Survivors’ Anthem Series # 37: “Butterfly Fly Away” - Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus - A Song for the Mothers Who Saved Us

There are some songs that don’t just sound beautiful… they feel personal.

The first time I heard “Butterfly Fly Away” by Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus while watching Hannah Montana: The Movie, it hit my heart instantly.

Not because of the movie itself. But because I immediately thought of my mom. When I hear the lyrics, I don’t just hear a parent encouraging their child to dream.

I hear the story of a woman who found the courage to leave severe domestic violence in order to save her children.

I hear survival.

I hear sacrifice.

I hear unconditional love.

A Mother’s Strength

My mom carried so much on her shoulders.

Even when help eventually came, there were years where she had to carry impossible things mostly alone while trying to protect us at the same time.

And somehow… despite everything we lived through… she still taught me how to dream.

That is something I don’t think survivors talk about enough.

Some parents surviving abuse are not only trying to survive for themselves… they are trying to keep imagination alive for their children too.

That takes incredible strength.

Survival and Softness

My mom taught me that survival and softness could exist together. She taught me that even after trauma, there could still be laughter.

There could still be Vacations. There could still be moments of childhood. There could still be hope.

And most importantly… She taught me that I would not crumble.

That no matter what happened to me, I could survive.

Learning Strength from Her

As a child growing up around and experiencing domestic violence and abuse, you often learn fear before you learn safety.

You learn hypervigilance before peace.

You learn how to read rooms before you learn how to rest.

But my mother also taught me resilience.

She showed me that surviving something does not mean your story ends there.

You can rebuild.

You can dream again.

You can become more than what hurt you.

That is what this song reminds me of every single time I hear it.

An Extra Layer of Admiration

What makes my admiration for my mom even deeper… is knowing she had to learn how to be a mother largely on her own.

My mom lost her own mother when she was only 11 years old.

During the years when children still need nurturing, guidance, and a safe place to land… she was grieving.

She did not grow up with the kind of secure maternal figure so many people rely on during their formative years.

And yet somehow… she became exactly that for me. That strength never ceases to amaze me.

She broke cycles while carrying wounds of her own.

She created love while healing from loss.

She became the kind of mother she herself deserved to have longer.

And I think that makes her strength even more extraordinary.

To the Mothers Who Saved Us

To survivors who had mothers who fought to protect them:

I see you.

To mothers who escaped abusive situations to save their children:

You are extraordinary.

And to those who didn’t have that protection growing up:

Your story still matters deeply too.

A Thank You

This Mother’s Day, I am incredibly thankful for my mom.

For her courage.

For her sacrifices.

For the way she turned survival into purpose.

For teaching me how to keep going.

For showing me what strength really looks like.

And for helping me become the woman I am today.

💜

Listen to the Song

“Butterfly Fly Away” reminds me that even after surviving painful things… we can still learn to fly.

💜 Continue the Journey

The Survivors’ Anthem Series is more than a collection of songs, it’s a journey through survival, healing, and strength.

If this story resonated with you, there are more ways to stay connected and keep exploring:

🎧 Listen to the Survivors’ Anthem Playlists

Experience every song in the series on Spotify and YouTube, music that tells stories of survival, healing, and hope.

📖 Read Because of Jane

Go deeper into the story behind the series and the experiences that shaped it.

💜 Learn About The Jane Project

Discover a space created for survivors to share what helped them through, because everyone has their own “Jane.”

Because healing sometimes begins with a song that finally puts feelings into words.