Make our escape, you're my own Papillon
The world turns too fast
Feel love before it's gone

It kicks like a sleep twitch
My Papillon, feel love when it's shone
It kicks like a sleep twitch

Darling, just don't put down your guns yet
If there really was a God here
He'd have raised a hand by now

Now darling, you're born, get old, then die here
Well, that's quite enough for me
We'll find our own way home somehow

No sense of doubt or what you could achieve
I've found you out
I've seen the life you wish to leave

But when it kicks like a sleep twitch
You will choke, choke on the air you try to breathe
It kicks like a sleep twitch

Darling, now just don't put down your guns yet
If there really was a God here
He'd have raised a hand by now

Darling, you're born, get old, then die here
Well, that's quite enough for me, dear
We'll find our own way home somehow, how, how

It kicks like a sleep twitch
It kicks like a sleep twitch

Darling, just don't put down your guns yet
If there really was a God here
He'd have raised a hand by now

Darling, now you're born, get old, then die here
Well, that's quite enough for me, dear
We'll find our own way home somehow

It kicks like a sleep twitch
It kicks like a sleep twitch



Lyrics submitted by Cure.

Track duration: 05:26

"Papillon" as written by Thomas Michael Smith, Christopher Dominic Urbanowicz, Russell Leetch, Edward Owen Lay

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Papillon song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Amazing song. I agree about the "love through adversity" thing. I think it's a pretty simple statement made poignant through some really colorful images...
    To me, the persona seems to be saying that though often this life can seem a bit like French Guiana to he and his "partner", through their enduring love and devotion, they can find pleasure through the escape together.
    "It kicks like a sleep twitch" is the central metaphor of the song; a sleep twitch scares the shit out of you in the instant before you realize that it was really nothing.
    Just be content with what you have with another person you love, escape the oppressive monotony, and ignore your crazy impulses, because if you try to go it alone, you'll choke on the un-breathable air (another French Guiana reference) alone and afraid and lost...
    Flag jefepapichuloon July 11, 2012   Link
  • +3
    Lyric Correction:I am sorry the lyrics are all wrong... Here are the correct ones - I used the booklet of the cd...

    Make our escape, you’re my own papillon
    The world turns too fast, feel love before it’s gone
    It kicks like a sleep twitch
    My papillon, feel love when it’s shone

    It kicks like a sleep twitch

    Darling, just don’t put down your guns yet
    If there really was a God here, he’d have raised a hand by now
    Now darling, you’re born get old then die here
    Well that’s quite enough for me, we’ll find our own way home somehow

    No sense of doubt, or what you could achieve
    Well I found you out, I’ve seen the life you wish to leave
    But when it kicks like a sleep twitch
    You will choke, choke on the air you try to breath

    It kicks like a sleep twitch

    Darling, now just don’t put down your guns yet
    If there really was a God here, he’d have raised a hand by now
    Darling, you’re born get old then die here
    Well that’s quite enough for me dear, we’ll find our own way home somehow, how, how

    It kicks like a sleep twitch
    It kicks like a sleep twitch

    Darling, just don’t put down your guns yet
    If there really was a God here, he’d have raised a hand by now
    Darling, now you’re born get old then die here
    Well that’s quite enough for me dear, we’ll find our own way home somehow

    It kicks like a sleep twitch
    It kicks like a sleep twitch

    Flag picnicon June 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:it's about someone caught in a bad relationship
    the singer tells her that she is in fact not leading the life she should have

    don't put your guns yet... : the singer tells her not to settle for this. god won't help her.

    feel love before it's gone : they are in love, he is telling her to go for this before there is nothing left

    ( correct lyrics )
    i found you out, i've seen the life you wish to leave : she pretended that everything was going well, but he discovered that this is not so

    it kicks like a sleep twitch : she cannot deny this feeling of knowing there is something better. when she tries, she is suddenly and strongly reminded. even her body reacts to this.


    Flagged Cubee0qon June 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Its about perseverance though connection. Kinda 'We're in this together' sorta thing. the papillon story is important because it was two men who endured together though given the final chance of extremely risky escape papillon's friend (dega) doesn't go with him. the sleep twitch is the sense of falling and suddenly being caught or landing, it freaks you out a little, but the sense in which it is used I think 'it' is the need to know, the want for a better answer to life. and the choking verse is about the fact that whomever the singer is talking about clearly dislikes their life and hides it well, and the chance of finding something better brutally keeps them quiet, because the chance is granted by the life they hate. All put together its a brilliant and beautiful song about being left behind by the love of your life. (Now YOU'RE born born get old and die here, well that quite enough for ME dear.)Now the singer is left thinking 'What if...?'
    Flag KingOfMartyrTownon April 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"Make your escape, you're my own Papillon
    The world turns too fast, feel love before it done
    It kicks like a sleep twitch
    My Papillon, feel love when it's done"

    I fee like the "My papillon, feel love when it's done" part is actually something else. At first I though it was "in love with a shark" but then I realised that was silly. Buy still, it doesnt sound like hes saying "feel love when its's done" at the end of that part.

    Flag Fyropyroon May 20, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:"if there really was a God here, he'd have raised a hand by now."
    I really love that line. As for Papillon, I think both the butterfly and Charrière interpretations could work. Not a fan of the musical direction these guys have taken, but the lyrics are as strong as ever.
    Flag tommygon October 31, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Papillon is a very famous racehorse so i'm pretty sure the it kicks like a sleep twitch lyric refers to that.
    Flag SB243619on October 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:MrMMTk, I think you may be right about the 'waking up' aspect of it. I agree with others that it is about forgetting about a higher power helping you, you have to do the work yourself (not put down your guns).

    The Papillon reference is definitely to the book/film - Papillon is a character who relentlessly tries to escape imprisonment out of a sense that his imprisonment is unjust and unfair, to a point where he is prepared to risk execution or death at sea to escape.
    Flag caitsith01on October 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:why do all rock bands sound different after 2 albums???
    for instance: bloc party , arctic monkeys, peter bjôrn and john,...
    Flag Tendaxon October 12, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:
    Sleep twitch: If I understand correctly, it refers to the small rapid body movements that occur just before you fall asleep. I have experienced more of them I you are really tired. You can actually wake up bacause of those. Would that be about seeing finally the truth that wakes you up from your sleep? The truth that destiny is really in your own hands.

    I interpret the song in very same way as people above. I'd like to add something about the video though. I seems to be about the journey of you life. It starts from a tunnel (haha), you rush through your life pushing forward with strength and determination. Some friends join you on the way, and leave you later. Then in the end, you just cease to exist. Creepy somehow.
    Flag MrMMtkon October 09, 2009   Link

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