About the song.
Background of “Love is Like a Butterfly” by Dolly Parton
- Released in 1974 as the title track of Parton’s 14th solo album.
- Became her third consecutive #1 single on the U.S. country charts.
- Considered her signature song for a while before her pop crossover success.
- Used as the theme song for her 1976 TV variety show “Dolly!”
- The butterfly image became a recurring motif for Parton, even appearing as the “W” in the Dollywood theme park logo.
Themes in “Love is Like a Butterfly”
- Delicate nature of love: The lyrics compare love to a butterfly, highlighting its beauty and fragility. It needs to be treated with care (“soft and gentle as a sigh”).
- Unpredictable nature of love: Butterflies are known for flitting from flower to flower, symbolizing the unpredictable path love can take.
- Beauty and fleetingness of love: Like a butterfly, love can be breathtaking but short-lived.
- Power of love to inspire: Despite its fragility, a butterfly can take flight, suggesting love’s ability to uplift and transform.
These themes create a bittersweet tone, acknowledging the challenges of love while celebrating its magic.
Video
Lyrics
Love is like a butterflyAs soft and gentle as a sighThe multicolored moods of love are like its satin wingsLove makes your heart feel strange insideIt flutters like soft wings in flightLove is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing
I feel it when you’re with meIt happens when you kiss meThat rare and gentle feeling that I feel insideYour touch is soft and gentleYour kiss is warm and tenderWhenever I am with you, I think of butterflies
Love is like a butterfly (soft and gentle as a sigh)The multicolored moods of love are like its satin wingsLove makes your heart feel strange insideIt flutters like soft wings in flightLove is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing
Your laughter brings me sunshineEvery day is springtimeAnd I am only happy when you are by my sideHow precious is this love we shareHow very precious, sweet and rareTogether, we belong like daffodils and butterflies
Love is like a butterflyAs soft and gentle as a sighThe multicolored moods of love are like its satin wingsLove makes your heart feel strange insideIt flutters like soft wings in flightLove is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing
Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing(Love is like a butterfly)