreditation by mid-2006. It produced the minor hit Always, and attracted considerable critical acclaim
On 17 June 2006, the album Imago was released, with a move towards progressive rock and a less heavy sound. It was produced in Los Angeles by Joe Barresi, who had just produced Tool's "10,000 Days" album. The album was commercially successful, being featured on national radio station Triple J, peaking at No. 2 in Australia in its first week and attaining gold sales accreditation just nine weeks later. The single A Slow Descent also peaked at No. 9 on the singles charts.
Their next album, Final Conversation of Kings, was released on 20 September 2008. It was produced by Forrester Savill on the Central Coast of New South Wales, and represented a significant change in their sound, but did not match either the commercial or critical success of previous releases despite charting at No.3 in its first week in Australia.
On 6 February 2012, the band announced on Facebook the following message:
The Butterfly Effect wish to inform their fans and media that singer Clint Boge is officially leaving the band to pursue other musical interests. The remaining members of the band, Ben Hall, Kurt Goedhart and Glenn Esmond will continue to work together and will announce their intentions in the not too distant future.
Clint’s departure is an amicable one and the band are giving fans a chance to see them perform together for the last time on the club circuit by announcing the “EFFECTED” national tour starting late April 2012. To celebrate 10 years of recordings The Butterfly Effect is releasing an “EFFECTED” compilation CD of their best work in April and signed copies will be available at shows on the tour."
In late 2013, the band introduced new singer Paul Galagher with the release of a single, "Eyes Down", and a small tour. However, the band soon became inactive, and in 2016, it was announced that they had permanently disbanded.
In July 2017, the band announced the reformation of their original lineup, with Boge again as the lead singer, and announced they would begin touring Australia again in March 2018. In 2019 they released Unbroken, their first new music since reuniting.
September 2nd, 2022 saw the release of the bands long awaited 4th Full length album IV.
Circus
The Butterfly Effect Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through me, me that wont heal
No, nothing hits me like you do
When it's all you want
Try, try, but you won't find
A witness to my crime
No, nothing cuts me like you do
When it's all your fault
It's you, just you
And me, oh yeah
It's true, its just you
And me, unfortunately
Lie, lie, but you won't hide
The true truth, no, it's not like you
No, nothing hurts me like you do
When it's all you've got
It's you, just you
And me, oh yeah
It's true, its just you
And me, unfortunately
Why you do the things that you do
Oh, what you doing to me
Coz it's like you don't care
No, you don't care
So you don't care
About me but what's new?
It's just you
All a circus
Make it stop!
The lyrics to The Butterfly Effect's song, Circus, express the intense pain and hurt that someone can inflict on another person. The repetition of "you" and "me" emphasize the personal nature of the relationship and the damage that has been done. The line "you, you, like head wounds" compares the pain caused by this person to the physical pain of a head wound that won't heal. The singer acknowledges that even though this person has hurt them deeply, they can't help but be drawn back to them, as "nothing hits me like you do" and "nothing cuts me like you do." This pain is further compounded by the fact that the person responsible for the hurt won't take responsibility for what they've done. The line "when it's all your fault" implies that the singer feels like they have been wronged but the other person won't own up to it.
The chorus of the song highlights the fact that the relationship between the singer and this other person is a circus. The repetition of "it's just you and me" emphasizes the isolation and intensity of an unhealthy relationship. The line "unfortunately" suggests that the singer is aware that this isn't a healthy situation but feels trapped or unable to leave it. The bridge of the song questions why this person would continue to hurt the singer, wondering "why you do the things that you do." The singer acknowledges that this person "doesn't care about me" but they still can't seem to escape from their grasp. The final line, "make it stop," expresses the singer's overwhelming desperation for the pain to end.
Line by Line Meaning
You, you, like head wounds
You are like a head wound to me, constantly causing pain and never healing.
Through me, me that wont heal
Your presence goes through me, but I am unable to heal from the pain you cause.
No, nothing hits me like you do
There is nothing else that affects me as much as you do.
When it's all you want
When all you want is to have control over me.
Try, try, but you won't find
You can try to find a witness to my supposed crime, but you won't.
A witness to my crime
You accuse me of wrongdoing, of which there is no witness to prove or disprove.
No, nothing cuts me like you do
You hurt me more than anyone else ever could.
When it's all your fault
When everything is your fault, but you refuse to take responsibility for it.
It's you, just you
It is solely your fault and responsibility.
And me, oh yeah
I am the one who suffers from it all.
It's true, its just you
It is true that you are the problem.
And me, unfortunately
And unfortunately, I am the one who is affected by it all.
Lie, lie, but you won't hide
You can lie to try to hide the truth, but it never works.
The true truth, no, it's not like you
The real truth is not something you are familiar with.
No, nothing hurts me like you do
You hurt me more than anything else ever could.
When it's all you've got
When all you have is the ability to hurt me.
Why you do the things that you do
I wonder why you act the way you do.
Oh, what you doing to me
I feel the effects of your actions.
Coz it's like you don't care
It seems as though you don't have concern for my feelings.
No, you don't care
You really don't care about how I feel.
So you don't care
Thus, you truly have no care for me.
About me but what's new?
It's not surprising that you don't care about me.
It's just you
You are the only one responsible for the problems.
All a circus
The situation is equivalent to a chaotic circus.
Make it stop!
Please stop the madness.
Contributed by Gabriel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.