Elusive Butterfly

Album: Don't Be Concerned (1966)
Charted: 5 5
Play Video
  • You might wake up some mornin'
    To the sound of something moving past your window in the wind
    And if you're quick enough to rise
    You'll catch a fleeting glimpse of someone's fading shadow
    Out on the new horizon
    You may see the floating motion of a distant pair of wings
    And if the sleep has left your ears
    You might hear footsteps running through an open meadow

    Don't be concerned, it will not harm you
    It's only me pursuing somethin' I'm not sure of
    Across my dreams with nets of wonder
    I chase the bright elusive butterfly of love

    You might have heard my footsteps
    Echo softly in the distance through the canyons of your mind
    I might have even called your name
    As I ran searching after something to believe in
    You might have seen me runnin'
    Through the long-abandoned ruins of the dreams you left behind
    If you remember something there
    That glided past you followed close by heavy breathin'

    Don't be concerned, it will not harm you
    It's only me pursuing somethin' I'm not sure of
    Across my dreams with nets of wonder
    I chase the bright elusive butterfly of love

    Across my dreams with nets of wonder
    I chase the bright elusive butterfly of love Writer/s: Bob Lind
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 19

  • Glen from Cronulla BeachAbandoned dreams you left behind.
    " SO MANY GIRLS I LEFT IN THE PAST. "
  • Woody S. from UsaWhy is the FULL version of Bob Lind performing "Elusive Butterfly" not available as an mp3 or on a CD. I found two postings on youtube, so some people have it. I believe their recording was from a concert. Does anyone know where I may purchase an audio of this...and not the awfully butchered version?
  • Stevieboy from UkGreatest version of this song has to be
    The Four Tops Levi Stubbs beautiful voice makes it even more plaintiff.
  • Dee Giambattista from Dallas, Tx (suburb, Actually)Thank you Curt from Sarasota!! I knew Elusive Butterfly was either the sign-on or sign-off on WNEW right around 5pm if I recall correctly (and it could be hazy as I would have been quite young). My mom would make sure the station got changed over from WALK in time for dinner as she loved this song, she was cool like that.
  • Tammy Story from Knoxville,tnThe song sounds like to me a Spirit if a little horse or if a small child chasing after a butterfly and may have died chasing it and it's little spirit comes back to repeat the fun he or she had before they died because it could've been possible.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 27th, 1966 Bob Lind's "Elusive Butterfly" peaked at #5 {for 2 weeks} on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
    And at one position lower at #6 was Irish singer Val Doonican's covered version of "Elusive Butterfly"...
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FF0m-580B4
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 21st 1966, Bob Lind performed "Elusive Butterfly" on the NBC-TV program 'Hullabaloo!'...
    Two days earlier on February 19th he appeared on 'American Bandstand' (See the next post below).
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 19th 1966, Bob Lind performed "Elusive Butterfly" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    One month earlier on January 16th it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #83; and on March 6th it peaked at #5 (for 2 weeks) and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 5 of those 13 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
    He had one other Top 100 record, "Remember the Rain", it reached #64 in 1966 (the record's B-side, "Truly Julie's Blues", also charted, it peaked at #65)...
    Mr. Lind, born Robert Neale Lind, celebrated his 71st birthday three months ago on November 25th (2013).
  • Matthew from Toronto, OnA woeful ode to love not realized. Bob Lind said in "Hit Parader" that he hates being depressed, but loves being sad. According to him, sadness triggers many feelings, but depression is the absence of feeling. No doubt, "Butterfly" is a sad song, but a beautiful one. The imagery in the lyrics suggests that he has been wasting his time, pursuing a relationship with someone not worthy of his efforts. Why else would he say, "Don't be concerned; it will not harm you; it's only me pursuing something I'm not sure of."
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaThe lyrics of this song were remarkable poetic. I'm really surprised that the talented writer did not have another hit. And it was the B side! Well, it says above that over 200 people have recorded his sonds, so maybe he's a better songwriter than recording artist. Nice strings, also. Really, a reamarkably good song!
  • Alan from Chesterfield, MiThe chords are C, Dm, G7 pretty much the whole song.
  • John from Va Beach, VaSounds like a song to a loved one left behind for the next world. In that state between conciousness and sleep you can almost hear and see signs of your loved one close by...but "don't be concerned..." To me, a very wistful song.
  • Curt from Sarasota, FlScott Muni of New York's famed WNEW (who died in 2004 at 74) used the song as a sign-off. Well-known song to his many listeners.
  • Timothy from Worcester, MaIt's one of my favorite songs from my childhood. Even today the words are so deep and poetic, and I love his voice. Kinda like Bobby Goldsboro, wouldn't you say?
  • Reed from New Ulm, MnLindsay----you can look online for the sheetmusic to it---i'm sure you'd be able to find it.
  • Daevid from Glendale, CaA great song from a truly memorable era in music.
  • Gary Phelps from Homewood, IlI would hear this song when my parents would turn on the radio in the morning to wake me for school.And at school I would pursue as the song describes.
  • Lindsay from Melbourne, AustraliaIs it possible to get a copy of the chords, so that I may learn to sing the song myself?
  • Lindsay from Melbourne, AustraliaSince the mid-sixties when I first heard Bob Lind's song 'Elusive Butterfly' I have been moved both by the lyrics & the very sensitive simple tune
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top Proverb

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top ProverbSong Writing

How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.