Another Song Of A Fool

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a striking image of a "great purple butterfly" held captive, its "learning in his eye" a mystery to the "poor fool" observing it. This initial scene immediately establishes a tone of wonder mixed with a touch of pity or confusion. The narrator then shifts to a past life for the butterfly, imagining it as a "schoolmaster" who ruled with "stark, denying look" and instilled fear with "great birch and his great book." This contrast between the delicate butterfly and the stern, authoritative figure suggests a complex past, hinting that its current state is a consequence of its former rigidity or harshness. The most compelling craft element is the description of the butterfly's learning process: "Sweet and harsh, harsh and sweet." This paradoxical phrase, likened to a "clangour of a bell," implies that true understanding or transformation comes from experiencing both extremes. It's through this duality that the butterfly "learnt so well / To take the roses for his meat," suggesting a profound shift from punishment to a more natural, perhaps even pleasurable, existence. This transformation is what makes the lyrics resonate. The poem doesn't just describe a butterfly; it uses it as a vehicle to explore how rigid authority can give way to a more nuanced, perhaps even beautiful, understanding of life. The final image of the butterfly consuming "roses" implies a hard-won peace or wisdom, achieved through a difficult, dualistic learning.