Francesca
Hozier Lyrics


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Do you think I'd give up
That this might've shook the love from me
Or that I was on the brink?
How could you think, darling, I'd scare so easily?
Now that it's done
There's not one thing that I would change
My life was a storm, since I was born
How could I fear any hurricane?

If someone asked me at the end

I'll tell them put me back in it
Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah
If I could hold you for a minute
Darling, I'd go through it again, ah, ah
I would still be surprised I could find you, darling
In any life
If I could hold you for a minute
Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah

For all that was said
Of where we'd end up at the end of it
When the heart would cease
Ours never knew peace
What good would it be on the far side of things?
It was too soon
When that part of you was ripped away
A grip taking hold
Like a cancer that grows
Each piece of your body that it takes

Though I know my heart would break

I'll tell them put me back in it
Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah
If I could hold you for a minute
Darling, I'd go through it again, ah, ah
I would still be surprised I could find you, darling
In any life
If I could hold you for a minute
Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah

I would not change it each time (I would not change it each time)
Heaven is not fit to house a love (Heaven is not fit to house a love)
Like you and I (like you and I)
I would not change it each time (I would not change it each time)
Heaven is not fit to house a love (Heaven is not fit to house a love)
Like you and I (like you and I)
I would not change it each time (I would not change it each time)




Heaven is not fit to house a love (Heaven is not fit to house a love)
Like you and I (like you and I)

Overall Meaning

The song "Francesca" by Hozier is a poignant and emotional tribute to the power of love and the strength of the human spirit. The lyrics speak of a love that has endured through the roughest storms and the trials of life, and one that continues to burn brightly even in the face of tragedy and loss.


The verses describe the singer's unwavering commitment to his partner, despite the challenges and difficulties they have faced together. He proclaims that he would never give up on their love, nor would he be scared off by any hardship or obstacle. The chorus then takes a more reflective tone, as the singer contemplates the fleeting nature of life and the bittersweet memories of a love that has been lost. Yet even in the midst of this sadness, he finds hope and comfort in the fact that their love was real, and that it will always remain a vital part of his life.


Overall, "Francesca" is a beautiful and moving song that speaks to the power of love and the mysteries of the human heart. It is a testament to the enduring qualities of the human spirit, and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, love can shine through and light the way.


Line by Line Meaning

Do you think I'd give up
Do you really believe I would quit


That this might've shook the love from me
That this experience would ruin my capacity for love


Or that I was on the brink?
Or that I was close to losing myself?


How could you think, darling, I'd scare so easily?
How could you underestimate me like that?


Now that it's done
Now that it's over


There's not one thing that I would change
There's nothing I would do differently


My life was a storm, since I was born
My life has been tumultuous, from my very beginning


How could I fear any hurricane?
How could I be scared of any storm, after everything I've been through?


If someone asked me at the end
If someone asked me when everything was said and done


I'll tell them put me back in it
I would ask to relive this experience


Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah
I would do it again, my love


If I could hold you for a minute
If I could hold you, even just for a moment


Darling, I'd go through it again, ah, ah
I would go through anything, for you


I would still be surprised I could find you, darling
I would still be amazed that I found you, my love


In any life
In any existence


For all that was said
Despite all the talk


Of where we'd end up at the end of it
Of where we would be when it was all over


When the heart would cease
When our love would end


Ours never knew peace
Our love was never peaceful


What good would it be on the far side of things?
What would be the point, once it's all over?


It was too soon
It ended too soon


When that part of you was ripped away
When I lost a part of you


A grip taking hold
A powerful force taking control


Like a cancer that grows
Like a sickness that spreads


Each piece of your body that it takes
Taking away parts of you, piece by piece


Though I know my heart would break
Even though I know it would hurt me deeply


I'll tell them put me back in it
I would still want to relive it


I would not change it each time (I would not change it each time)
I wouldn't change a thing, every time


Heaven is not fit to house a love (Heaven is not fit to house a love)
The intense love we have cannot be contained by heaven


Like you and I (like you and I)
Like the love between us




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Jennifer Decilveo

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ssm66666

Francesca / Lyrics
Do you think I'd give up
That this might've shook the love from me
Or that I was on the brink?
How could you think, darling, I'd scare so easily?
Now that it's done
There's not one thing that I would change
My life was a storm, since I was born
How could I fear any hurricane?
If someone asked me at the end
I'll tell them put me back in it
Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah
If I could hold you for a minute
Darling, I'd go through it again, ah, ah
I would still be surprised I could find you, darling
In any life
If I could hold you for a minute
Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah
For all that was said
Of where we'd end up at the end of it
When the heart would cease
Ours never knew peace
What good would it be on the far side of things?
It was too soon
When that part of you was ripped away
A grip taking hold
Like a cancer that grows
Each piece of your body that it takes
Though I know my heart would break
I'll tell them put me back in it
Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah
If I could hold you for a minute
Darling, I'd go through it again, ah, ah
I would still be surprised I could find you, darling
In any life
If I could hold you for a minute
Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah
I would not change it each time (I would not change it each time)
Heaven is not fit to house a love (Heaven is not fit to house a love)
Like you and I (like you and I)
I would not change it each time (I would not change it each time)
Heaven is not fit to house a love (Heaven is not fit to house a love)
Like you and I (like you and I)
I would not change it each time (I would not change it each time)
Heaven is not fit to house a love (Heaven is not fit to house a love)
Like you and I (like you and I)



@floffy2695

Aside from the obvious historical and literary references, I just realized that the song can also apply to queer couples.
With how same-sex relationships are considered as a "sin" in most religions, the lines can be related to a queer couple forcefully separated (and/or killed) by society's heteronormative views.
"Though I know my heart would break, I'd tell them put me back in it", "I'd go through it again" and "I would not change it each time" - their love for each other is so deep and strong that they'd go through it all over again, bear the pain of homophobia/transphobia, just to be with their lover
And of course, the most beautiful line - "Heaven is not fit to house a love like you and I" - can be referenced to how queer couples are constantly cursed to "go to hell" for their "sin", so the couple retaliates by:
1. Accepting hell as more fitting for their love, which is an ironical mockery of Heaven as lesser than the grand splendor it is made out to be by religious fanatics, therefore showing the falsehoods of religious extremists
Or
2. Their love is not "sin" at all and is so blessed and passionate that Heaven itself says It is not worthy to house such a love, i.e., their love lies somewhere even beyond the Heavens

Either way, I'm just starting to appreciate the layers of depth in Hozier's works



@hozierupdates

Let’s talk about Francesca!

Francesca da Rimini or Francesca da Polenta was a medieval noblewoman of Ravenna.

She fell in love with Paolo, the younger brother of her old and deformed husband Giovanni, who she had married as part of a political strategy only.

Enraged at their betrayal, Giovanni slew both Paolo and Francesca where they laid.

In Inferno, Dante and Virgil meet Francesca and her lover Paolo in the second circle of hell, reserved for the lustful.

Very Hozier of them 🥺

I am absolutely in love with it! What do you all think about it? 🤎



All comments from YouTube:

@thouartcastiel9237

I didn't think I'd have a favourite lyric other than "no grave can hold my body down, I'd crawl home to her." But "heaven is not fit to house a love like you and I" has altered my brain chemistry. Listening to this song isn't enough. I want it injected in my veins

@Wickedmama

I’m right here with you on this one.

@MariaHossain

Where's the first lyric from? Is it his?

@thouartcastiel9237

@@MariaHossain It's from Work song

@carolmisokane

Can only agree 10000000% with you 😭

@TheMayhemMommy

Omg totally agree!!!

49 More Replies...

@lileydumzela3191

Something about the way he sings " put me back in it", so forceful , makes this song so powerful

@sincerelyparand

ESPECIALLY in that one live performance of "Francesca"!! that moment where you can see even Andrew himself being hit with emotions lives in my head rent-free, it's so beautifully raw. this song is definitely one of my favourites so far.

@ceeveegee519

I cried! 😭😭😭😭

@lilyui470

@@sincerelyparand Do you have the name or maybe can you share link of that performance?

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