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

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Alice Cooper

Alice CooperFact or Fiction

How well do you know this shock-rock harbinger who's been publicly executed hundreds of times?

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

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.