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.
Foreigner
Hozier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The perfect creature rarely seen
Since some lie I brought the thunder
When the land was godless and free
Her eyes look sharp and steady
Into the empty parts of me
Still my heart is heavy
Always a well dressed for
Who wouldn't spare the wrong
Never for me
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Wondering who I'll copy
Muster in some tender charm
She feels no control of her body
She feels no safety in my arms
I've no language left to say it
All I do is crave to her
Breaking if I try to convey it
The broken love I make to her
All that I've been taught
And every word I've got
Is foreign to me
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
"Hozier's song Foreigner's God is a complex exploration of love, faith and identity. The lyrics describe a relationship between the singer and a woman, who is seen as a rare and perfect creature. However, the relationship is overshadowed by the legacy of colonialism, which left the land "godless and free", and the woman is associated with the foreign religions that were imposed on the culture. The singer's heart is heavy with the hate of "some other man's beliefs", which suggests that he is struggling to reconcile his own feelings with the pressures of his cultural background.
Despite the complexities of their relationship, the woman is described as moving with "shameless wonder", which suggests a sense of freedom and authenticity that the singer is drawn to. However, his attempts to express his feelings are met with frustration, as he finds himself speaking a language that is "foreign" to him. The repeated refrain of "screaming the name of a foreigner's God" suggests that the singer is grappling with a sense of displacement and disconnection from his own culture, but also a sense of awe and reverence for the woman and the faith that she represents.
Ultimately, Foreigner's God is a haunting and beautiful meditation on the human condition, and the sometimes painful tensions between love, identity, and belief."
Line by Line Meaning
She moves with shameless wonder
She moves confidently and with curiosity
The perfect creature rarely seen
She is flawlessly beautiful and hard to come by
Since some lie I brought the thunder
Due to some deceitful act I committed, I brought upon chaos and destruction
When the land was godless and free
A time before religious influence took hold of the land
Her eyes look sharp and steady
Her gaze is piercing and unwavering
Into the empty parts of me
She looks into the parts of me that lack fulfillment or meaning
Still my heart is heavy
Despite her presence, my heart feels weighed down
With the hate of some other man's beliefs
My heart is burdened by the intolerance and bigotry of others
Always a well dressed for
She is always fashionably dressed and put together
Who wouldn't spare the wrong
She would not hesitate to punish those who do wrong
Never for me
However, she does not seem to have the same concern for my well-being
Screaming the name
Of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
The act of calling out to a deity that is foreign or unfamiliar is an expression of deepest sorrow
Wondering who I'll copy
Wondering who I will try to emulate or copy in order to win her affection
Muster in some tender charm
Trying to summon some gentle, appealing qualities to impress her
She feels no control of her body
She is not in control of her own physical responses or desires
She feels no safety in my arms
Despite any sense of physical intimacy, she does not feel protected or secure in my embrace
I've no language left to say it
I am at a loss for words to adequately express my feelings
All I do is crave to her
All I can do is long for her
Breaking if I try to convey it
My attempts to communicate my feelings for her only end in heartbreak
The broken love I make to her
Our love is fragile, full of imperfections and shortcomings
All that I've been taught
And every word I've got
Is foreign to me
Despite my upbringing and education, I feel like an outsider in this situation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hozier Byrne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jadethorn9377
She moved with shameless wonder
The perfect creature rarely seen
Since some liar brought the thunder
When the land was godless and free
Her eyes look sharp and steady
Into the empty parts of me
But still my heart is heavy
With the hate of some other man's beliefs
Always a well dressed fraud
Who wouldn't spare the rod
Never for me
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Wondering who I copy
Mustering some tender charm
She feels no control of her body
She feels no safety in my arms
I've no language left to say it
But all I do is quake to her
Breaking if I try convey it
The broken love I make to her
All that I've been taught
And every word I've got
Is foreign to me
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
@tritonmoon6571
I hope this is a sign that andy will release new music, amen.
@j.r6827
Amen
@brendadavila545
Amen
@rebeccaf8915
Amen
@Fagnarok
Amen
@victoriavillalpando6574
Amen
@Cowmaize
I feel like this invokes the stories of women who during invasion and colonization were taken from their families and cultures and forced to live with their “husbands” and follow the culture now pressed onto her. “Screaming the name of a foreigners god, the purest expression of grief” brings to mind of prayers being the only way for her to voice her pain and grief of a world and family she will never return to. Cursing a foreigners god, that brought their people to this place
@jadethorn9377
She moved with shameless wonder
The perfect creature rarely seen
Since some liar brought the thunder
When the land was godless and free
Her eyes look sharp and steady
Into the empty parts of me
But still my heart is heavy
With the hate of some other man's beliefs
Always a well dressed fraud
Who wouldn't spare the rod
Never for me
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
Wondering who I copy
Mustering some tender charm
She feels no control of her body
She feels no safety in my arms
I've no language left to say it
But all I do is quake to her
Breaking if I try convey it
The broken love I make to her
All that I've been taught
And every word I've got
Is foreign to me
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
Screaming the name of a foreigner's God
The purest expression of grief
@kaelig.8569
Every time I look at the lyrics of one of his songs, I realize what a poetic and powerful meaning they have. I've listened to this song a hundred times, and I've never really understood the meaning until now. Of course the chorus says it vaguely, but wow. Looking deeper is always worth it
@Dyl_Pickle_Jar
Listening to this for my friend who's dying. I'm not religious but I'm praying to whatever god will hear me. I just want her to be okay. I love you, Shana. Thank you for bringing me back to this song.