Butterfly

Album: Pinkerton (1996)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is based on the opera Madame Butterfly. In the opera, which was written by Giacomo Puccini, B.F. Pinkerton is a Lieutenant in the US navy who goes to Japan and falls in love with a geisha. He impregnates her and after he leaves, she kills herself. In the song, the story is told through Pinkerton's point of view. Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo is a big opera fan. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jon - Whittier, CA
  • This is a rare acoustic song by Weezer.
  • Rivers Cuomo told Rolling Stone magazine, June 26, 2008: "There are several melodies in these Japanese folk songs that I'm certain Puccini put in the Madame Butterfly opera. I, in turn, took some of Puccini's melodies and used them on Weezer's Pinkerton album." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 2
  • Weezer recorded a new version of this song featuring harpist Allison Allport in support of relief efforts after a major 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti in 2010. The track was made available for free download, with listeners asked to donate to the relief efforts. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 3

  • Jessie Ann from Purchase, NyIn Madame Butterfly, the woman commits suicide when Pinkerton comes back because she gave birth to his child. She waited for him, and when he finally came he had married someone else. I don't think it's about forced sex, because in the opera she wanted to have sex with him. He led her on, but didn't really care too much. But when he finds her dead and realizes he has a son, he feels guilty.

    "I told you I would return when the robin makes his nest" .. I believe Pinkerton said he would return when the cherry blossoms came back, but I could be wrong.
  • Cherie from Pensicola, Flwow this ia a major song.... i agree w/ karyn rivers is soo sexy but i love him more lol
  • Karyn from CanadaI heard this song was about a guy who forced sex on a girl. (this could be what happened in the play..) It says that he "caught a lovely butterfly" .. refering to a girl. but then one day he checked on her and she was really sad/depressed .. "she had withered all away". then rivers continues with "i'm sorry for what I did, I did what my body told me to, I didn't mean to do you harm" 'pinkerton' feels bad about forcing sex on her, and explains that he just did what his body told him to do. "everytime i pin own what I think I want it slips away, the ghost it slips away" the guy is confessing that he always thinks he wants something, when in the end he just ends up regretting it. "Smell you on my hand for days, i can't wash away your scent" ... the smell of sex and "if im a dog then you're a bitch" .. she called him a dog for what he did to her so he calls her a bitch. then at the end of the song he just keeps repeating that he's sorry .

    ps. i love rivers cuomo .
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.