Wake up Hozier fans! Our Forest Father has kindly blessed our return to campus with his third album, Unreal Unearth. For those of you who may not know, Andrew Hozier-Byrne is an Irish solo artist born in Wicklow county who was thrown into fame after his debut single “Take Me to Church” went viral. Since then, he has continued using his music to learn more about the functions of our world and why people are the way that they are. His current album includes the singles “All Things End,” “Francesca,” and “Eat Your Young,” and draws off of Dante’s journey through Hell in his famous literary work “Inferno.” Ever since its release on August 18th, I’ve found it impossible to keep the album off repeat. Each time I listen I find or feel something new, which is exactly why diving into them for this article was such a great experience.
So sit down and grab a snack, it’s time to enter the magnificent musical journey that is Hozier’s album Unreal Unearth.
*DISCLAIMER* The analysis for each one of these songs is based entirely on my own interpretations when listening or watching the music videos. They might not entirely be Hozier’s intentions when writing the pieces, but it’s what resonated with me most when listening.
De Selby (Part 1)
Hozier’s album opens with the song “De Selby” broken up into two parts. Part 1 is somber, with lyrics sung carefully over an acoustic guitar. It could almost be mistaken for a lullaby. Most interesting is the stanza sung entirely in Gaelic. I felt almost like I was falling into a trance when listening, especially as the song ended with a warped decline. I assumed this represented our descent into Hell, and entrance into the world of “Inferno.”
De Selby (Part 2)
There is no mistaking that we have officially made it past the gates of Hell with the second part of “De Selby.” It drastically contrasts with part 1’s serene harmonies. The music video features a twisted version of the film “Groundhog’s Day,” but instead of Bill Murray trying to fix his cynical viewpoint on life, a man gets stuck in a frenzied loop of murder…only to find out that multiple versions of himself are the only one’s involved. There doesn’t seem to be any real happy ending to the video. It is solely an inescapable vicious cycle that would drive nearly anyone to insanity.
First Time
“First Time” winds us back down with a jazzy beat and softly song lyrics. I interpreted it as a love story with a bittersweet ending. Every time the chorus was sung, the lyrics changed from “The first time that you called me baby,” to “Each time that you called me baby,” to “The final time you called me baby.” The relationship is compared with a flower plucked from the ground. At first it’s wonderful knowing you are recognized and loved by somebody, but that initial adoration might hide the fact that they are draining the life out of you. However, as the saying goes, “It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
Francesca
Staying within the realm of love, “Francesca” brings us a story of utter devotion. This is a direct reference to Dante’s “Inferno,” with Francesca being a woman Dante meets on his journey. He finds her with her lover Paolo in a circle of Hell specifically reserved for lust. The song is in a rock style, with heavy drums and bass — not your typical love-song format. This seems to represent the Hell that Francesca and Paolo are trapped in, but the lyrics show they are perfectly fine with this as long as they get to be together. This song has *officially* upped my romantic standards.
I, Carrion (Icarian)
And here we have classic Hozier writing a beautifully sweet song I fall in love with only to find out it has some devastating hidden meaning once I listen closer. If you were looking for a tear-jerker in this album, “I, Carrion” would be the one. The song describes one’s departure from Earth once their life has come to an end, questioning whether they will rise to Heaven or fall to Hell. If they do fall, the pain is not knowing that they will hit the brutal ground, but that they will be separated from their loved ones if they do.
Eat Your YOung
We can now dry our eyes because “Eat Your Young” brings us back to harsh reality. The music video is full of gender norms, toxic masculinity, and the exploitation of younger generations. A boy’s father can be seen slapping a toy doll out of his hands, and a young women can be seen altering herself to try and match a beautiful statue. Near the end of the video, the son can be seen copying the father’s outfits. This shows the generational trauma that we pass onto our children when continuing to teach them the harmful norms of society. This relates to the cycle shown in part two of “De Selby,” however this one is made on Earth and not in Hell.
Damage Gets Done
Finally we have arrived at my favorite song on the album. “Damage Gets Done” is a song made to recognize and uplift the young. It perfectly resonates the feeling of getting your first car and meeting your first love. The whole world felt huge, bright, and wonderful. The song also, however, recognizes the pains of young adulthood. We must deal with the impacts of the generations before us, “being blamed for a world we had no power in.” Often the younger generation is criticized and ignored, however we are also the ones having to handle world issues like climate change and social discrimination. Hozier says it best in this song, singing “I know being reckless and young is not how the damage gets done.”
Who we are
Okay, it’s time to bring the tissues back out. There is something so utterly heartbreaking about “Who We Are.” The lines “So much of our lives/is just carving through the dark” spoke most to me. I feel everyone can resonate with the feeling of being lost in your own identity and not knowing where to go. We beg for someone to find us, because even if we’re both still stuck in the dark, at least we’ll be able to help guide each other through. For all those single ladies and gents out there, this song will DEFINITELY get you in your feels.
Son of Nyx
“Son of Nyx” made me re-enter the trance I felt like I was in for part one of “De Selby.” The song is entirely instrumental, putting you in almost a dream-like state. I felt like I was falling through the sky, being taken on this journey that was both beautiful and eerily haunting. I wasn’t entirely sure where this song was bringing us, but it was definitely somewhere interesting.
all things ends
So, welcome to the afterlife everyone! Apparently “Son of Nyx” was a bridge we crossed after death. The music video for “All Things End” begins with Hozier being operated on in a hospital room. By the end of the video, Hozier is seen singing in a suit with the surgeons as his backup dancers. The last line explains the importance of not obsessing over one’s inevitable departure from earth, “Just knowing/That everything will end/Should not change our plans/When we begin again.” We are, thus, left on a happy note. But who knows for how long…
To Someone From a Warm Climate
WHERE DID WE PUT THE TISSUES? The piano…the lyrics…Hozier’s angelic voice? It’s too much to handle. This song describes the pain of freezing in Hell, unable to get a touch of warmth. It is something almost indescribable to someone who has only lived on Earth, and yet Hozier has seemed to accomplish that exact feeling of utter isolation and despair. If you tend to be a highly sympathetic person, you are bound to tear up at this song.
Butchered Tongue
“Butchered Tongue” is yet another masterpiece. Depicting the sorrow of a language lost due to discriminatory shame and violence, the song speaks to all those of cultures who have suffered by being silenced in the past. This song adds great meaning to Hozier’s use of the Gaelic language throughout this album, as it is an Irish language that has been brutally silenced in history. Understanding the meaning behind these lyrics only deepens my adoration for Hozier’s music even greater than it had been before.
Anything But
It’s officially time to stand up, brush off those tears, and shake ourselves out because “Anything But” comes in lively and loud. It’s the perfect song for anyone who may have recently experienced a break-up and is ready to just leave it in the past. Humor is built into the song with lines like “If I was a rip tide/I wouldn’t take you out” and “If I was a stampede/You wouldn’t get a kick.” There is a strong desire to just get away from the person and live life happily on your own. You don’t need ’em!
Abstract (Psychopomp)
Alright, we might have to sit back down for this one. “Abstract” describes the impact that experiencing a pivotal moment in someone’s life can have, especially one that surrounds the death of another. When going through something that traumatic, it can be difficult to separate yourself from it and continue living without it stealing a part of you. As the lyrics read, “Darling there’s a part of me/I’m afraid will always be/Trapped within an abstract from a moment of my life.”
Unknown/Nth
The second to last song in the album, “Uknown/Nth,” warns against idolizing the perfect version of your crush in your mind. When you’re in that honeymoon faze, it can be easy to disregard the “scarlet flags” that would cause anyone else to shy away. You’re willing to pretend they’re this “perfect” person just so you can open yourself up to them and stop worrying about being unknown for the rest of your life, even if this decision might come to haunt you in the future.
First light
The album ends with “First Light,” a beautifully arranged piece that feels like a sunrise after a tortuously long night. After all of the dark and twisted places that Hozier brought us, we are finally forced to resurface into the light. It is a wonderfully artistic and elegant end to the journey this album encompasses.
And there we have it! Hope you all enjoyed my analysis of Hozier’s latest album, Unreal Unearth!