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Papillon Lyrics

Make our escape, you're my own papillon
The world turns too fast
Feel love before it's gone

It kicks like a sleep twitch!
My papillon, feel love when it's shone
It kicks like a sleep twitch!

Darling, just don't put down your guns yet,
If there really was a God here,
He'd have raised a hand by now.
Now darling, you were born but you will die here,
Well that's quite enough for me
We'll find our own way home somehow.

No sense of doubt, for what you could achieve,
I'd help you out, I've seen the life you wish to leave
But when it kicks like a sleep twitch!
You will choke, choke on the air you try to breathe.
It kicks like a sleep twitch!

Darling, just don't put down your guns yet,
If there really was a God here,
He'd have raised a hand by now.
Darling, you're born, get old, and die here.
Well that's quite enough for me dear,
We'll find our own way home somehow, papillon!

It kicks like a sleep twitch!
It kicks like a sleep twitch!

Darling, just don't put down your guns yet,
If there really was a God here,
He'd have raised a hand by now!
Darling, you're born, get old, and die here.
Well that's quite enough for me dear,
We'll find our own way home somehow.
It kicks like a sleep twitch!

It kicks like a sleep twitch!
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Cover art for Papillon lyrics by Editors

I am sorry the lyrics are all wrong... Here are the correct ones - I used the booklet of the cd...

Make our escape, you’re my own papillon The world turns too fast, feel love before it’s gone It kicks like a sleep twitch My papillon, feel love when it’s shone

It kicks like a sleep twitch

Darling, just don’t put down your guns yet If there really was a God here, he’d have raised a hand by now Now darling, you’re born get old then die here Well that’s quite enough for me, we’ll find our own way home somehow

No sense of doubt, or what you could achieve Well I found you out, I’ve seen the life you wish to leave But when it kicks like a sleep twitch You will choke, choke on the air you try to breath

It kicks like a sleep twitch

Darling, now just don’t put down your guns yet If there really was a God here, he’d have raised a hand by now Darling, you’re born get old then die here Well that’s quite enough for me dear, we’ll find our own way home somehow, how, how

It kicks like a sleep twitch It kicks like a sleep twitch

Darling, just don’t put down your guns yet If there really was a God here, he’d have raised a hand by now Darling, now you’re born get old then die here Well that’s quite enough for me dear, we’ll find our own way home somehow

It kicks like a sleep twitch It kicks like a sleep twitch

Lyric Correction
Cover art for Papillon lyrics by Editors

Correct and complete lyrics:

Make your escape, you're my own Papillon The world turns too fast, feel love before it done It kicks like a sleep twitch My Papillon, feel love when it's done

It kicks like a sleep twitch !!

Darling, just don't put down your guns yet If there really was a God here He'd have raised a hand by now Darling, you were born but you will die here Oh that's quite enough for me too, We'll find our own way home somehow.

No sense of doubt, for what you can achieve, I'd help you out, I've seen the life you wish to lead. Well it kicks like a sleep twitch You will choke, choke on the air you try to breathe It kicks like a sleep twitch

Darling, just don't put down your guns yet if there really was a God here He'd have raised a hand by now Darling, you were born but I'm gonna die here Well that's quite enough for me too We'll find our own home somehow It kicks like a sleep twitch

It kicks like a sleep twitch

Have listened to the video on the official youtube like 30 times to correct some of the lyrics (and cause I enjoy the song of course). There are a couple words that could go either way (life you wish to leave/lead), I listened to the acoustic version where he sings a bit slower and went with the closest. But could go either way.

After all that i'm still not entirely sure what the song is about, but I don't think he has intended for the lyrics to make that clear anyhow.

My guess is that while the "he'd have raised...

Cover art for Papillon lyrics by Editors

Sleep twitch: If I understand correctly, it refers to the small rapid body movements that occur just before you fall asleep. I have experienced more of them I you are really tired. You can actually wake up bacause of those. Would that be about seeing finally the truth that wakes you up from your sleep? The truth that destiny is really in your own hands.

I interpret the song in very same way as people above. I'd like to add something about the video though. I seems to be about the journey of you life. It starts from a tunnel (haha), you rush through your life pushing forward with strength and determination. Some friends join you on the way, and leave you later. Then in the end, you just cease to exist. Creepy somehow.

"Sleep Twitch": Thanks a LOT, i was looking for such an explanation! Your comment on the video is great as well! Greetings from Germany

Cover art for Papillon lyrics by Editors

In my opinion its about the band having aspirations of 'making it big' but then found the reality not to be much fun, shocked of how it really is in Hollywood and the music industry. "Make our escape, you're my own Papillon" They want to escape from this like a band of brothers. (ref to the movie) "The world turns too fast, feel love before it's gone." Fame is short lived.

"It kicks like a sleep twitch." They were suddenly and negatively awoken from this dream of how great it would be to be famous.

"Now darling, just don't put down your guns yet..if there really was a God HERE, He'd raised a hand by now..." the situation is just a ruse of goodness. If he meant there is no God, he wouldn't have added the word "here" making it about the place or situation they are in.

"No sense of doubt, for what you could achieve, I'd help you out, I've seen the life you wish to leave" Tom said before how some days he had no food and he slept under a table, in their early days...and the industry pretended to be wanting to 'help out'. Pretending to understand where he is coming from. But again, he was shocked out of this belief, and now know that they shouldn't be trusted ..if you accept their help you will "choke on the air you try to breathe."

"Now darling, we're born, get old and die here" It's the way it is in the music industry...they are constantly looking for better, get bored of you quickly. Tom has said before he didn't want to have a quick shot to fame, he wanted a career. That's why he turned down a contract before. "That's quite enough for me dear, we'll find our own way home somehow" He is saying 'no thanks' to this, they will find their own way of having their dream.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Papillon lyrics by Editors

Also, the book Papillon by Henri Charriere is about a man escaping from prison so I think the song is a reference to this rather than to an actual butterfly.

And for those who don't have the time/chance to read the book: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070511/?ref_=nv_sr_1 I realise it can never do the book justice, but it is a very good movie.

Cover art for Papillon lyrics by Editors

"if there really was a God here, he'd have raised a hand by now." I really love that line. As for Papillon, I think both the butterfly and Charrière interpretations could work. Not a fan of the musical direction these guys have taken, but the lyrics are as strong as ever.

Cover art for Papillon lyrics by Editors

They played this song acoustic for a Belgian radio station. It sounded fantastic!

To me the song is about how you shouldn't count on some higher power to help you when things go bad. Like some people put all their faith in God, giving up the fight themselves.

'Darling, now don't put down your guns yet If there really was a God here He'd have raised a hand by now'

  • You have to fight for your own life and future, 'cause if there would be a God (s)he would have helped already.

'Now darling, you're born, get old and die here That's quite enough for me We'll find our own way home somehow'

  • The only thing we can be certain of is that we're born here and we will die here too. That's enough though, 'cause all that's in between is for ourselves to find out.

'You will choke, choke on the air you try to breathe'

  • Figuratively speaking it says that if you continue to just put faith in a higher power to help you, not putting in a fight yourself, you will get nowhere.

Anyway, that's what I make of it. The title 'Papillon' (which is French for butterfly) fits well with this (e.g. free as a butterlfy).

Cover art for Papillon lyrics by Editors

"Make your escape, you're my own Papillon"

what should the butterfly escape from?

Cover art for Papillon lyrics by Editors

A Butterfly escapes from the cocoon it puts itself in to transform into something beautiful... In the context of this song, I agree with Cali that its about escaping religion and finding yourself in the world as it is, before its too late.

Cover art for Papillon lyrics by Editors

I agree with the meaning of making your escape or something like that. He says you just got to follow through if you want to achieve something. Yet, I don’t understand what the phrase ‘it kicks like a sleep twitch’ means. I’m not a native speaker, so I used a dictionary, but still I don’t understand how to understand it. Can anybody explain what it means, using other words or something like that?

My Interpretation
 
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