Hozier is one of the artists that I found on multiple contemporary Dark Academia playlists. For good reason - his lyrics are quite cerebral, as he draws a lot of his inspiration from philosophy and spirituality. I remember a Tumblr post that described his songs as being specifically for "waging the Revolution and then coming home to make sweet love to your woman." Yeah, it's kind of like that. A lot of his songs are fantastic protest songs. And then he also has a lot of great love (and love-making) songs. If either of these things are your jam, I highly recommend listening to the "This is Hozier" playlist on Spotify. For today, I'm just going to go through a selection of my favorite Hozier songs and their deeper meaning (if they have one) to get you started.
This is probably my favorite Hozier song. I know that's not particularly unique, because it's the only one that really got widespread play on the radio stations where I've lived. But it is one that speaks to me. It's about feeling closer to God (or Universe, Source, Force, or whatever other name you have for it) through sex as a loving act, not what religion deems is spiritual. In Hozier's words, it's a "celebration of sexuality," with sex itself being a sacred expression of love. Pulling out this metaphor, it's also about being in love with someone who society (particularly the Church) says is not allowed and expressing that love in a way that is seen as sinful. Hozier, who was raised an Irish Protestant, is deeply critical of the Catholic Church. Rightly so. As a former Catholic, I am also disappointed in the faith of my childhood and I remember the last time I went to Mass in earnest, I cried. No, I wept. I believed in God (which I prefer to refer to as the Universe) but I did not agree with a lot of the Church's teachings. I didn't believe in Hell, I didn't believe people should be punished for their humanity and - most blasphemous of all - I didn't think Jesus believed that either. It felt like I was losing something. Mind you, at this point I had already engaged in premarital sex because, while I think no sex until commitment is a good boundary, I always felt no sex until marriage was manipulation. Although at one time I wished I could be, I was never going to be one of those good Christian girls. I'm too much of a free-spirit to follow such arbitrary rules. I have no shame about my sexuality (because, like Hozier, I believe it is sacred) and I'm sure They think that's wrong, too.
No masters or kings when the ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then I am human
Only then I am clean
Oh, oh, Amen, Amen, Amen
This song grew to be a protest song among the LGBT community at the time it was released. The music video is critical of the Russian repression of homosexuality, tales of which are unbelievably brutal. Although I'm not gay, I've had many friends throughout my life who are (both while they were in the closet and out). I have seen a number of my friends struggle with their beliefs because of their sexual orientation. Some have left the Catholic Church and Christianity altogether while others have found more liberal Christian communities to belong to. I've seen formerly devout Mormons tossed out of their communities - this was harder to watch, because leaving such a strict faith often means being estranged from their families. I've witnessed friends berated and abused by their parents. To be honest, I think that shook my faith the most. I couldn't believe in a God or follow a religion that allowed for such blind hatred and disgust towards someone you were supposed to love. Especially in light of all the corruption and devastation caused by the pedophilia scandals. Nope, couldn't follow that anymore. So I decided to create my own....and yes, it's very much based on Love.
- "Nina Cried Power" (featuring Mavis Staples)
This is a protest song that celebrates all other protest songs. The "Nina" referred to is Nina Simone, a musician and singer who channeled her influence as an artist to become an activist in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Simone's songs were boycotted in Southern states and as she became more active in the movement, her music became less popular. Hozier also honors the legacy of other musicians turned activists - James Brown, Woody Guthrie, Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, to name a few. And of course, Mavis Staples, a gospel singer and civil rights activist whose voice also lent power to the Civil Rights Movement. It's her voice that carries the bridge comprised of this strikingly powerful sentiment: Power has been cried by those stronger than me, straight into the face of those who tell you to rattle your chains if you like being free. The video also features activists currently working for civil rights on all fronts.
It's not the song, it is the singin'
It's the heaven of the human spirit ringin'
It is the bringin' of the line
It is the bearin' of the rhyme
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
Choosing to speak out against injustice when you have so much to lose shows real courage. Music, in particular, has been used to embody the voice of the people. I was thinking just this morning that, although most of the best songs are about Love, the rest are about overthrowing the government (or the status quo, society, or any authority that oppresses Freedom). Music, especially at this point in history, is so accessible to the masses. It is a powerful force to call out for change. To call out for justice, for mercy, for awareness. I expect we'll be hearing more of this type of music in the coming years.
This song is about our inner desires. Our inner darkness, the wild Creator and Destroyer entwined within our soul. There is some creative force inside all of us - it is unique to us, it calls only to us, it speaks only to us. And it will do this all our lives. You can allow yourself to be consumed if you repress it or you can watch it spiral out of control if you don't learn to harness it. The Arsonist, who has tried to ignore it all his life, watches as this desire - this calling - destroys everything in his wake.
All you have is your fire
And the place you need to reach
Don't you ever tame your demons
But always keep 'em on a leash
It's a lullaby because it's how the arsonist sleeps at night. He justifies to himself he had to do it, or else he'd go crazy. We do what we must. I have a dramatic, impulsive streak and, when I was young, I was in a powerless situation. I only felt my power when I was tapped into my rage, when I was fighting back, when I was forcing things to happen. I know how cruel and destructive I can be. I was even proud of it, once upon a time. And I feel the urge to give in to that side of me more often than people would expect. It's so much easier. My darkness is not tame at all, it's as wild as it ever was. But I understand its proper place now and how to channel the power it has, to appreciate the wisdom it has gifted me. I don't let it take control but I don't fear it either. But I am still learning to live with my demons - that process never ends.
This is one of Hozier's sweeter love songs, in my opinion. It's about having a dark past - having made mistakes - but it not making a difference to a new love. The lyrics describe evocative imagery. Perhaps it's an extremely literally interpretation, but I picture a cemetery. He was buried, a corpse drained from a past relationship. She was digging to find something deeper than she'd felt before. Somehow, they came together. How they got to that graveyard doesn't matter. All that matters is that they found each other. And all he wants to do is kiss her.
I will not ask you where you came from
I will not ask you and neither would you
Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips
We should just kiss like real people do
I don't think much more needs to be said about that. It's a nice sentiment - to not be judged for who you were in the past. To find someone who can see you as who you are now. Who wants to uncover you, even though you've felt like an awful, dead thing for so long. Such a thing exists. It's rare but it's precious.
All the videos are linked in the titles for your listening pleasure. Thanks for reading!
