Deniece Williams

Songwriter: Cynthia Weil Barry Mann

Producer: George Duke

[Verse 1]
Morning light
Silken dream take flight
As the darkness gives way to the dawn
You've survived
Now your moment has arrived
Now your dream has finally been born

[Chorus]
Black Butterfly
Sail across the waters
Tell your sons and daughters
What the struggle brings
Black Butterfly
Set the skies on fire
Rise up even higher
So the ageless winds of time can catch your wings
Ooh, ooh

[Verse 2]
While you slept
The promise was unkept
But your faith was as sure as the stars
Now you're free
And the world has come to see
Just how proud and beautiful you are

[Chorus]
Black Butterfly
Sail across the waters
Tell your sons and daughters
What the struggle brings
Black Butterfly
Set the skies on fire
Rise up even higher
So the ageless winds of time can catch your wings

[Bridge]
Let the current lift your heart
And send it soaring
Write your timeless message clear across the skies
So that all of can read it
And remember when we need it
That a dream conceived in truth can never die
Butterfly

[Instrumental Break]

[Pre-Chorus]
'Cause now you're free
And the world has come to see
Just how proud and beautiful you are

[Chorus]
Black Butterfly
Sail across the waters
Tell your sons and your daughters
What the struggle brings
Black Butterfly
Set the skies, set them on fire
Rise up even higher
So the ageless winds of time can catch your wings

[Outro]
Fly
Butterfly
Yeah, yeah, yes
Fly

Deniece Williams (born name June Deniece Chandler) is an American singer, songwriter and producer. She was born June 3, 1950. She has been described as “one of the great soul voices” by the BBC. Williams has won four Grammys with twelve nominations altogether.

As Deniece Chandler, she recorded for The Toddlin' Town group of labels. One of those early records, “I’m Walking Away”, released on Toddlin’s subsidiary Lock Records in the late 1960s, is a favorite on England’s Northern Soul scene. In the early 1970s she became a backup vocalist for Stevie Wonder as part of “Wonderlove”, lending her vocals on his albums Talking Book, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life. Williams also guested in 1974 on Syreeta Wright’s album Stevie Wonder Syreeta as well as Minnie Riperton’s Perfect Angel album and a year later on Roberta Flack’s Feel Like Makin' Love.

more tracks from the album

Let’s Hear It for the Boy

From the album

Let’s Hear It for the Boy (1984)

Deniece Williams popular songs

Black ButterflyDeniece Williams

Deniece Williams

Let’s Hear It for the Boy