Bullet with Butterfly Wings

Billy Corgan is describing no less then the fundamental human crisis & dilemma. Stuck in this world, a broken dysfunctional being apparently incapable of salvation (liberation - freedom - from our own self - from our own mind).

Ultimately, We, (you, myself, and each and every being) are the essence and totality of the Universe and We Are Love Itself. There is nothing else.

As we come into manifestation (human form), some of us remember much. However, most are dissuaded from our innate knowledge and wisdom into ignorance and forget who we truly are. (Most of) the World of humans constantly tell us to forget that we are infinite, to forget that we are Love, to forget that we are whole and complete.

We fall into a state of feeling incomplete, without love. Most people spend their lives looking, desperately, in vain, outside of themselves for what is infinitely available everywhere, and always, and only, Within: Our own God-Like presence. Even the bank robber is motivated the same: to steal the money to get the feeling of being abundant and being free (our own true essence)- his aim is mistaken as is everyone who acts out of a sense of lack. (The way out is through observing one's mind and getting to see the patterns and to ultimately realize that You are NOT your Mind!, you are the Universe Itself!" The mind is just something that is (also) happening. (Google "meditation" for more about that)

"The world is a vampire, sent to drain" The world is an illusion, a temptation, seeming to appear as offering fulfillment of our desires, yet when we chase after those desires, we become more lost and confused and weak. Hence the Title of the song represents the world, beautiful, as a butterfly, but it's a bullet that will kill you "Secret destroyers, hold you up to the flames" What appear as apparently beautiful temptations are actually destroyers and burn you, hold you up to the flames - the suffering - arising out of your own ignorance. "And what do I get, for my pain?" What is the point of this game? What do I gain from it? What am I doing here? "Betrayed desires, " the illusion/lie of fulfillment from seeking desires (obviously not a gain) "and a piece of the game" a sense of belonging; membership in an ignorant human society. Because to have self knowledge in an ignorant human society is often to be alone. So beings give up (often through coercive scolding and punishment) the Totality to be "together" with the other limited "humans" around them.

"Even though I know I suppose I'll show All my cool and cold like old job" Even though I am a knowing being, and know the way of Love and humanity, it's so extraordinarily difficult to remain strong in a world that hates self knowledge that I will bend like I always have and pretend I am ignorant once again. I cannot seem to walk my walk of integrity. Not sure about Job reference, don't have a bible. "Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage" A Rat here represents a selfish, heartless, ignorant creature (sorry, rats, don't know if that's entirely true). No matter where we are, we are still motivated by our own selfish desires on some level. We manufacture our own suffering, our own rage (resulting from unfulfilled desire, of ultimately to be Love. Our misguided and mistaken desires arising out of an ignorant and false belief of lack) Our Rage is our own byproduct of our self induced ignorance. We build our own cages. So our emotions, coming from the same mind that traps us, will never liberate.

"Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved" (ignorant humans tell you "you cannot be whole, complete, you cannot be Love, forget it!) Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage Now I'm naked, nothing but an animal acknowledging the truth of this, I am unclothed, not human, I have failed to walk my walk, I am not more than animal "But can you fake it, for just one more show" everybody wants Billy to be the star, just keep faking it for us "And what do you want, I want to change " What are YOU doing here? I want to Change! "And what have you got When you feel the same " What are you doing here idolizing me? Demanding this charade; I am unfulfilled the same as you! What have you gained from me? Nothing! (to his more mainstream audience)

"Tell me I'm the only one Tell me there's no other one Jesus was the only son Tell me I'm the chosen one Jesus was the only son for you" A society that sees only Jesus as Savior will never accept You as whole and complete and the essence of Love. Only Jesus can do that!, step down son how dare you represent Love!, you are but a mere sinner, one of us fallen ones!

"and I still believe that I cannot be saved" is he screaming defeat? or is he saying he cannot be saved by (your) Jesus, "don't lie to me, only I can save myself!"

Of course, Billy's passion in this song can be a call to action, a call to awaken to this dilemma, perhaps a result of his finding a way out and exclaiming the futility of being stuck so that others will navigate their own way to freedom. Or maybe it's just his pure expression of the state.