Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
This week we’re going to be thinking about the upbeat feel good Wings by Little Mix. It’s a song which encourages us to listen to (our Mama’s) words of encouragement and spread our wings.
My first thought is that I’m not too sure that I really want to be considered a butterfly. But when you start to explore the idea you begin to see how many cultures associate the butterfly with the soul, and as a powerful representation of life itself. In Christianity, it is even considered a symbolisation of new life through resurrection, emerging from the tomb of the chrysalis.
This imagery gives a really different metaphorical quality to the butterfly than my first thoughts, which to be honest, were as a pretty, but fairly insignificant and vulnerable creature. Indeed, it has been said that the butterfly represents something of endurance and hope in times of change.
Taking this positive view of the symbolism of the butterfly, the lyrics of this song take on a new significance. There are lots of thoughts in the song about how we might be damaged by the words of others; being kept up at night by their words, the repetition. But there is also a lot about not letting other people’s words take hold.
Words are often intended to damage us, but the metaphor of the butterfly is to endure and become the creation we were meant to be. The song encourages us to hold ourselves above what others might think, placing more respect on ourselves than the words of others as we are made to flourish.
But it does so with the realism that at times other people’s words will bring us down. Yet, whilst we might fall, we will fly once again. I think this is a great reminder to us all. Words can hurt, and sometimes even stick for a while, but ultimately, we can be something greater. Take encouragement and sing along.
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