Saturday February 6, 2021 “Elusive Butterfly” Bob Lind

This is just a lovely song and we probably need a palate cleanser after Dan Bern yesterday.

 When Bob Lind released this song in 1966 he was being hailed as the next Bob Dylan and apparently that was only half right because while his first name was Bob he didn’t have the staying power to live up to the surname.  But let’s not short sell this remarkable work which Lind attributed to being inspired by poet W.B. Yeats.

 ‘Elusive Butterfly’, way back when there were records, was the ‘B’ side of ‘Cheryl’s Going Home’ which was supposed to be the hit, and it kind of was.  However in the world of DJs not paying attention to record company direction, one of them flipped the record and liked ‘Elusive Butterfly’ better, played it and, well the rest is history.

 An international top ten hit that unfortunately Lind was unable to follow up with.  Skip my cynicism, this is a great song that deserves several listens, so if you’re not familiar with it go for it at least twice.

 Stay safe and well...and when I purchased this record back in 1966 it got played so many times that it quickly became unplayable. 

You might wake up some mornin'

To the sound of something moving past your window in the wind 

And if you're quick enough to rise

You'll catch a fleeting glimpse of someone's fading shadow

Elusive Butterfly - Bob Lind 1966 {Stereo}Out on the new horizon

You may see the floating motion of a distant pair of wings

And if the sleep has left your ears

You might hear footsteps running through an open meadow

 

Don't be concerned, it will not harm you

It's only me pursuing somethin' I'm not sure of

Across my dreams with nets of wonder

I chase the bright elusive butterfly of love

 

You might have heard my footsteps

Echo softly in the distance through the canyons of your mind

I might have even called your name

As I ran searching after something to believe in

You might have seen me runnin'

Through the long-abandoned ruins of the dreams you left behind

If you remember something there

That glided past you followed close by heavy breathin'

 

Don't be concerned, it will not harm you

It's only me pursuing somethin' I'm not sure of

Across my dreams with nets of wonder

I chase the bright elusive butterfly of love

 

Across my dreams with nets of wonder

I chase the bright elusive butterfly of love