Song Introduction
"Butterflies" is a newly released track from the late Mac Miller, unveiled on August 21, 2026, as part of The Divine Feminine 10th Anniversary Edition. The song features contributions from Thundercat and Taylor Graves, blending lush soulful production with Mac's signature introspective lyricism. Recorded during the original Divine Feminine sessions, this previously unreleased gem captures the album's central theme: love as a transformative and spiritual force. The track arrives as a bittersweet gift to fans, offering another glimpse into the creative world Mac was building before his untimely passing in 2018.
Lyrics
[Intro: Mac Miller]
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
[Verse 1: Mac Miller & Taylor Graves]
You smell just like lilac wine, little bit of nostalgia
Rewind back time to when I first learned to love ya
But she passin' me by, she burnin' rubber (Yeah, yeah)
In these slideshows in my mind, woah
She play it cool, but her eyes don't lie though (Oh)
Better drive slow (Babe)
If you wanna take a ride on the high road (Yeah; Woah)
And your mind so passionate, your love what I'm after, and
That feelin' so unfamiliar, I only imagine it
Dream girl, you're my make-believe girl
[Pre-Chorus: Mac Miller]
I'ma bet it all on you
I'ma cheer you up, why you been so blue? Yeah
I'ma put you in a mood
Baby girl, them butterflies stick like glue
[Chorus: Mac Miller & Taylor Graves]
Butterflies (Butterflies; Yeah)
Butterflies stick like glue (Butterflies)
Butterflies (Butterflies)
Butterflies stick like glue (Yeah, okay; Yeah)
[Verse 2: Mac Miller]
Beauty queen, beauty queen, straight out of a movie scene
Touchin' on your body, I can feel you in a lucid dream
This my imagination, ooh, you keep me fascinated
You are a forbidden fruit, I be apple tastin'
She is glowin', babe
I think I need a moment, I keep you open late
Do you even know my name? (Or am I a stranger?)
Yeah, she dancin' on the street, it's her favorite ol' song
And she playin' out the stereo, the radio on
Do she love me like I love her? Use me when she need a lover?
Yeah, she got me under her spell, goin' rounds, ring the bell
[Pre-Chorus: Mac Miller]
I'ma bet it all on you
I'ma cheer you up, why you been so blue? Yeah
I'ma put you in a mood
Baby girl, them butterflies stick like glue (Glue)
[Chorus: Mac Miller & Taylor Graves]
Butterflies (Butterflies; Yeah)
Butterflies stick like glue (Butterflies)
Butterflies (Butterflies)
Butterflies stick like glue (Woah)
[Outro: Mac Miller]
There's no emotion powerful as love
There's no emotion powerful as love, oh, woah
No emotion powerful as love
As love
As love, oh, woah
Lyrics Meaning
At its core, "Butterflies" is a meditation on the intoxicating and often overwhelming sensation of falling in love. The recurring metaphor of butterflies sticking like glue perfectly captures that feeling of nervous excitement that refuses to fade, a sensation that clings to the soul long after the moment has passed.
In the first verse, Mac paints a vivid picture of longing and nostalgia. The image of lilac wine evokes something both delicate and intoxicating, a scent that triggers memories of a love that feels both real and dreamlike. The line "Rewind back time to when I first learned to love ya" suggests a relationship rooted in genuine emotional discovery rather than fleeting attraction. Yet there's tension here too, she passes him by, she burns rubber, implying a love that is always slightly out of reach, existing more in the slideshows of his mind than in tangible reality.
The second verse deepens this dreamlike quality. Mac describes his love interest as a "beauty queen, straight out of a movie scene," placing her on a pedestal of idealization. The reference to a "lucid dream" is particularly telling, it suggests Mac is aware that his perception may be shaped by imagination, yet he chooses to remain in that dream because the feeling is too beautiful to let go. The "forbidden fruit" imagery adds a layer of temptation and risk, love as something delicious but potentially dangerous.
The pre-chorus reveals Mac's vulnerability and devotion. "I'ma bet it all on you" is a declaration of total commitment, while "why you been so blue?" shows his desire to heal and uplift his partner. This aligns deeply with the nurturing, healing energy that defined much of The Divine Feminine.
The outro strips everything down to its essence: "There's no emotion powerful as love." After all the imagery, the dreams, the longing, and the butterflies, Mac arrives at a simple, universal truth. Love, in all its messy, complicated, beautiful forms, remains the most transformative force a human being can experience. It's a fitting final thought from an artist who spent his career exploring the depths of his own heart.
Conclusion
"Butterflies" is more than just an unreleased track from the vault, it is a testament to Mac Miller's enduring artistry and his ability to articulate the most delicate emotions with raw honesty. Released alongside the 10th anniversary of The Divine Feminine, the song feels like a missing puzzle piece, completing the picture of an album that celebrated love in its most spiritual and vulnerable form.
For longtime fans, hearing new Mac Miller music in 2026 is both a joy and a reminder of what was lost. But songs like "Butterflies" ensure that his voice continues to resonate, his words continue to comfort, and his music continues to make us feel those butterflies that stick like glue. In the end, Mac's greatest legacy may be his unwavering belief that love, above all else, is what makes life worth living.
