Black Butterfly

Earl Hines · Other Songs - Earl Hines

You're a black butterfly

With your wings frayed and torn,

Laughter's your's so is scorn

As they point to you in shame.

You're a black butterfly

With your wings near fire,

But confess when your tire,

Is the candle worth the flame?

Your Queen of the Night

But with morning's early light

There's not a hear to really call your own;

So before it's too late,

Change your ways and repent,

Take my love that was meant

For black butterfly along.

You're a black butterfly

With your wings frayed and torn,

Laughter's your's so is scorn

As they point to you in shame.

You're a black butterfly

With your wings near fire,

But confess when your tire,

Is the candle worth the flame?

Your Queen of the Night

But with morning's early light

There's not a hear to really call your own;

So before it's too late,

Change your ways and repent,

Take my love that was meant

For black butterfly along.

Black Butterfly

Earl Hines' 'Black Butterfly' stands as a quintessential example of his mastery over the swing piano style that defined the bebop era. Recorded during his prolific period in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the track showcases Hines' ability to blend complex harmonic structures with a fluid, rhythmic approach that influenced generations of jazz pianists. As a solo performance, the recording highlights his technical precision and improvisational flair, capturing the essence of the New Orleans jazz tradition while pushing the boundaries of modern composition. The piece remains a significant song in his discography, reflecting the transitional moment in jazz where traditional forms began to evolve into more avant-garde expressions.