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.
Arsonist's Lullabye
Hozier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some would sing and some would scream
You soon find you have few choices
I learned the voices died with me
When I was a child, I'd sit for hours
Staring into open flame
Something in it had a power
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
When I was 16, my senses fooled me
Thought gasoline was on my clothes
I knew that something would always rule me
I knew the scent was mine alone
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
When I was a man I thought it ended
When I knew love's perfect ache
But my peace has always depended
On all the ashes in my 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
In Hozier's "Arsonist's Lullabye", the singer looks back on his life from childhood, to adolescence, and finally to adulthood. Throughout his life, he hears voices, some of which sing and some of which scream. He notes that he eventually learned that these voices died with him. As a child, he also had a fascination with fire and would spend hours staring into the flames, almost transfixed by the power it seemed to hold over him.
As he grew older, he continued to be ruled by something within him, recognizing that he would always be drawn to the power of fire. The singer urges listeners to embrace their own demons and never try to completely tame them, but to keep them under control on a leash. He speaks of his personal experience with love and how his sense of inner peace is tied to the destruction he has caused in his wake.
Overall, the song seems to be about the struggle of inner demons and how they can never truly be extinguished. The singer recognizes that he will always have a fascination with fire, and the power it holds over him, but he also notes that he can control these impulses to prevent any further destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a child, I heard voices
During my childhood, I experienced auditory hallucinations.
Some would sing and some would scream
The voices varied in their tonality and intensity.
You soon find you have few choices
As time passed, I realized I had limited control over the voices.
I learned the voices died with me
As I grew older, the voices eventually ceased to exist.
When I was a child, I'd sit for hours
As a child, I would be fully captivated and intrigued by staring into an open flame for long periods.
Staring into open flame
Directly gazing into a fire was a source of fascination and allure for me.
Something in it had a power
The fire possessed a distinct quality that attracted me.
Could barely tear my eyes away
It was incredibly difficult for me to refocus my attention away from the flame.
All you have is your fire
Your passion and drive represent your core assets in life.
And the place you need to reach
You must have a clear destination and goal in order to achieve success in life.
Don't you ever tame your demons
You should never ignore or suppress your inner struggles and flaws.
But always keep 'em on a leash
However, you must maintain a degree of self-control and discipline in handling your demons.
When I was 16, my senses fooled me
During my adolescence, my perceptions and judgement were misled.
Thought gasoline was on my clothes
I incorrectly believed that I had come into contact with fuel and that it had infiltrated my clothes.
I knew that something would always rule me
I acknowledged that I had an inner force or attribute that would constantly govern my actions.
I knew the scent was mine alone
I was aware that the smell and sensation were solely experienced by me.
When I was a man I thought it ended
As an adult, I believed that my past struggles and obstacles had been resolved.
When I knew love's perfect ache
However, I discovered that experiencing intense romantic feelings brought upon a unique and complex type of suffering.
But my peace has always depended
Despite these challenges, my inner sense of calmness and serenity has been tied to a particular aspect of my life.
On all the ashes in my wake
Specifically, my sense of inner peace is derived from reflecting on the past and on the tumultuous events that shaped my present.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW HOZIER BYRNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gabyweasley7722
LYRICS
When I was a child, I heard voices
Some would sing and some would scream
You'll soon find you have few choices
I learned the voices died with me
When I was a child I'd sit for hours
Staring into open flames
Something in it had a power
Could barely tear my eyes away
All you have is your fire
And the place you need to reach
Don't you ever tame your demons
But always keep them on a leash
When I was 16 my senses fooled me
Thought gasoline was on my clothes
I knew that something would always rule me
I knew this scent was mine alone
All you have is your fire
And the place you need to reach
Don't you ever tame your demons
But always keep them on a leash
When I was a man I thought it ended
When I knew love's perfect ache
But my peace has always depended
On all the ashes in my wake
All you have is your fire
And the place you need to reach
Don't you ever tame your demons
But always keep them on a leash
Compositores: Andrew Hozier Byrne
Letras de Arsonist's Lullabye © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
@firenation3053
When I was a child, I heard voices...
Some would sing and some would scream
You soon find you have few choices...
I learned the voices died with me
When I was a child, I'd sit for hours
Staring into open flame
Something in it had a power,
Could barely tear my eyes away
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
[Humming]
When I was 16, my senses fooled me
Thought gasoline was on my clothes
I knew that something would always rule me...
I knew the scent was mine alone
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
When I was a man I thought it ended
When I knew love's perfect ache
But my peace has always depended
On all the ashes in my 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...
@zeldaz100
Lyrics
When I was a child, I heard voices...
Some would sing and some would scream
You soon find you have few choices..
I learned the voices died with me
When I was a child I'd sit for hours
Staring into open flames
Something in it had a power,
Could barely tear my eyes away
All you have is your fire...
And the place you need to reach -
Don't you ever tame your demons
But always keep them on a leash
(humming)
When I was 16 my senses fooled me
Thought gasoline was on my clothes
I knew that something would always rule me...
I knew this sin was mine alone
All you have is your fire
And the place you need to reach
Don't you ever tame your demons -
Always keep them on a leash
When I was a man I thought it ended
Well I knew love's perfect ache
But my peace has always depended
On all the ashes in my wake
All you have is your fire,
And the place you need to reach
Don't you ever tame your demons,
Always keep them on a leash
@owellwenevermind
When I was a child, I heard voices
Some would sing and some would scream
You soon find you have few choices
I learned the voices died with me
When I was a child, I'd sit for hours
Staring into open flame
Something in it had a power
Could barely tear my eyes away
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
When I was 16, my senses fooled me
Thought gasoline was on my clothes
I knew that something would always rule me
I knew the scent was mine alone
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
When I was a man I thought it ended
When I knew love's perfect ache
But my peace has always depended
On all the ashes in my 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
@DesmondDentresti
Hozier has mastered the technique of singing songs in a way that can feel really powerful or delicate and fragile depending on how you feel. Genius.
@owenmaleski2203
To me, it feels like watching something like the Godfather. Like how Michael is always so cool and composed, but you can see that there's a hidden energy or fury behind the calm.
@korbaisblessed2562
Im glad im not the only one
@heliosbluesketch5187
I didn’t know ice till you said it. But I e felt all three lissiening to this song before
@v0rteks644
This song has always had an air of quiet composure, mixed with sinister, even murderous undertones. Even the title befits the way the song is structured It peaks your curiosity, and makes you just a little bit uncomfortable, as all great art should. Hozier and Shawn James are changing the game, and so many people are barely even noticing (except for Take Me to Church and Through The Valley which both got A LOT of attention)
@LifewithLanLan255
@@v0rteks644 perfect description. also reminds me of someone finally owning the darkness they so often neglect. Reminding themselves and everyone else of the chaos and the slaughter that's bound to come. Realizing the the chill that everyone else feels fear makes you smile . villain book vibes idk
@l.c.simmons5550
I was typing in Hozier and my tablet tried to correct it to 'Holier-than-thou.'
Hey, if it works, it works.
@ozaamigo3130
L. C. Simmons you so close to listening to another awesome song, Metallica - Holier than thou
@amandabutterfly151
Ozaa migo LMFAO THATS WHAT I THOUGHT
@liam606
Erm no, not how being holy works fam :)/: