This was the first song I wrote when I moved to Austin. I went for a walk and kept seeing these black butterflies everywhere in my neighborhood. It seemed a bit strange that a creature I think of as being the most vibrant thing ever would be just one color...black. I wondered what that meant, and started to imagine that perhaps they were some sort of envoy of death, or just possibly angels that deliver us from one situation to the next. At any rate, I got a bit further down the road and someone had these black iron gates along their house with black iron butterflies. I got chills just looking at it and realized I had to write a song right away -- something was obviously trying to get through.
lyrics
Oh death, oh death
Are you a blackwing butterfly?
Are you death here to touch me on my shoulder as I cry?
Silent and unnoticed up against the evening sky,
Death, are you a blackwing butterfly?
Is this the end, oh the end, blackwing butterfly?
Did you summon all the angels for a bedside lullaby?
We all just keep on singing and wait for
Heaven’s trumpets cry
Sing it loud, blackwing butterfly
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Don’t pass me by, don’t pass my by,
Blackwing butterfly
Are you here for another, must I suffer in this life?
‘Cause I’m weak from all this loving and
I think it is my time
Take me now, blackwing butterfly
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Do you know how I’m aching, blackwing butterfly?
Do you know how I’m aching when I see you fly on by
‘Cause I thought you’d take this heartache
Up to heaven by and by
But you left me, my blackwing butterfly
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
credits
from THIN LINE,
released August 18, 2009
Noëlle Hampton: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
André Moran: Electric Guitar
Pete “The Beat” Langhans: Drums
Mark Hallman: Bass
Michael Ramos: Accordion
Teal Collins: Backing Vocals
Michelle Stodart’s folk music captures hope in melancholy, addressing the transformational aspects of the most challenging times. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 3, 2023
Recorded live at St Buryan Church, the latest from Sarah McQuaid is a showcase for the simple power of voice & guitar. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 16, 2021
Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert offer up a stunning minimalist country record, conjuring huge emotions with little more than vocals & guitar. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 13, 2022
A re-envisioning of Tony Rice's classic album "Church Street Blues" from Brooklyn progressive bluegrass quartet Punch Brothers. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 19, 2022
The second EP from Northern Irish singer-songwriter Bea Stewart runs from gentle folk to pillowy pop ballads, all perfectly executed. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 15, 2024