Ten Ft Tall

Album: Feeler (2003)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is inspired by a couple who Pete knew in Australia. He says that tragically the woman contracted terminal cancer and on the night of her funeral her partner was sitting on the bed staring out of the window when a butterfly flew through it and landed on his hand. The reason why this was so poignant was because "butterfly" was the nickname the man used to give his partner. Even stranger was that it was in the middle of winter, a time when you do not expect to see a butterfly. The song is about coping with a loss such as this. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ally - Liverpool, England

Comments: 1

  • Stevo from Queensland - AustraliaIt's a touching song Ally. Pete Murray introduced this song with a story one of the times we saw him in concert. That night he said the song was inspired by a friends wife/girlfriend who had passed from cancer. He also shared with the crowd that the mourners ended up at RG's (Royal George Hotel, Fortitude Valley) after the funeral & when last drinks were called (presumably midnight/1am in those days) a butterfly flew in and landed on the guy who's partner had passed. They were sure the butterfly was connected to the spirit of the woman as butterflies don't fly at night.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.