Released: 2018
“Butterflies” by Kacey Musgraves is a sweet anthem about personal growth and blooming love that was previously unexpected. The song uses the symbolism of a butterfly to beautifully illustrate the transformative power of love, both to oneself and one’s view of the world.
Musgraves begins with, “I was just coastin’, never really goin’ anywhere / Caught up in a web”, painting a picture of a life in stagnation, someone stuck in routine and not really living to full potential – caught in a web like a trapped butterfly. The imagery continues with “I was getting kind of used to staying there”, suggesting a comfort in the mundanity, perhaps even a fear of change.
Then we move onto “And out of the blue / I fell for you”. This indicates that the speaker experiences a sudden and unexpected shift in their life, triggered by falling in love with the new person. And just how do we know this? Check out the chorus!
“Now you’re liftin’ me up, ‘stead of holdin’ me down /Stealin’ my heart, ‘stead of stealin’ my crown”. That right there is the power shift, baby! Kacey’s perspective has changed thanks to this individual. She’s no longer held down or feeling lesser. Her self-worth blooms just as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.
“Untangled all the strings ’round my wings that were tied” – Our diva, Kacey, is finally feeling free to spread her wings and explore her potential, thanks to this individual who’s come into her life. The tangled strings might represent the self-imposed limitations or societal constraints that had kept her from exploring her potential.
When she sings “I didn’t know him and I didn’t know me / Cloud nine was always out of reach”, Kacey’s really telling us how transformative this experience was for her. She thought she knew herself, but this love opened a whole new side of her she hadn’t known before.
Then comes a beautiful line – “Now I remember what it feels like to fly”. This line represents her ultimate liberation, the kind that can only come from self-realization and genuine love. She’s not only shedding her old skin but rediscovering her capabilities – flying is a metaphor for soaring high in life and love. That’s some serious pop music metamorphosis awesomeness!
And finally, Kacey lays it out with “You give me butterflies”. If you’re not in the loop, “butterflies” is a popular term used to describe the sensation one feels in their stomach when they’re nervous or excited (usually about a new love interest). In this case, Kacey’s new-found love gives her a thrill, a burst of joyous energy that makes her heart flutter – just like butterflies in her stomach.
This is a perfect pop study in the transformative power of love, baby! That’s the magic of Kacey Musgraves’ “Butterflies”.
