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.
Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene
Hozier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Toying somewhere between love and abuse
Calling to join them, the wretched and joyful
Shaking the wings of their terrible youths
Freshly disowned in some frozen devotion
No more alone or myself could I be
Lurched like a stray to the arms that were open
No shortage of sordid, no protest from me
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
Feeling more human and hooked on her flesh, I
Lay my heart down with the rest at her feet
Fresh from the fields, all fetor and fertile
It's bloody and raw, but I swear it is sweet
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
In leash-less confusion, I'll wander the concrete
Wonder if better now having survived
Jarring of judgement and reason's defeat the sweet
Heat of her breath in my mouth, I'm alive
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
The lyrics to Hozier's song "Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene" speak to the seductive power of addiction, particularly the allure of codeine and the tumultuous relationships that often come with it. The song paints a picture of a dangerous and thrilling underworld, where the singer is drawn in by a woman who embodies the angel of death - both alluring and deadly.
The opening lines describe the singer watching others engage in risky and potentially destructive behavior - "the work of my kin bold and boyful / toying somewhere between love and abuse / calling to join them the wretched and joyful / shaking the wings of their terrible youths." The imagery suggests a group of young people dabbling in drugs and hedonism, tempting the singer to join them.
The focus then shifts to the woman who embodies the dark allure of the scene - "with her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean / she's the angel of small death and the codeine scene / with her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean." The description of her physicality implies both beauty and strength, and the repeated phrase "the angel of small death and the codeine scene" reinforces the idea of a seductive but ultimately dangerous figure.
The chorus repeats this description of the woman, emphasizing her hold over the singer - "she's the angel of small death and the codeine scene." The second verse continues to describe the woman's physicality in sensual terms, and the singer acknowledges their addiction to her - "feeling more human and hooked on her flesh / I lay my heart down with the rest at her feet."
The final lines suggest that the singer has survived whatever dangers they've encountered in this world, but is still haunted by the memory of the woman - "with her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean / she's the angel of small death and the codeine scene." The attraction is still present, even if the singer has escaped the immediate danger.
Overall, "Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene" is a cautionary tale about the seductive power of addiction, and the allure of dangerous behavior and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I watch the work of my kin bold and boyful
I observe the actions of those related to me who are daring and full of adolescent energy.
Toying somewhere between love and abuse
They are acting in a manner that is flirtatious yet harmful.
Calling to join them the wretched and joyful
These individuals are attracting both the unfortunate and those in high spirits to participate with them.
Shaking the wings of their terrible youths
They are stirring up their tumultuous younger selves and bringing them to the forefront.
Freshly dissolved in some frozen devotion
I am relinquishing my individuality for this shared passion that is unmoving and unchanging.
No more alone or myself could I be
I am no longer isolated or exclusively independent.
Looks like a strain to the arms it were open
It appears to be a burden to have open arms for anyone to join in.
No shortage of sordid, no protest from me
I do not lack any depravity or objections to this situation.
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She has a lovely breath but speaks cruelly.
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
She embodies the feeling of a small, controlled death and the world of codeine use.
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She has a light-colored bob with strong, muscular arms.
Feeling more human and hooked on her flesh I
I become more human-like and addicted to her presence whenever I am near her.
Lay my heart down with the rest at her feet
My heart joins the collection of others at her feet that have been given to her.
Fresh from the fields, all fetor and fertile
I am new to this scene, powerful and rich with possibility.
Bloody and raw, but I swear it is sweet
I am rough and unrefined, but I believe it is nevertheless delicate.
And lease this confusion, I'll wander the concrete
I will allow this disorientation to run its course and explore the city streets free from obligation.
Wonder if better now having survived
I wonder if I am improved for having gone through this emotional experience.
Jarring of judgement and reasons defeat
I am startled by the inconsistency between the opinions of others and the failure of logic.
The sweet heat of her breath in my mouth I'm alive
The warmth and sweetness of her breath challenges me to feel renewed in the moment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hozier Byrne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kennethadam13
[Verse 1]
I watch the work of my kin, bold and boyful
Toying somewhere between love and abuse
Calling to join them the wretched and joyful
Shaking the wings of their terrible youths
Freshly disowned in some frozen devotion
No more alone or myself could I be
Lurched like a stray to the arms that were open
No shortage of sordid, no protest from me
[Chorus]
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
[Verse 2]
Feeling more human and hooked on her flesh, I
Lay my heart down with the rest at her feet
Fresh from the fields, all fetor and fertile
It's bloody and raw, but I swear it is sweet
[Chorus]
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
[Bridge]
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh
[Verse 3]
In leash-less confusion, I'll wander the concrete
Wonder if better now having survived
The jarring of judgement and reason's defeat the sweet
Heat of her breath in my mouth; I'm alive
[Chorus]
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
@anewsongpsalm333
"Angel Of Small Death & The Codeine Scene"
I watch the work of my kin bold and boyful
Toying somewhere between love and abuse
Calling to join them the wretched and joyful
Shaking the wings of their terrible youths
Freshly disowned in some frozen devotion
No more alone or myself could I be
Lurched like a stray to the arms that were open
No shortage of sordid, no protest from me
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
Feeling more human and hooked on her flesh I
Lay my heart down with the rest at her feet
Fresh from the fields, all fetor and fertile
It's bloody and raw, but I swear it is sweet
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
Leash-less confusion I wander the concrete
Wonder if better now having survived
Jarring of judgment and reasons defeat
The sweet heat of her breath in my mouth I'm alive
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
@mjmano5454
I watch the work of my kin bold and boyful
Toying somewhere between love and abuse
Calling to join them the wretched and joyful
Shaking the wings of their terrible youths
Freshly disowned in some frozen devotion
No more alone or myself could I be
Lurched like a stray to the arms that were open
No shortage of sordid, no protest from me
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
Feeling more human and hooked on her flesh I
Lay my heart down with the rest at her feet
Fresh from the fields, all feeder and fertile
It's bloody and raw, but I swear it is sweet
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
Leash-less confusion I wander the concrete
Wonder if better now having survived
Jarring of judgment and reasons defeat
The sweet heat of her breath in my mouth I'm alive
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean
She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene
@purazgirl
I just don't understand how people can be so creative to come up with lyrics like this. I love this song and don't even know what the title means
@amberbydreamsart5467
+Javonda Renee 'small death' is a translated french figure of speech for an orgasm, and codeine is a painkiller medication
@purazgirl
+amberbydreamsart very insightful. Thanks for the clarification.
@amberbydreamsart5467
no problem! There's a lot of interpretations for what the whole song means, i find it really fascinating
@bryanzuniga6895
Sex, drugs, and a touch of heaven
@nikashron4253
Me too ;) ...was searching about the meaning and also thinking... Who knows more? Please invite us! :)
@shelby481carter
It's been years but "the sweet heat of her breath in my mouth I'm alive" is something I'll never get over
@krasotabella9675
EXACTLY EXACTLY
@gaypanicatthewrongdisco912
He is literally calling her the angel of sex and drugs
@mianicoson7762
Otter Moon indeed