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

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Tommy James

Tommy JamesSongwriter Interviews

"Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Draggin' The Line"... the hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.