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.
Take Me
Hozier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody's disapproval
I should've worshiped her sooner
If the Heavens ever did speak
She's the last true mouthpiece
Every Sunday's getting more bleak
A fresh poison each week
My church offers no absolutes
She tells me, "Worship in the bedroom"
The only Heaven I'll be sent to
Is when I'm alone with you
I was born sick, but I love it
Command me to be well
A, Amen, Amen, Amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
If I'm a pagan of the good times
My lover's the sunlight
To keep the Goddess on my side
She demands a sacrifice
Drain the whole sea
Get something shiny
Something meaty for the main course
That's a fine looking high horse
What you got in the stable?
We've a lot of starving faithful
That looks tasty
That looks plenty
This is hungry work
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
No masters or kings when the ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
In the madness, in the soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then I am human
Only then I am clean
Oh, oh, Amen, Amen, Amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
In Hozier's "Take Me to Church," the singer describes a passionate and intense love affair with a woman who is the subject of widespread disapproval. The song uses religious imagery and themes to contrast the singer's love with the oppressive and judgmental atmosphere of organized religion. The opening lines describe the woman's sense of humor and her tendency to mock authority (she's the "giggle at a funeral," for example), as well as the singer's regret that he didn't "worship" her sooner.
The second verse continues to contrast the woman's personality with the oppressive nature of traditional religion. The singer repeats the phrase "We were born sick," which he suggests might be a phrase he's heard from a preacher or religious leader. However, he rejects the idea that his love is sinful or immoral, despite what the church might say. He describes his lover's advice to "worship in the bedroom," suggesting that their passion and intimacy is their own form of spiritual connection. The chorus then repeats, with the singer offering himself up to his lover and asking her to take him to a place where he can fully give himself to her.
The final verse continues to use religious imagery to describe the singer's relationship with his lover. He rejects the idea that there are any "masters or kings" in their relationship – it's simply two people sharing a deep connection. The reference to "gentle sin" suggests that their love may not be sanctioned by established religious institutions, but it is still pure and meaningful to them. The final lines repeat the "Amen" chorus, as if to assert that this form of love is its own kind of spiritual experience.
Line by Line Meaning
My lover's got humor
My partner has an amusing personality.
She's the giggle at a funeral
She's able to find humor in even the darkest of places.
Knows everybody's disapproval
She's aware of the judgement of others.
I should've worshiped her sooner
I regret not giving her the praise and adoration she deserves earlier.
If the Heavens ever did speak
If God or a higher power were to communicate.
She's the last true mouthpiece
She is the only one who can truly speak the message of that higher power.
Every Sunday's getting more bleak
Each week that passes feels less meaningful and fulfilling than the last.
A fresh poison each week
The negative religious experience is getting worse each week.
"We were born sick", you heard them say it
The idea that humanity is inherently flawed has been drilled into us.
My church offers no absolutes
The church does not provide any definite answers or assurances.
She tells me, "Worship in the bedroom"
My partner suggests we find our own way to worship and express our love.
The only Heaven I'll be sent to
The only heaven I'll get to experience is the one I create with my partner.
Is when I'm alone with you
The only time I will experience true heaven is when I am physically and emotionally connected with my partner.
I was born sick, but I love it
Even though I recognize there may be something inherently flawed about me, I still love who I am.
Command me to be well
Direct me to the path towards wellness and contentment.
A, Amen, Amen, Amen
Affirmation of religious beliefs.
Take me to church
Bring me to a place where I can feel spiritually fulfilled.
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I will revere and adore my partner even if their intentions may not be sincere or honest.
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
I will confess my faults to my partner, even if it means it can be used against me later.
Offer me that deathless death
Provide me with a death that carries on beyond this mortal realm (heaven).
Good God, let me give you my life
I am willing to sacrifice myself to you, God.
If I'm a pagan of the good times
If I prioritize pleasure and enjoyment above all else.
My lover's the sunlight
My partner is the source of my happiness and light in my life.
To keep the Goddess on my side
In order to keep the divine feminine or feminine energy on my side.
She demands a sacrifice
My partner requires me to give something up or make a sacrifice for the relationship.
Drain the whole sea
I am willing to go to great lengths to prove my devotion and love.
Get something shiny
Find a material offering that is impressive and valuable.
Something meaty for the main course
Provide a significant and impressive sacrifice or offering.
That's a fine looking high horse
That is a proud and impressive position of status or authority.
What you got in the stable?
What else do you have to offer or give up?
We've a lot of starving faithful
There are many people willing to sacrifice everything and be devout.
That looks tasty
That sacrifice or offering looks appealing and satisfying.
That looks plenty
That should be enough to please my partner or please the gods.
This is hungry work
Making sacrifices and giving offerings requires a lot of effort and work.
No masters or kings when the ritual begins
In religious rituals and ceremonies, everyone is equal regardless of their position or status.
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
The act of rebellion or sin feels pure and innocent when shared with my partner.
In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
No matter how dark and sad the world can be, there is still love and beauty to be found.
Only then I am human
It is only through love and connection that I feel truly alive and human.
Only then I am clean
It is only through love and connection that I feel pure and at ease.
Oh, oh, Amen, Amen, Amen
Affirmation of religious beliefs.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hozier Byrne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kwikery4235
My lover's got humour
She's the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody's disapproval
They should've worshipped her sooner
If the heavens ever did speak
She's the last true mouthpiece
Every Sunday's getting more bleak
A fresh poison each week
We were born sick
You heard them say it
My church offers no absolutes
She tells me, "Worship in the bedroom"
The only heaven I'll be sent to
Is when I'm alone with you
I was born sick
But I love it
Command me to be well
A-a-a-a-a-a-a, amen, amen, amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Oh good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Oh good God, let me give you my life
If I'm a pagan of the good times
My lover's the sunlight
To keep the goddess on my side
She demands a sacrifice
Drain the whole sea
Get something shiny
Something meaty for the main course
That's a fine looking high horse
What you got in the stable?
We've a lot of starving faithful
That looks tasty
That looks plenty
This is hungry work
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Oh good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Oh good God, let me give you my life
No masters or kings when the ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then, I am human
Only then, I am clean
Oh, oh, amen, amen, amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Oh good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Oh good God, let me give you my life
@UnderTheMillkyWay
It's not even about sexuality. Here is a direct quote so stop saying what you think it's about without researching.
Lyrically the song is one large metaphor comparing a lover to religion.
"Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life."
Speaking with The Irish Times, Hozier said about matters of the heart: "I found the experience of falling in love or being in love was a death, a death of everything. You kind of watch yourself die in a wonderful way, and you experience for the briefest moment – if you see yourself for a moment through their eyes – everything you believed about yourself gone. In a death-and-rebirth sense."
@macuin2367
My lover's got humor
She's the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody's disapproval
I should've worshiped her sooner
If the Heavens ever did speak
She's the last true mouthpiece
Every Sunday's getting more bleak
A fresh poison each week
"We were born sick", you heard them say it
My church offers no absolutes
She tells me, "Worship in the bedroom"
The only Heaven I'll be sent to
Is when I'm alone with you
I was born sick, but I love it
Command me to be well
A-, Amen, Amen, Amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
If I'm a pagan of the good times
My lover's the sunlight
To keep the Goddess on my side
She demands a sacrifice
Drain the whole sea
Get something shiny
Something meaty for the main course
That's a fine looking high horse
What you got in the stable?
We've a lot of starving faithful
That looks tasty
That looks plenty
This is hungry work
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
No masters or kings when the ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then I am human
Only then I am clean
Oh, oh, Amen, Amen, Amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
@charlesamorim8073
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My lover's got humor
She's the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody's disapproval
I should've worshiped her sooner
If the Heavens ever did speak
She's the last true mouthpiece
Every Sunday's getting more bleak
A fresh poison each week
"We were born sick", you heard them say it
My church offers no absolutes
She tells me, "Worship in the bedroom"
The only Heaven I'll be sent to
Is when I'm alone with you
I was born sick, but I love it
Command me to be well
A-, Amen, Amen, Amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
If I'm a pagan of the good times
My lover's the sunlight
To keep the Goddess on my side
She demands a sacrifice
Drain the whole sea
Get something shiny
Something meaty for the main course
That's a fine looking high horse
What you got in the stable?
We've a lot of starving faithful
That looks tasty
That looks plenty
This is hungry work
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
No masters or kings when the ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then I am human
Only then I am clean
Oh, oh, Amen, Amen, Amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
@Heisenberg6062
Lycris:
My lover's got humor
She's the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody's disapproval
I should've worshiped her sooner
If the Heavens ever did speak
She's the last true mouthpiece
Every Sunday's getting more bleak
A fresh poison each week
"We were born sick", you heard them say it
My church offers no absolutes
She tells me, "Worship in the bedroom"
The only Heaven I'll be sent to
Is when I'm alone with you
I was born sick, but I love it
Command me to be well
A-, Amen, Amen, Amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
If I'm a pagan of the good times
My lover's the sunlight
To keep the Goddess on my side
She demands a sacrifice
Drain the whole sea
Get something shiny
Something meaty for the main course
That's a fine looking high horse
What you got in the stable?
We've a lot of starving faithful
That looks tasty
That looks plenty
This is hungry work
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
No masters or kings when the ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then I am human
Only then I am clean
Oh, oh, Amen, Amen, Amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
@laurentprzybylski3401
lyrics:
My lover's got humor
She's the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody's disapproval
I should've worshiped her sooner
If the Heavens ever did speak
She's the last true mouthpiece
Every Sunday's getting more bleak
A fresh poison each week
"We were born sick", you heard them say it
My church offers no absolutes
She tells me, "Worship in the bedroom"
The only Heaven I'll be sent to
Is when I'm alone with you
I was born sick, but I love it
Command me to be well
A-, Amen, Amen, Amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
If I'm a pagan of the good times
My lover's the sunlight
To keep the Goddess on my side
She demands a sacrifice
Drain the whole sea
Get something shiny
Something meaty for the main course
That's a fine looking high horse
What you got in the stable?
We've a lot of starving faithful
That looks tasty
That looks plenty
This is hungry work
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
No masters or kings when the ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then I am human
Only then I am clean
Oh, oh, Amen, Amen, Amen
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
@pearltears8039
Jesus says to love everyone as your self and not to judge one another....
for God is Judge.....
if you say this song isnt Christian.....then that means you agree with the video and the Violent things they did to the guy?
ROMANS 14:10-23
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;
11 for it is written: “‘As I live,’ says Jehovah,* ‘to me every knee will bend down, and every tongue will make open acknowledgment to God.’”
12 So, then, each of us will render an account for himself to God.*
13 Therefore let us not be judging+ one another any longer, but rather make this YOUR decision, not to put before a brother a stumbling block or a cause for tripping.
14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is defiled in itself; only where a man considers something to be defiled, to him it is defiled.
15 For if because of food your brother is being grieved, you are no longer walking in accord with love. Do not by your food ruin that one for whom Christ died.
16 Do not, therefore, let the good YOU people do be spoken of with injury to YOU.
17 For the kingdom of God does not mean* eating and drinking, but [means]* righteousness and peace and joy with holy spirit.
18 For he who in this regard slaves for Christ is acceptable to God and has approval with men.
19 So, then, let us pursue the things making for peace and the things that are upbuilding to one another.
20 Stop tearing down the work of God just for the sake of food. True, all things are clean, but it is injurious to the man who with an occasion for stumbling eats.
21 It is well not to eat flesh or to drink wine or do anything over which your brother stumbles.
22 The faith that you have, have it in accord with yourself in the sight of God. Happy is the man that does not put himself on judgment by what he approves.
23 But if he has doubts, he is already condemned if he eats, because [he does] not [eat] out of faith. Indeed, everything that is not out of faith is sin.
@Aya_Raad405
I go to a catholic school and in religion we had to pick a song that had a deep meaning (other then love songs) one of the girls picked this song and you should’ve seen how triggered the teacher got
@dylanoliver4861
Aya’s Piano damn you should find a different catholic school lol, i went to one for one year and everyone was so gay and all the nuns knew it and loved everyone
@skaterboi_0542
That girl is literally me
@MomijiHyuga804
How did they react?
@Aya_Raad405
MomijiHyuga804 she airplanes the lyrics on the screen and once it got to the chorus she was like “hang on, I don’t understand this part.” Then the girl was like, it’s ok we’ll explain it at the end.” She told us to stop air playing before the song ended and then we had this whole debate about it putting out the wrong ideas on Catholics. And some girl was like “yeah, but half the people don’t even care about what the song is about, if it’s a good song then it doesn’t really matter.” Then the bell went.
@suisaip
Girl GamerX5 but not "literally".
@amelancholybrown2686
so did everyone just remember this song or what?
@niraisatsana
a melancholy brown no one ever forgot it
@amelancholybrown2686
@@niraisatsana ik I'm just saying everyone like got a notification at the same time
@srimangalasseril4189
@@niraisatsana
Ever🙌