"Dog & Butterfly" is a song recorded by the rock band Heart. It is the title track to the band's fourth studio album Dog & Butterfly and was released as the album's second single.

Description and origin

The song is a more subdued effort from the band, differing from past hard rock-oriented hits, as Ann and Nancy Wilson pulled from their folk music influences. The song charted moderately in the US in 1979, peaking at #34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ann has said she was inspired when she looked out a window and saw a dog relentlessly chasing a butterfly. She saw the song as an inspiration when things get tough to "keep going after it." Cash Box called it a "gentle acoustic ballad which rides a melodic verse and acoustic guitar and easy beat backing." Record World called it a "a light romantic ballad that should suit adult and pop playlists." Although it enjoyed only moderate chart success, the song has remained a setlist staple for Heart consistently through the years.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Dog & Butterfly.

Chart performance