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.
To Be Alone
Hozier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With folks around
When they're playing
The anthems of rape culture loud
Crude and proud
Creatures baying
All I've ever done is hide
From our times
Honey, when you kill the lights
And kiss my eyes
I feel like a person for a moment of my life
But you don't know what hell you put me through
To have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you
To feel your weight in arms I'd never use
It's the god that heroin prays to
It feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
Oh to be alone with you
There are questions I can't ask
Now at last
The worst is over
See the way you hold yourself
Reel against
Your body's borders
I know that you hate this place
Not a trace
Of me would argue
Honey, we should run away
Oh someday
Our baby and her momma
And the damaged love she make
But I don't know what else that I would give
Than try to kiss the skin that crawls from you
Then feel your weight in arms I'd never use
It's the god that heroin prays to
It feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
Oh to be alone with you
It feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
Oh to be alone with you
Hozier’s “To Be Alone” is a song that muses on an intimate relationship described in obscure terms. Throughout the verses, the singer expresses his discomfort in crowded situations where he feels oppressed by “the anthems of rape culture loud” and “creatures baying” around him. However, when he is alone with his beloved, he feels like he has found a momentary refuge from the world’s chaos. The chorus of the song continues to describe the singer’s blissful moments with his love but gives hints of their hedonistic and destructive relationship. “It’s the god that heroin prays to” implies that their passion for each other is akin to an addiction that has taken over their lives. Yet, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the couple’s relationship is not only excessive but harmful. The last verse suggests that both have experienced immense pain in their personal lives.
The lyrics of “To Be Alone” are cryptic, making it difficult to discern the exact interpretation of the song. Despite that, some people believe that it is about finding emotional and physical comfort in another person, despite that person being harmful to oneself. Others believe it is a reflection on the toxicity that the human condition can have on relationships. Overall, the song is a beautifully executed art piece that speaks to the complexities of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Never feel too good in crowds
I don't feel comfortable when there's too many people around
With folks around
When there are people nearby
When they're playing
When they are singing or performing
The anthems of rape culture loud
They are singing songs that glorify rape and it's making me uncomfortable
Crude and proud
They are being vulgar and unapologetic about it
Creatures baying
These people are behaving like wild animals
All I've ever done is hide
I'm an introvert and I tend to avoid social situations
From our times
I try to escape from the negative aspects of our society
When you're near me
But when I'm with you
Honey, when you kill the lights
When you turn off the lights
And kiss my eyes
And kiss me gently
I feel like a person for a moment of my life
I feel alive and human for a brief moment
But you don't know what hell you put me through
You don't realize how much pain you cause me
To have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you
I'm self-conscious about my body and it's hard for me to let someone else touch me
To feel your weight in arms I'd never use
I'm not used to physical intimacy and I feel awkward holding you
It's the god that heroin prays to
Being close to you feels so euphoric, it's like a drug
It feels good, girl, it feels good
Being with you feels amazing
Oh to be alone with you
I want to be with you in a private, intimate setting
There are questions I can't ask
There are things I want to know but I'm too afraid to ask
Now at last
But I think I'm ready to face my fears
The worst is over
The hardest part is behind me
See the way you hold yourself
I notice the way you carry yourself
Reel against
You seem to be struggling with
Your body's borders
Your physical appearance and limitations
I know that you hate this place
I understand that you don't feel happy here
Not a trace
I can't find any
Of me would argue
I agree with you
Honey, we should run away
Let's leave this place and start over somewhere else
Oh someday
Eventually
Our baby and her momma
We will have a child together and raise her
And the damaged love she make
But our relationship will be flawed and complicated
It feels good, girl, it feels good
Being with you feels amazing
Oh to be alone with you
I want to be with you in a private, intimate setting
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Junior Kimbrough, Andrew Hozier Byrne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Altin
[Verse 1]
Never feel too good in crowds
With folks around, when they're playing
The anthems of rape culture loud
Crude and proud, creatures baying
All I've ever done is hide
From our times, when you're near me
Honey, when you kill the lights and kiss my eyes
I feel like a person for a moment of my life
[Pre-Chorus]
But you don't know what hell you put me through
To have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you
To feel your weight in arms I'd never use
It's the God that heroin prays to
[Chorus]
It feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
Oh, to be alone with you
[Refrain 1]
Whoa-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Whoa-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
[Verse 2]
There are questions I can't ask
Now at last, the worst is over
See the way you hold yourself
Reel against, your body's borders
I know that you hate this place
Not a trace of me would argue
Honey, we should run away, oh someday
Our baby and her momma, and the damaged love she made
[Pre-Chorus]
But I don't know what else that I would do
Than to try to kiss the skin that crawls from you
Than feel your weight in arms I'd never use
It's the god that heroin prays to
[Chorus]
It feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
Oh, to be alone with you
[Refrain 2]
Whoa-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Whoa-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Whoa-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Whoa-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
[Chorus]
Feels good, girl, it feels good
Feels good, girl, it feels good
It feels good, girl, it feels good
Oh, to be alone with you
Shawn Cleaver
After many viewings, I have some points to make:
1 - Hozier has very cute ears
2 - That stare at 1:03 only lasted a few seconds, but it felt like a few minutes
3 - The filming is intensely beautiful & makes the song feel like a journey
4 - He busts out a perfect blues solo, eyes closed, ain't no thang
I don't know who this God heroin prays to, but I feel like bowing down.
That is all.
Trump can eat a blue waffle.
Lydia Holly Music
You know you've found a brilliant musician when the live version is better than the album version.
amandaem
Yup
msrigoleta
... and when you kinda weep a bit to realize that it's because the mass prefers the "over-worked" versions instead of these sort of musical gems. But hey!, glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks like that :)
Alexis Garcia
a real musician
Briana Zackery
Absolutely true
Kelly Whitaker
Lydia Holly Music If you're interested in another musician like that, try Ryan Adams. He's unreal.
Amanda Troy
I love his lower range...but when he hits that high note? Chills everywhere!
Chris Stanley
No doubt!
Ella
me the whole song
Lashaughn Waiters
I love Hozier fans. They're so nice. They don't argue about every single little thing. I hate reading the YouTube comments on other people's vids (even though I still do bcuz I'm addicted). Y'all are cool. Keep the fandom this way #HozierFam