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.
Talk
Hozier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When her body was found (hey ya)
I'd be the choiceless hope in grief
That drove him underground (hey ya)
I'd be the dreadful need in the devotee
That made him turn around (hey ya)
And I'd be the immediate forgiveness
In Eurydice
I won't deny I've got in my mind now all the things we'd do
So I'll try to talk refined for fear that you find out how I'm imaginin' you
I'd be the last shred of truth
In the lost myth of true love (hey ya)
I'd be the sweet feeling of release
Mankind now dreams of (hey ya)
That's found in the last witness
Before the wave hits
Marvelling at God (hey ya)
Before he feels alone
One final time
And marries the sea
Imagine being loved by me
I won't deny I've got in my mind now all the things I would do
So I'll try to talk refined for fear that you find out how I'm imaginin' you
I won't deny I've got in my mind now all the things we could do
So I'll try to talk refined for fear that you find out how I'm imaginin' you
The lyrics of the song "Talk" by Hozier delve into the themes of unrequited love and the depths to which someone would go if they were truly in love with someone. In the first verse of the song, Hozier talks about being the voice that urged Orpheus. Orpheus was a legendary musician who descended into the underworld to rescue his wife, Eurydice. However, when he looked back to make sure she was following him, he lost her forever. Hozier uses this reference to highlight the desperation that he feels for this person he loves. He would be the choiceless hope in grief that drove Orpheus underground and also the dreadful need in the devotee that made him turn around. Finally, he would be the immediate forgiveness in Eurydice if she were to ever return to him.
In the second verse, Hozier continues the theme of being the last shred of truth in the lost myth of true love. He talks about being the sweet feeling of release that mankind now dreams of, which can only be found in the last witness before the wave hits. Hozier is trying to show that he's willing to be there in the very last moments before something ends, much like how Orpheus was with Eurydice. Finally, he talks about marveling at God before he feels alone one final time and marries the sea. He's emphasizing how much he wants to be part of this person's life that he loves and how he would do anything to be with them.
In the chorus of the song, Hozier talks about not being able to deny that he's imagined being with this person and all the things they could do together. He's trying to be refined in his talk because he's scared of revealing how he imagines them being together. The lyrics of the song showcase Hozier's ability to evoke vivid images and emotions through his use of references to mythology and the depths that love can lead someone to.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd be the voice that urged Orpheus
When her body was found (Hey ya)
I would be the voice comforting Orpheus after his loved one's death
I'd be the choiceless hope in grief
That drove him underground (Hey ya)
I would be the hope that keeps Orpheus going even when he's at his lowest
I'd be the dreadful need in the devotee
That made him turn around (Hey ya)
I would be the feeling of desperation in the follower of the gods, urging Orpheus to turn back
And I'd be the immediate forgiveness
In Eurydice
Imagine being loved by me!
I would be forgiving and loving towards Eurydice if she were still alive, showing how wonderful it would be to be loved by me
I won't deny I've got in my mind now all the things we'd do
So I'll try to talk refined for fear that you find out how I'm imaginin' you
I have many fantasies about us, but I'm afraid to express them in detail for fear of scaring you off
I'd be the last shred of truth
In the lost myth of true love (Hey ya)
I embody the last flicker of hope in an otherwise bleak and forgotten tale of true love
I'd be the sweet feeling of release
Mankind now dreams of (Hey ya)
That's found in the last witness
Before the wave hits
I represent the release and comfort that humanity seeks, found at the very last moment before death
Marvelling at God (Hey ya)
Before he feels alone
One final time
And marries the sea
Imagine being loved by me
At the end of his life, before he feels alone and passes on, God would be amazed by my love, showing how wonderful it would be to be loved by me
I won't deny I've got in my mind now all the things we could do
So I'll try to talk refined for fear that you find out how I'm imaginin' you
Again, I have many desires and thoughts about us, but I'm afraid to express them openly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hozier-Byrne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@the_wisecrack9472
I'd be the voice that urged Orpheus
When her body was found
Hey yeah
I'd be the choiceless hope in grief
That drove him underground
Hey yeah
I'd be the dreadful need in the devotee
That made him turn around
Hey yeah
And I'd be the immediate forgiveness
In Eurydice
Imagine being loved by me
I won't deny I've got in my mind now
All the things we'd do
So I'll try to talk refined
For fear that you find out
How I'm imaginin' you
I'd be the last shred of truth
In the lost myth of true love
Hey yeah
I'd be the sweet feeling of relief
Mankind now dreams of
Hey yeah
That's found in the last witness before the wave hits
Marvelling at God
Hey yeah
Before he feels alone one final time
And marries the sea
Imagine being loved by me
I won't deny I've got in my mind now
All the things I would do
So I'll try to talk refined
For fear that you find out
How I'm imaginin' you
I won't deny I've got in my mind now
All the things we could do
So I'll try to talk refined
For fear that you find out
How I'm imaginin' you
@elimarken9223
@billiey giles I don't think anyone is saying otherwise.
Hozier doesn't really position himself as 'the Orpheus to your Eurydice' in this verse, but rather relates some of his own qualities to both Orpheus and Eurydice's actions.
Therefore, he's not saying he is Orpheus and is forgiving of Eurydice, he is saying he possesses both Orpheus' longing and devotion as well as Eurydice's forgiveness.
Basically:
Orpheus would follow his lover to hell,
And Eurydice would forgive her lover for leaving her there,
But Hozier would do both
(If that makes any sense ^^')
@grettagraves7900
“Imagine being loved by me” THIS MAN KNOWS THE POWER HE HOLDS
@MessagesFromAurora
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@annmariemitchell9309
Hmmm.. what a lovely thought!❤
@haleyautumn153
😊😅😮😢🎉😂😂
😊😅😮❤😂🎉🎉
@haleyautumn153
There
@haleyautumn153
3
@nicole.capobs3811
Hozier using Greek Mythology references, the absolute AUDACITY of this man.
@oryxprimethetakendisciple649
The myth of Orpheus no less!
@yvningsiren
He's allowed to as a god
@influenzamusk886
Well he is Hades so...