Hozier was born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. His mother is the visual artist Raine Hozier-Byrne (who also designed his latest album cover). He began a degree in music at Trinity College, Dublin, but dropped out midway through his first year in order to record demos for Universal Music. While at Trinity, he became involved with the Trinity Orchestra. He was a member of Anúna from 2008 to 2012, and appears as a soloist on their 2012 release "Illumination" singing "La Chanson de Mardi Gras". He toured and sang with the group internationally including performances in Norway and the Netherlands.
In 2013, Hozier released the EP "Take Me to Church EP" (also containing "Like Real People Do", "Angel of Small Death and The Codeine Scene" and a live version of "Cherry Wine"), with the title track becoming his breakthrough single after it went viral on YouTube. It reached number one on the Irish iTunes singles chart and number two in the official chart on 25 October 2013.
Hozier followed up Take Me to Church with the new EP "From Eden EP" (also containing "Work Song", "Arsonist's Lullabye" and a live version of "To Be Alone"), and a number of festival tour dates and television appearances in the United States. Hozier released his self-titled album, "Hozier" on 19 September 2014. It had five singles including "Take Me to Church", "Work Song", and "From Eden", which were hits on his earlier EPs. On December 2014, it was announced that "Take Me to Church" was nominated at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards for Song of the Year in 2015.
In September 2018, he released an EP titled Nina Cried Power and featured the title track as a single, reaching number one on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart. He released his second album, Wasteland, Baby! in March 2019, which debuted atop the Irish Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, and has since been certified gold in the U.S.
Abstract
Hozier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like rain that you slept through
That washed off the world
The streets looking brand new
I will not be great
But I'm grateful to get through
The feeling came late
I'm still glad I met you
The memory hurts
But does me no harm
Your hand in my pocket
To keep us both warm
The poor thing in the road
Its eye still glistening
The cold wet of your nose
The Earth from a distance
See how it shines
See how it shines
See how it shines
See how it shines
Sometimes there's a thought
Like you choose what you're doing
But it comes to nought
When I look back through it
I remember the view
Streetlights in the dark blue
The moment I knew
I'd no choice but to love you
The speed that you moved
The screech of the cars
The creature still moving
That slowed in your arms
The fear in its eyes
Gone out in an instant
Your tear caught the light
The Earth from a distance
See how it shines
See how it shines
See how it shines
See how it shines
Darling, there's a part of me
I'm afraid will always be
Trapped within an abstract from a moment of my life
The weeds up through the concrete
The traffic picking up speed
All my love and terror
Balanced there between those eyes
See how it shines
See how it shines
The lyrics of Hozier's song "Abstract" convey a sense of nostalgia and reflection on past experiences, both joyful and painful. The opening lines describe a feeling that occasionally resurfaces, like rain that one slept through, cleansing the world and leaving a fresh start. The singer acknowledges that they may not achieve greatness, but they are grateful for enduring the ups and downs of life. Despite the late realization of certain emotions, they are still glad to have met the person being addressed.
The memory of this relationship hurts, but it doesn't cause any actual harm. The image of holding hands within a pocket exemplifies the desire for warmth and connection. The mention of a "poor thing in the road" with a glistening eye and the feeling of a cold, wet nose evoke a sense of vulnerability and tenderness. The chorus emphasizes the brightness and radiance of these memories, perhaps implying that even though they bring pain, they still shine with significance.
The second verse suggests that there is a sense of agency in making choices, but upon reflection, it seems that the outcome was predetermined. The reference to streetlights in the dark blue and the moment of realization emphasize the singer's lack of control in falling in love. The speed of movement and the screech of cars create an atmosphere of urgency, while the encounter with a creature that slows in the arms of the person being addressed adds a poetic and poignant element. The fear in the creature's eyes disappears in an instant, as if reassured by the tear caught in the light. Once again, the chorus highlights the luminosity of these particular memories.
In the final section, the singer addresses a loved one, admitting that a part of them will always be trapped within an abstract representation of a moment from their shared past. The mention of weeds breaking through concrete and the intensifying traffic symbolize the challenges of life and the passage of time. All the singer's love and terror seem to be balanced within the eyes of this person, suggesting that they hold great significance in their life. The repetition of the chorus at the end reinforces the enduring brightness of these memories, despite the mixture of emotions they evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes it returns
Occasionally, a feeling or memory resurfaces
Like rain that you slept through
Similar to rain falling while you were asleep, unaware of its presence
That washed off the world
That cleansed and refreshed everything
The streets looking brand new
The streets appearing fresh and untouched
I will not be great
I may not achieve extraordinary things
But I'm grateful to get through
Nonetheless, I am thankful to face and overcome challenges
The feeling came late
The emotion arrived belatedly
I'm still glad I met you
Nevertheless, I am happy to have encountered you
The memory hurts
The recollection is painful
But does me no harm
Though it is distressing, it does not cause me any damage
Your hand in my pocket
Your hand is in my pocket, symbolizing intimacy and warmth
To keep us both warm
To provide comfort and protect against the cold
The poor thing in the road
An unfortunate creature on the street
Its eye still glistening
Despite its plight, its eye continues to sparkle
The cold wet of your nose
The chill and moisture of your nose
The Earth from a distance
Observing the Earth from afar, perceiving its beauty and fragility
Sometimes there's a thought
Occasionally, a thought arises
Like you choose what you're doing
As if you have control over your actions and decisions
But it comes to nought
However, it ultimately amounts to nothing
When I look back through it
When reflecting upon it
I remember the view
I recall the scenery
Streetlights in the dark blue
Streetlights illuminating the deep blue night
The moment I knew
The instant I realized
I'd no choice but to love you
I had no alternative but to love you
The speed that you moved
The quickness with which you acted
The screech of the cars
The screeching sound of the cars
The creature still moving
The living being that continued to move
That slowed in your arms
That gradually decelerated in your embrace
The fear in its eyes
The fear visible in its eyes
Gone out in an instant
Extinct in a moment
Your tear caught the light
Your teardrop illuminated under the light
The Earth from a distance
Observing the Earth from afar, perceiving its beauty and fragility
Darling, there's a part of me
Sweetheart, a part of me exists
I'm afraid will always be
That I fear will remain indefinitely
Trapped within an abstract from a moment of my life
Confined within a concept derived from a specific moment in my life
The weeds up through the concrete
The weeds growing amidst the concrete
The traffic picking up speed
The traffic accelerating in velocity
All my love and terror
My affection and fear combined
Balanced there between those eyes
Equilibrium maintained within those eyes
See how it shines
Witness its radiant brilliance
See how it shines
Observe its luminosity
See how it shines
Marvel at its radiant glow
See how it shines
Look at how it emits light
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hozier Byrne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zz1180
Sometimes it returns
Like rain that you slept through
That washed off the world
The streets looking brand new
I will not be great
But I'm grateful to get through
The feeling came late
I'm still glad I met you
The memory hurts
But does me no harm
Your hand in my pocket
To keep us both warm
The poor thing in the road
Its eye still glistening
The cold wet of your nose
The Earth from a distance
See how it shines
See how it shines
See how it shines
See how it shines
Sometimes there's a thought
Like you choose what you're doing
But it comes to nought
When I look back through it
I remember the view
Street lights in the dark blue
The moment I knew
I'd no choice but to love you
The speed that you moved
The screech of the cars
The creature still moving
That slowed in your arms
The fear in its eyes
Gone out in an instant
Your tear caught the light
The Earth from a distance
See how it shines
See how it shines
See how it shines
See how it shines
Darling, there's a part of me
I'm afraid will always be
Trapped within an abstract from a moment of my life
The weeds up through the concrete
The traffic picking up speed
All my love and terror
Balanced there between those eyes
See how it shines
See how it shines
@BrittanyNCrosby
"The memory hurts but does me no harm." Amen.
@thechicantique4567
Oh boy. I felt those words. ❤
@sofiarongel2247
Ufff this verse and "the moment I knew I'd no choice but to love you" are the most!!!
@eryn270
Amen.
@morgan8838
hozier comparing an animal he saw die as a young boy to a dying relationship is a level of lyrical genius i never thought i would ever hear from anyone
@EmeraldImperial
my man said your love got me feeling like ROADKILL and he's SO REAL FOR THAT
@crowwwwwwwww
NO FR 😭😭
@korih393
This one took me out at the knees upon first listen and I haven’t been able to stand since. It holds the perfect storm of all the things that make me emotional, so it makes me ugly cry EVERY time. The imagery, the metaphor, the suffering animal and then the cease of it, the awful realization of helpless love, the awe and compassion and terror and peace and despair of it all. Holy shit Hozier how do you manage to create art like this. I’m VERKLEMPT. Favorite from the album, hands down.
@bridgethannam2391
ABSOLUTELY. I first listened in the car and was SOBBING. Pure magic **
@starheartskull15
Exactly same! The ugly crying I’ve been doing to this song the past month is criminal 😂😅