Justin Bieber’s ‘Butterflies’ Lyrics Call Out People Who Use Him for ‘Money, Money, Money’

THE RUNDOWN

• Justin Bieber used his April 2025 rant to paparazzi as the introduction to his Swag song “Butterflies.”
• The singer takes aim at people using him for money and reflects on his own feelings about wealth.
• The track comes after Justin’s rep confirmed earlier this year that the singer cut ties with “several close friendships and business relationships that no longer served him.”

One of Justin Bieber’s Swag tracks appears to be about breaking away from people who exploit him. In “Butterflies,” Justin begins the song with the same words he directed at paparazzi in April: “Money, that’s all you want, you don’t care about human beings / All you want is money.”

In the full clip, he told them, “That’s all you care about, guys, is money. You don’t care about people.”

“Butterflies” starts with that rant, but it finishes with Justin’s reflections about money as he sings about “slipping away” from more materialistic people.

Of course, it’s possible the song is directed to more than just photographers. Justin has cut ties with several people over the last year both personally and professionally. In February, Justin’s rep told TMZ that 2024 was “very transformative for him as he ended several close friendships and business relationships that no longer served him.”

“Butterflies” is Bieber’s declaration that he’s moving on. Read the lyrics and listen to the song below:

IntroYou just want moneyMoney, money, money, money, money, moneyMoney, get out of here, broMoney, that's all you want, you don’t care about human beings

All you want is money

Verse 1

When the money comes and the money goesOnly thing that’s left, uh, is the love we holdIt’s a pain in pleasure, never black and white (Never black and white)’Cause the sun keeps shining, uh, gonna close my eyes

Pre-Chorus

Butterflies, go away (Oh, no, no, no, oh, yeah, yеah)

These butterfliеs, seem to go away (Go away)

Chorus

I’m just moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, I’m slippin’ away (Ooh, uh)I'm just moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, I’m slippin’ away (Moving then, I’m slippin’ away)I’m just moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, I’m slippin’ away (Girl, now I’m slippin’ away)I’m just moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, and moving

Verse 2

And this wounded heart’ll kill ya love, live without you (Live without you)In this perfect harmony, and that’s what we are (Don’t go so far along)

Pre-Chorus

Butterflies, go away, away (Oh, no, no, no, butterflies)These butterflies, seem to go away

(Oh, no, no, no, butterflies) Always seem to go away

Chorus

I’m just moving, and moving (Moving), and moving (Moving), and moving, I’m slippin’ away (You know I’m slippin’, ooh)I’m just moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, I’m slippin’ away (Moving then, I’m slippin’ away)(I’m ’bout to slip away, I’m ’bout to slip, ooh)I’m just moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, I’m slippin’ away (I’m ’bout to slip away, I'm ’bout to slip away, I’m ’bout to slip, ooh)I’m just moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, I’m slippin’ away (I’m ’bout to slip away, I’m ’bout to slip away, I’m ’bout to slip away)I’m just moving, and moving, and moving, and moving, I’m slippin’ away (I’m ’bout to slip away, I’m ’bout to slip away, I’m ’bout to slip away)

Outro

Butterflies (I’m ’bout to slip away)Butterflies (I’m ’bout to slip away)Butterflies (I’m ’bout to slip away)Butterflies (I’m ’bout to slip away, slippin’ away)Butterflies (I’m ’bout to slip away)Butterflies (I’m ’bout to slip away, slippin’ away)Butterflies (I’m ’bout to slip away)Butterflies (I’m ’bout to slip away)