I was nine years old
Playin’ on a pier overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge
Played on that pier all the time
Dodging cars, I lost a couple of friends that way…

Oh, them butterflies
Fighting against the wind; not movin’ anyplace.
Oh , them butterflies
Took off my jacket, started swingin’ at them.
Happiest moment of my life …..
Happiest moment of my life

Ditched school, ’cause I’d gotten beat up at home.
Didn’t want them to just send me to the hospital again.
Started whippin’ my jacket around, hard as I could do;
Yellow and white wings flickering against my feet

Oh, them butterflies
Fast as I‘d take ’em out, more would fill the air.
Oh, them butterflies
Never felt like that before.
It was the
Happiest moment of my life

Ooh, for the next 25 years
I took comfort in that.
Ooh, for the next 25 years
When I was beaten and down
I took comfort in that

Thought about this the other day
Little boy playin’ on a pier
Swingin’ his jacket against a column of yellow and white
I’d always seen it so beautiful
Now I just see an angry boy
Striking out against the world

Oh, them butterflies
Struggling against the wind not movin’ anyplace.
Oh, them butterflies
Taking away their life;
It was the
Happiest moment of my life

(lyrics: Dan Bern and Duane Mackey)