Jump to: Lyrics | Song Meaning | Watch Video | FAQ
Butterflies Theme Song Lyrics
Official Theme Video
Behind the Lyrics: Meaning & Story
The Butterflies theme song is an evocative piece that perfectly mirrors the bittersweet, melancholic tone of Carla Lane’s classic BBC sitcom. While originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton, the version used for the series was beautifully re-interpreted by Clare Torry—famously known for her vocals on Pink Floyd’s “The Great Gig in the Sky.”
The lyrics serve as a poignant metaphor for the life of the protagonist, Ria Parkinson (Wendy Craig). The “fluttering” and “multicoloured moods” represent her restless desire for something more outside her mundane domestic life and her unconsummated emotional connection with Leonard. Like a butterfly, her happiness feels fragile and fleeting.
The gentle, airy arrangement provided the ideal backdrop for the show’s exploration of suburban frustration and the delicate nature of romantic temptation, making it one of the most recognizable TV themes of the era.