I know this video is from months ago, but I was trying to jump into Hozier's music for the first time and stuggling to get my head around all the references. I'm able to appreciate and understand the album a lot more now, so I wanted to say thank you for all the work you put into this!!
I love how vulnerable you got in this video. Your channel has been a source of joy for me since I discovered it a few weeks ago, I have enjoyed watching your brillian analyses (especially the Hozier ones). You are truly remarkable, you have such a gift and I am certain that your moment is around the corner. I just hope that when it comes, you really lean into it and enjoy it because you also deserve to have great things happen for you
The idea of sacrificing heaven for one person, for the other half of your soul, to experience the worst turmoils offered to man just to be whole is written so sweetly in Hozier's lyrics; And its just astounding hearing such devotion in his lyrics emulating what could be seen as pride to have one another, to be proud of your choice instead of second guessing after having to face the consequences. It's just so heartwarming of a story but the song just adds that level of power to their words that makes listening to this song a religious experience
I remember seeing the video for it pop up and, just seeing the title? I took that personally. But I also immediately drew the line from gold to heavy and can definitely relate to feeling almost burdened by relationships, and that immense relief when it's over. (Swiftly followed by the usual dourness and hurt of it all)
The "capillaries" line also made me think of someone who'd been crying a lot and the idea that you, as a woman, are trained to put on a happy face even if feel like you're dying inside.
My favorite song on the ep is actually Empire Now! Something I haven't seen in the comments yet is interpreting the song as sarcastic or cynical. He said in a video on his channel that the turning of the martyrs was them being so disturbed that they were turning in their graves so much that the earth was shaking. And the solution to that was to hook them up to generators to power the world. I think that fits very well with your take on "future so bright it's burning" meaning climate disasters. However, my favorite interpretation is that the song is simultaneously him being genuinely happy about the progress and still pessimistic and recognizing how far we have yet to go. I love wordplay, and am obsessed with the possibility that every line is this song has both a positive and a negative meaning. For instance, "a world that's easy now" could be mocking the progress of technology and humanity in 100 years, and yet just as many people have extremely hard lives as did 100 years ago. "I would hold on for all it's worth" could also mean that we will bleed the earth dry for everything valuable we can get out of it as it dies under our feet. As someone who is also neurodivergent and who struggles with gray areas and multiple feelings at once, I appreciate that this song could be recognizing how we can feel absolutely despondent and hopeful at the same time when thinking about the state of the world
This song is wonderful. Thank you for being trans inclusive with your analysis, I’m a trans man and I’ve seen people say that because we’re men, we don’t get to identify with feminism the way women do. But I’ve lived my entire childhood and adolescence female and identifying as such.. I’ve seen all this too. We’re incredibly grateful, and I’m sure trans women appreciate your acknowledgement and clarification at the beginning. Again, great analysis of a beautiful song ❤
Of course! It was incredibly important for me to acknowledge that in the beginning and not discount anyone's experience. Gendered relationship roles are not an issue that solely affect cisgendered heterosexual couples, it can affect a wide range of relationships. Anyone, regardless of gender or orientation, can perpetuate misogyny and therefore anyone can be a victim ❤️
Hi! I just found your video and I am obsessed! When you were talking about the gradients it reminded me of sunsets and all the gradients in the sky and as time goes by they become darker and darker. But sometimes we don't even realise how it gets that dark like you don't even register it fully (not knowing the beginning or the end). And also connecting this to Hozier talking about the lover coming as a nightfall and coming at nightfall and their metamorphosis OOF
What's noteable here is that that the posibility that this relationship is psysically abusive is played down. What this woman is escaping is first of all the excess work and entitlement in this relationship. There are a lot of women who get stuck doing too much work in relationships with men where work should be shared, because certain men don't even realize how much they have grown up taking it for granted that they don't have to do or even learn to do certain things. It's important to ballance female rage here with remembering that kids of both genders can grow up doing this to their parrents with everything typically falling on mothers and that men may have varying degrees of awareness and, when they know the stakes and see that it's possible, many will help, although if the weight of teaching and enforcing accountability for this falls onto female partners, yet again here, that can be an even worse problem and both problems should be a deal-breaker often. I think difficulty communicating needs and sharing work can also lead to guilt ammoung an entire family where one matriarch does too much of the work. Even when people are exhausted, navigating the sharing the power that comes with taking ownership over tasks and the resentment that comes from the skills and work-sharing not always being fast or easy for a new person to take on right -- that makes situations hard, even when the will is there to help. I'm speaking as an adult woman who grew up with my mom doing too much in work and the home while dad overworked at work and I overworked as a perfectionist in school. They later separated and I live with Mom now in her increasingly old age, as her fategue and walking disability worsens, while he lives separately. I feel ashamed for not being a natural enough helper to her or eager enough to do what needs doing, but also generally overstretched and resentful about having no choise in much work that she can't phisically do now and her not being kind about the necessity of me to just do things because nobody else is available to her. The limits on my own freedom in the world have increased as she's been less able to even do the fun things with me. I'm preparing to move out and I need to not be caring for anyone or dealing with serious disability issues in my immediate household circles for a while, but I also feel I've failed her and keep failing her and I feel rotten about it. One can be the problem, even as another woman. I think I'll learn to be a more responcible person when I get out on my own, but we've lost so much of the joy of living together as people who like and love eachother. A related issue here is that the hole family was, for a long time, all individually overworked while living together, out of necessity. It tends to lead people to be either angry or tired and unable to figure out how to sort the power and responcibility issues out carefully,in good faith.
Always loved this song. I thought the beats at the end of the song were very reminiscent of a heartbeat though! So it's interesting to hear other takes <3
Just found this series of analysing Hozier lyrics and I am so grateful! I love his songs so much but my listening comprehendtion is quite bad and combined with how i never finished what would be the equivalent to high school the academic references can fly over my head. It can all be a little overwhelming to understand some lyrics. I write poetry myself and love his writing but this has really helped me with fully understanding his newest songs that i haven't spent years marinating in my head. I also think that its beautiful how different songs hit us differently my favorite of this newer collection is definitely Swan Upon Leda; a song I somehow understood fully the moment I heard it. Its gentle, lulling despair but hopeful rebellion moved me deeply. Hope you're doing well and your cats are happy❤
OMG... I am a few months away from turning 80, and I know and feel every word. In the US, the far right is trying to return women back to the 17th century.. I hope women wake up, get woke, and vote.
Awesome list! I would like to recommend 2 poetry books- Rifqa by Muhammad El Kurd and also Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha. They’re both so good and show the heart of the Palestinian people as well as everything they’ve endured for decades.
Thank you for this video truely !! And about Nai Barghouti i saw her live and her and her band are some of the truest artists i've seen i recommend not missing her show if she ever is in your city free palestine <3
Thanks for highlighting these artists can't wait to check their stuff out. I have a huge soft spot for Bashar Murad since he wanted to go to Eurovision this year representing Iceland but what could've been a beautiful moment of icelandic people showing our solidarity with the palestinian cause was ultimately squashed because many conservatives who usually never even vote in stuff like this got another act to win which landed us in last place in the competition as a whole. It was just such a disappointment and it felt disgusting because most of us didn't even want Iceland to be a part of Eurovision this year because of Israel's participation, but the broadcaster RÚV put it on the winner to decide whether to go or not (which is a shit move in and of itself) so this was our biggest chance as icelandic citizens to put our foot down in support of Palestine but I guess we just had to be racist. Thanks again for the great recommendations.
Thank you Honor I couldn't agree more. Call, write, boycott, protest you do what you can because every bit counts with so many turning a blind eye. Permanent cease fire!! Free Palestine!! Stop the genocide!!🤲🏽💔🍉💯
Thank you for recommending Palestinian artists! So many interesting musicians to listen to. Like you said, art is important for giving people strength in the moment as well as documenting it for the future.
I think "It's not an act of love if you make her" is a super important line to touch on. It can reference her acts of service, no longer being done out of love but out of survival. And it can also reference the "act" of "love making". Essentially saying it's now SA if you make her perform this act for your own pleasure and disregarding her feelings about it.
I must’ve watched 20+ different versions of Olivia’s Dive on RU-vid by now. I’m glad the algorithm has brought me to your channel - instant subscribe 😊
I’m 39, married at 18 (I was raised Mormon. Getting married young was normal). Please younger women, don’t get married. Have a committed partner if you like but don’t get married. Something about the titles, the legal document, this history of marriage and ownership - men take it all for granted in marriage. Don’t sacrifice your autonomy and freedom for anyone please. Please 🙏
