Anyone know of the literary or historical links to the phrase? (I'm disregarding the 2007 film as it sounds rubbish and irrelevant :P)

 

I grew up with this (which at the time led me back to the Stones, and then to the original source). It's a bit of a lame mix (certainly over laptop speakers) - the decent one is the 12" limited edition vinyl extended which I have and is stunning.

 

Anyway, here it is (non-fans of 90s soft-'goth' don't bother watching - you will hate it!! :)):

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajEwxCH8P1Q]Mission - Butterfly on a wheel. - YouTube[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XswGZVSurpw]Oasis - Falling Down (Live at Wembley) - YouTube[/ame]

I dont know the origin of it but i know the meaning.

The only other time I heard it was from the Oasis song posted above (Falling Down). According to Wiki:

 

The lyric: "Catch the wheel that breaks the butterfly" references the quotation: "Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?" from Alexander Pope's "Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot".

Wow! Thanks so much guys, I'd never heard that Oasis song, I have to say it's probably the best thing I've ever heard from them (only really heard the first two albums played on continual repeat at uni bars), what a stormer!!

 

I'll have to look more at their back catalogue. That is real, proper, rock and roll :)

 

The modern knowledge of the phrase is due to the Rolling Stones' court case in the 60s, which was pretty era-defining in England, and I'm guessing that's what all the tracks on this thread reference.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL32D190FECDC4A63B

 

 

Oasis, the best band there ever was. Just hear some of their songs in my list...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-digc8ukrV8]Oasis - Falling Down (Live Top Of The Pops 2009) (High Quality video)(HQ) - YouTube[/ame]

 

This version is my favorite falling down.

This is now an Oasis thread

Backing to Coldplay...I think the phrase really combines with every teardrop is a waterfall. The meaning is almost the same x)

Oi! I said OASIS THREAD!!! :angry:

 

:P Alright, Coldplay right...yeah, to be honest, I don't know what it means but it sounds good. Like their Clocks lyrics. Gibberish and nonsensical but effective nonetheless.

Wheel that breaks the butterfly = Overreact over something

ETIAW = i think you now

This is now an Oasis thread

 

Er, no it's not! Not until the fat lady sings (and btw that fat lady is me in drag and a fat suit, and trust me you put your life in your hands if you ask to see that! :laugh3:)

 

Backing to Coldplay...I think the phrase really combines with every teardrop is a waterfall. The meaning is almost the same x)

 

I hated the waterfall mention on the first listen (because I still don't like that song very much), but after later listenings (and ignoring that) it combines really well poetically with the butterfly line. How do they mean almost the same thing though?

 

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL32D190FECDC4A63B

 

Oasis, the best band there ever was. Just hear some of their songs in my list...

 

Thanks a lot EdPlay, I'll check that out now for sure :)

I hated the waterfall mention on the first listen (because I still don't like that song very much), but after later listenings (and ignoring that) it combines really well poetically with the butterfly line. How do they mean almost the same thing though?

 

Its like i said above. Both are linked to overreact over something. People say the new coldplay songs dont have good lyrics, i deeply disagree.

"So lying underneath the stormy skies( another oasis phrase here :lol:) She said I know the sun is set to rise. Its gonna be paradise."

 

I just love that last verse. Love happy songs x) Im happy, so what? shoot me :lol:

Anyway, i gtg. Cya :)

Actually, I just looked it up and it means putting a lot of effort into something unimportant.

Its like i said above. Both are linked to overreact over something. People say the new coldplay songs dont have good lyrics, i deeply disagree.

 

It's a real pleasure talking to you, but I completely disagree with your interpretation.

 

I see Every Teardrop as underreacting about things - dismissing just a tear as nothing, rather than the emotional waterfall it may be. Setting your emotions free, totally free, not denying them - a very healthy message imo - is the story of the song.

 

The butterfly on a wheel is a helpless, caught insect, at your mercy. It is beautiful. You squash it because you can, and possibly because it suits your needs. In fact you squash it (in the case of the Rolling Stones) because it is all of those things.

Thanks, guys. I've always wondered about that phrase. (Really do wish I could get my head around Pope better sometimes, but it's probably a bit like trying to understand The Simpsons if you happen to be from the 25th century. The pop culture just won't translate without some research...)

 

 

Wow! Thanks so much guys, I'd never heard that Oasis song, I have to say it's probably the best thing I've ever heard from them (only really heard the first two albums played on continual repeat at uni bars), what a stormer!!

 

I'll have to look more at their back catalogue. That is real, proper, rock and roll :)

 

Oasis hit a really great zone right before the end. Noel's songwriting has matured beautifully (can't wait for his solo album) and skill-wise they had the best lineup ever. The old fans grumble that they didn't sound like the good old days and the critics grumble that they found a sound and stuck with it, but frankly, I think a lot of their best material is on their last two or three albums.

Who said Oasis?? :wacky: :wacky:

Thanks, guys. I've always wondered about that phrase. (Really do wish I could get my head around Pope better sometimes, but it's probably a bit like trying to understand The Simpsons if you happen to be from the 25th century. The pop culture just won't translate without some research...)

 

Great analogy with The Simpsons! Pope is tricky and you need a mentor (at least I do :() I haven't been able to get through much of it since A-levels (high school).

 

 

Oasis hit a really great zone right before the end. Noel's songwriting has matured beautifully (can't wait for his solo album) and skill-wise they had the best lineup ever. The old fans grumble that they didn't sound like the good old days and the critics grumble that they found a sound and stuck with it, but frankly, I think a lot of their best material is on their last two or three albums.

 

That's great to know, thanks! As far as I'm concerned Noel's always been an incredible songwriter, but I know that only really from the first few albums, I gave up after the singles from 'Giants'. My biggest problem with them I think was that while they had the songs they didn't have the musicianship, and certainly not the singer. Musician-wise, coming from the home of The Smiths, Stone Roses et al even the records weren't good enough. But the vid of Falling Down makes me REALLY curious now, I'll check them out more :)

Great analogy with The Simpsons! Pope is tricky and you need a mentor (at least I do :() I haven't been able to get through much of it since A-levels (high school).

 

That's great to know, thanks! As far as I'm concerned Noel's always been an incredible songwriter, but I know that only really from the first few albums, I gave up after the singles from 'Giants'. My biggest problem with them I think was that while they had the songs they didn't have the musicianship, and certainly not the singer. Musician-wise, coming from the home of The Smiths, Stone Roses et al even the records weren't good enough. But the vid of Falling Down makes me REALLY curious now, I'll check them out more :)

I studied Pope a fair bit in university but struggled with it more than just about anything else. I was always more into the medieval and romantic eras.

 

Good grief, I've never even been able to listen to 'giants' in one go, I hated it so much. :tongue: They definitely got better again after that- by the end the only original members were the two Gallaghers and the new guys were good (especially Zach Starkey... because you know they weren't Beatles-obsessed enough already. :laugh3:)

I studied Pope a fair bit in university but struggled with it more than just about anything else. I was always more into the medieval and romantic eras.

 

Good grief, I've never even been able to listen to 'giants' in one go, I hated it so much. :tongue: They definitely got better again after that- by the end the only original members were the two Gallaghers and the new guys were good (especially Zach Starkey... because you know they weren't Beatles-obsessed enough already. :laugh3:)

 

But Giants have one of the most greatest songs of Oasis:

 

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And with Noel on vocals and that solo flute, it's magic:

 

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Ok, back to topic :P

Fess Up, Who thought the wheel that breaks the butterfly...?

 

Was a really dumb/no context lyric that just allowed butterfly to enter the song, only to later find out that its an expression?

 

If you're English, maybe you knew all along. And if you're a massive Oasis fan, maybe you knew as well. I'm American, was once an Oasis fan, and am college educated, and it went completely over my head!

 

So did anyone else feel stupid to find out? Or was it only me?

What? I still don't know what it means. Tell me please, then. :)