Shinedown wrote this song following a letter from a fan who spoke of how her son had recently lost his battle to cancer. It is about this child’s battle and how the crow (cancer) chased the butterfly (the boy, still in his youth)
[Verse 1]
I painted your room at midnight
So I'd know yesterday was over
I put all your books on the top shelf
Even the one with the four-leaf clover
Man, I'm gettin' older
[Verse 2]
I took all your pictures off the wall
And wrapped them in a newspaper blanket
I haven't slept in what seems like a century
And now I can barely breathe
[Chorus]
Just like a crow chasing the butterfly
Dandelions lost in the summer sky
When you and I were gettin' high as outer space
I never thought you'd slip away
I guess I was just a little too late
[Verse 3]
Your words still serenade me
Your lullabies won't let me sleep
I've never heard such a haunting melody
Oh, it's killin' me
You know I can barely breathe
[Chorus]
Just like a crow chasing the butterfly
Dandelions lost in the summer sky
When you and I were gettin' high as outer space
I never thought you'd slip away
I guess I was just a little too late
[Interlude]
[Chorus]
Just like a crow chasing the butterfly
Dandelions lost in the summer sky
When you and I were gettin' high as outer space
I never thought you'd slip away
[Chorus]
Like a crow chasing the butterfly
Dandelions lost in the summer sky
When you and I were gettin' high as outer space
I never thought you'd slip away
I guess I was just a little too late
[Outro]
Just a little too late
The Crow & the Butterfly was written by Dave Bassett & Brent Smith.
The Crow & the Butterfly was produced by Rob Cavallo.
Shinedown released The Crow & the Butterfly on Tue Jun 24 2008.
For me lyrically this was one of the most intense stories I have ever written. But I know the song means something different to everyone.
—Brent Smith via Shinedown Blog (May 2010)