High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! "Butterfly" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her sixth studio album, Butterfly. It was released as the second single from the album on December 1, 1997 by Columbia Records. The song was written by Carey and Walter Afanasieff; both of them producing and arranging the song as well. "Butterfly" is a ballad combining elements of pop and gospel genres. Carey had originally conceived it as a house record with David Morales titled "Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)". After realizing how personal the lyrics were and how they could be applied to Butterfly, she wrote the album`s title track with Afanasieff. On the song`s lyrics, Carey sings to someone, telling them to spread their wings and release into the world on their own, like a butterfly. Carey described the song as her "favorite and most personal ballad".