Butterflies

## Music Video

"**Butterflies**" is a song by American singer-songwriter Gabbie Hanna. It was released on May 31, 2019 independently as the second and final single from her debut extended play *2WayMirror*.

## Background

Hanna uploaded a video to her YouTube channel titled “The Making of Butterflies (I Let Instagram Write My Next Song)” two days before *2WayMirror*'s release which details the songwriting and producing process with writer and producer duo Lyre. During the process, the song's working title was "This Is Gonna Hurt" until Hanna heard the full song back for the first time and decided that "Butterflies" was a better fit.

 The day before Hanna had her writing session with Lyre, she put up many polls on her Instagram story asking her fans to vote on what they wanted the song to be like.

 Lyrically, the outro of the song connects with that of the next song on EP, Perfect Day (A True Story), and serves as a warning to Hanna's future self.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

I knew who you were from the start

I just hoped you'd prove me wrong

I could spend all year just letting down my guard

While you're stringing me along

Gave it our best shot but we just missed the mark

Sad to say, our love is gone

I could spend all day just picking you apart

But instead I'll write a song

**[Chrous]**

It'll go

Ooh, ooh

Ooh, so instead I'll write a song

**[Verse 2]**

Said I wouldn't date for a while

Still I couldn't help but flirt

From the day I kissed your smile

I thought, "this is gonna hurt"

**[Chorus]**

And it goes

Ooh, ooh

Ooh, I thought, "this is gonna hurt"

**[Post-Chorus]**

This is gonna hurt, this is gonna hurt (Gonna hurt)

Gave it all we can, it'll never work (Never work)

This is gonna hurt, this is gonna hurt

Beware of butterflies, they'll break your heart, your heart

**[Verse 3]**

Told me you'd never been in love

Thought that I could be the exception

It was too much to ask of you

I guess I learned my lesson

I'm bracin' for impact, leave my heart intact

I wish you never came around

New situation with low expectations

You still manage to let me down

**[Chorus]**

Ooh, ooh

Ooh, I thought, "this is gonna hurt"

Ooh, ooh

Ooh, I thought, "this is gonna hurt"

**[Post-Chorus]**

This is gonna hurt, this is gonna hurt (Gonna hurt)

Give it all we can, it'll never work (Never work)

This is gonna hurt, this is gonna hurt (Gonna hurt)

Give it all we can, it'll never work (Never work)

Yeah

This is gonna hurt, this is gonna hurt (Gonna hurt)

Give it all we can, it'll never work (Never work)

This is gonna hurt, this is gonna hurt

Beware of butterflies, they'll break your heart

**[Outro]**

Butterflies, butterflies

Butterflies will break your heart

But if I, But if I

But if I knew from the start

Why would I, why would I

Why would I give this a try?

Maybe I, maybe I

Maybe I like to hurt sometimes

## Music video

The song's music video, directed by Ryan Parma, came out 14.5 hours after the the song and EP were released. The video features Hanna in four different color coordinated sets: white, yellow, blue, and pink. Hanna is seen performing ballet, picking petals off of flowers, singing to her self in a room full of fake butterflies, and singing at a microphone in a room full of heart balloons.

## References

1. ↑ "2WAYMIRROR" *Apple Music*. May 31, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 “The Making of Butterflies (I Let Instagram Write My Next Song)”. *YouTube*. May 29. 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
3. ↑ "Gabbie Hanna Butterflies Lyrics". *Genius*. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
4. ↑ "Butterflies - Gabbie Hanna (Official Video)". *YouTube*. May 31, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2020.