Blue Butterfly

[bnewman]

A nature story as true as it is creepy, by way of David Attenborough

lyrics and music by Benjamin Newman

listen to this song

/ Am - - - / G - E - / - - - - / - E7 Am - /

 

Blue butterfly, blue butterfly, come flutter by, come flutter by

Laying your eggs on the gentian stem

How shall your children fare when you're no longer there?

Another family shall foster them

 

Blue butterfly, blue butterfly, come flutter by, come flutter by

Laying your eggs on the gentian leaf

Some of your children may grow up like you someday

Some of your children may come to grief

 

Ants foraging, ants foraging, come following, come following

Taste of your larvae you know so well

Brought back into the nest, brought where your children rest

Not one of yours, but your tongues can't tell

 

Feed it the very food meant for your mother's brood

Under your care it will thrive and grow

While you are feeding it, I shall be seeking it

I, who can smell what you still don't know

 

You shall not hinder me, I know your chemistry

Your jaws shall turn upon your own kin

While you are out of mind, fosterlings I shall find

Eggs of my own I shall place within

 

Pitiful colony, fools guard your nursery

Now it is twice they have been deceived

Children of butterflies entered with tender lies

Now from their chrysales wasps shall leave

 

Blue butterfly, blue butterfly, come flutter by, come flutter by

Laying your eggs on the gentian leaf

Some of your children may grow up like you someday

Some of your children may come to grief