Swallow purple terror candy
Don't forget to breathe
Sickened by the wanting
And drowning from the need
This dichromatic vision
Of one who does not care
To sipping cocktail sedatives
Two months to hide somewhere

Butterflies, butterflies
Cut the stomach out and hand it over
Butterflies, butterflies
My heart will be the bridge that you walk over

The wolf has caught the chicken
And now I feel unsteady
Emotions on the blink again
So kick me when you're ready
Here lies a violet coffin
The death of my control
Along with all my skeletons
They put them in the hole

Butterflies, butterflies
Cut the stomach out and hand it over
Butterflies, butterflies
My heart will be the bridge that you walk over

Sickened by the notion
I give myself again
Choking on the bullet, the gun that's found a friend
So raise your glass to sorrow
And drink to all the pain
Tie a silver ribbon around
The pieces that remain

Butterflies, butterflies
Cut the stomach out and hand it over
Butterflies, butterflies
My heart will be the bridge that you walk over


Lyrics submitted by Eggos=yum

Butterflies Lyrics as written by Natalie Jane Imbruglia Gary Clark

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing

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Butterflies song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    butterflies are pretty but she wants to cut their stomachs out :)

    KryStinANCheryLon July 16, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about love. And how she's gotten really hurt.

    xbrowneyedgirlxon August 06, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    }i{ }i{ }i{ I love this song soooo much. I'm not too sure about the meaning, but it's still so beautiful. "Swallow purple terror candy, don't forget to breathe..." }i{ }i{ }i{

    wlraider_girlieon September 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah, I never really quite understood the meaning of this song either, but I think it's really beautiful.

    strawberry_fieldson April 29, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    For some reason I always connected this song to nervousness and apprehension. It made me think of the phrase 'butterflies in your stomach'. What she's nervous about....no clue!

    Savagedstar83on June 15, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Swallow purple terror candy" I think this refers to LSD?!

    "Dichromatic" never heard this word before but it means 2 coloured.

    This was co written by Gary Clark of Danny Wilson best know for Marys Prayer.

    One of my Favorite Natalie songs but I love them all!

    Onlineon June 29, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It has nothing to do with drugs. it's nerves the "Swallow purple terror candy" is aspirin terror candy refers to her taking it to clam her nerves she goes on to sing about how she is normally a strong person and for some reason she is nervous "This dichromatic vision Of one who does not care To sipping cocktail sedatives" it's a good song for any person who has been nervous to see or meet someone.

    rapunzelEEDon February 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song so much, its full meaning i dont quite understand either and i'm not exactly sure how this could tie in but when she says "Butterflies, Butterflies Cut the stomach out and hand it over" (butterflies being prettiful) she could imply that beauty is on the inside (if anyones heard that phrase?), at a guess i reckon most people just think butterflys are just nice to look at, but shes saying theres more to them than just their looks-its a comparison to something maybe? ah i dunno if that makes sense but still, fab song! :) xxx

    prettyinpunk8177on April 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song is about suicide obviously. Swallowing purple terror candy = over dose. choking on the bullet the gun has found a friend = shooting yourself. its pretty blatent what the song is about. its good times.

    silverseven749on May 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Prettyinpunk8177 "Butterflies, Butterflies, Cut the stomach out and hand it over" refers to having butterflies in your stomache. In other words feeling nervous.

    Onlineon August 16, 2005   Link

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