Meaning of "Butterfly" by Screaming Trees

"Butterfly" by Screaming Trees offers a poignant reflection on the ephemeral nature of memories and the longing for home. The changing memories that "fade away" imply the loss and transience of personal experiences and emotions. The juxtaposition of "sunshine bright" and the repeated line "I kept you on my mind" suggests a nostalgic yearning for a past happiness or a person who has gone away. The butterfly motif throughout the song symbolizes vulnerability, fragility, and mortality. The repeated refrain "Cry, cry butterfly, Heard it on the wings that you're going to die" reinforces this melancholic tone and emphasizes the inevitability of loss. The narrator's desire to go home reflects a longing for a place of refuge, comfort, and familiarity, where they can escape the feelings of sickness and despair. The empty room with "four walls around, nothing to be found" reinforces a sense of loneliness and emptiness. The lyrics of "Butterfly" evoke a bittersweet sense of longing, capturing the human experience of grappling with the passage of time and the fleeting nature of happiness.