The band released their debut album, Good Feeling (1997), to moderate success where it debuted at number nine on the UK Albums Chart and was later awarded a silver certification from the BPI in January 2000. The band gained greater success with their second album, The Man Who (1999), which spent nine weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart, totalling 134 weeks in the top 100 of the chart. In 2003, The Man Who was certified 9× platinum by the BPI, representing sales of over 2.68 million in the UK alone. Following this success, the band released their third effort, The Invisible Band (2001) album. The Invisible Band went on to match the success found with their previous album, where it debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and spent a total of four weeks at the top spot, fifteen weeks in the top ten, and a total of fifty-five weeks in the top 100 chart, as well as peaking at thirty-nine on the US Billboard 200 album chart, spending a duration of seven weeks in the Billboard 200 chart. A year following the release of The Invisible Band, the BPI awarded Travis with a 4× platinum certification for the album.
In recent years, the band's discography has included studio albums 12 Memories (2003), The Boy with No Name (2007), Ode to J. Smith (2008), Where You Stand (2013), Everything at Once (2016) and 10 Songs (2020). In 2004, the band released their first greatest hits album, Singles, which spent nineteen weeks in the top 100 of the UK albums chart. Travis have twice been awarded best band at the BRIT Awards and were awarded the NME Artist of the Year award at their 2000 ceremony, and in 2016 were honoured at the Scottish Music Awards for their outstanding contribution to music. The band are widely said by the media to have paved the way for other bands such as Keane and Coldplay to go on to achieve worldwide success throughout the 2000s, particularly with the success of The Man Who.
Craft Recordings celebrated the 20th anniversary of Travis' breakthrough year with two simultaneous releases: Live at Glastonbury '99, plus expanded editions of The Man Who – both of which were released on 21 June 2019.
Butterflies
Travis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Ooh)
Chasin' butterflies by the water
Watchin' aeroplanes because you gotta
Inside
Inside everything is wrong
Ooh, outside
You keep your eyes on the prize and your head in your hands, oh (oh)
You can't see the wood for the trees even when all the leaves are gone (oh)
'Cause you're still chasin' butterflies (oh)
Watchin' all the years roll by (oh)
And you've had all your life to dream about it
But you never did a thing about it
Just waste time
Waste time everything is wrong
But you're fine
Ooh, you're fine
You keep your eyes on the prize and your head in your hands, oh (oh)
You can't see the wood for the trees even when all the leaves are gone (oh)
'Cause you're still chasin' butterflies (oh)
Watchin' all the years roll by (oh)
But we soldier, soldier on
Yeah, we soldier, soldier on
Inside
Inside everything is wrong
But you're fine
Ooh, you're fine
You keep your eyes on the prize and your head in your hands, oh (oh)
You can't see the wood for the trees even when all the leaves are gone (oh)
'Cause you're still chasin' butterflies (oh)
Watchin' all the years roll by (oh)
Waitin' for your ship to arrive (oh)
You're still chasin' butterflies (oh)
But we soldier, soldier on
The lyrics to Travis's song "Butterflies" convey a sense of longing, dissatisfaction, and the feeling of being stuck in a rut. The opening lines, "Chasin' butterflies by the water / Watchin' aeroplanes because you gotta," depict a desire for something unreachable or unattainable. It suggests a yearning for freedom and escape, represented by the butterflies and airplanes.
The repeated phrase, "Inside everything is wrong / Outside, ooh, outside," showcases the internal struggle and dissatisfaction the singer feels within themselves. They are aware that things are not right inside, but on the outside, they put up a facade of being fine. This contrast between the inner and outer selves highlights the sense of disconnection and the need for change.
The line "You keep your eyes on the prize and your head in your hands" suggests a state of confusion and frustration. The singer is unable to see the bigger picture or find a way out of their current situation, even when presented with opportunities. They continue to chase ephemeral dreams and passively watch as the years go by.
The repeated mention of soldiers and soldiering on adds a layer of resilience and determination. Despite the challenges and dissatisfaction, there is a sense that the singer is unwilling to give up and will continue to persevere.
Overall, "Butterflies" captures the inner turmoil of feeling trapped and yearning for change, while also revealing the resilience and determination to soldier on.
Line by Line Meaning
(Ooh)
Expressing a sound of excitement or admiration
Chasin' butterflies by the water
Engaging in frivolous pursuits, not focusing on anything substantial
Watchin' aeroplanes because you gotta
Passively observing things without taking action or responsibility
Inside
Internally, within oneself
Inside everything is wrong
Feeling that everything is going awry internally
Outside
Externally, in the world
Ooh, outside
Expressing longing or desire for external circumstances
You keep your eyes on the prize and your head in your hands, oh (oh)
Remaining fixated on the desired outcome while feeling helpless or overwhelmed
You can't see the wood for the trees even when all the leaves are gone (oh)
Failing to see the bigger picture or understand the situation clearly
'Cause you're still chasin' butterflies (oh)
Continuing to pursue fleeting or insignificant goals
Watchin' all the years roll by (oh)
Witnessing time passing without achieving meaningful progress
And you've had all your life to dream about it
Having ample time to envision possibilities
But you never did a thing about it
Failing to take action or make any effort towards those dreams
Just waste time
Engaging in unproductive activities
Waste time everything is wrong
Feeling that every moment is wasted and everything is going awry
But you're fine
Despite the circumstances, you appear to be okay
You keep your eyes on the prize and your head in your hands, oh (oh)
Persistently focusing on the desired outcome while feeling overwhelmed
You can't see the wood for the trees even when all the leaves are gone (oh)
Unable to comprehend the bigger picture even when faced with significant changes
'Cause you're still chasin' butterflies (oh)
Continuing to pursue fleeting or insignificant goals
Watchin' all the years roll by (oh)
Observing the passing of time without achieving meaningful progress
But we soldier, soldier on
Despite the challenges, we persevere and continue forward
Yeah, we soldier, soldier on
Emphasizing the determination and resilience to face adversity
Waitin' for your ship to arrive (oh)
Expecting or hoping for a significant opportunity or change
You're still chasin' butterflies (oh)
Still pursuing fleeting or insignificant goals
But we soldier, soldier on
However, we persist and remain resilient
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Francis Healy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fernandagiacomelli9992
[Verse 1]
Chasing butterflies by the water
Watching aeroplanes because you gotta
[Pre-Chorus]
Inside
Inside everything is wrong
Outside
Ooh outside
[Chorus]
You keep your eyes on the prize and your head in your hands, oh oh
You can't see the wood for the trees even when all the leaves are gone
'Cause you're still chasing butterflies
Watching all the years roll by
[Verse 2]
You've had all your life to dream about it
But you never did a thing about it
[Pre-Chorus]
Just waste time
Waste time everything is wrong
But you're fine
Ooh you're fine
[Chorus]
You keep your eyes on the prize and your head in your hands, oh oh
You can't see the wood for the trees even when all the leaves are gone
'Cause you're still chasing butterflies
Watching all the years roll by
[Bridge]
But we soldier, soldier on
Yeah, we soldier, soldier on
[Pre-Chorus]
Inside
Inside everything is wrong
But you're fine
Ooh you're fine
[Chorus]
You keep your eyes on the prize and your head in your hands, oh oh
You can't see the wood for the trees even when all the leaves are gone
'Cause you're still chasing butterflies
Watching all the years roll by
Waiting for your ship to arrive
You're still chasing butterflies
[Outro]
But we soldier, soldier on
@LowleyUK
I'm shocked by how much I like this song upon first listen. Normally it takes time for songs to grow on me to be enjoyed this much.
@steve007lax
My 1st thoughts EXACTLY! Insta-hit at least for us. 😃
@aide181
Same ;)
@gatitodemente
x4, my favorite from 10 songs
@ivanavalentino4208
Lmm/mmmmmmmmmmm
@omaltoca
I'm crying right now... It is simply beautiful. THIS IS MUSIC... This is love man. Wish I could hug the guys personally to thank them for creating this lovely album. Magic to our ears 💖
@bryanm.a.10
OMG this song is like expressing my life at this moment. That's why I'll always love this band. I always feel identified with their songs. Amazing.
@innashevchenko3092
🍀💚
@SinemTuna
I'll always have a place in my heart just for Travis.
@martazambruno5655
When a brand new song takes you back in time...
I'm loving this album.
THANK YOU Fran, Dougie, Andy and Neil.