Meaning of Take me to church by Hozier
Take me to church
Hozier
When autumn came around in 2013, the airwaves were filled with a storm of beautiful, strong melodies and lyrics that were both deep and captivating.
This storm was Hozier‘s first hit, “Take Me to Church,” which came out on September 13, 2013. The song quickly became a call for love in the face of racism1.
The song was written by Andrew Hozier-Byrne, who goes by the name Hozier. He wrote the words and music to what would become a sort of global song in the attic of his parents’ house in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, when he was having a rough time after a breakup. The early demo, which was made in the same attic, had sounds of his personal struggles and a criticism of the groups that set social norms (1).
At its core, “Take Me to Church” is more than just a song—it’s a metaphor-laden narrative where love is revered with the sanctity often reserved for religion. However, Hozier’s portrayal of love stands as a rebellion against the dogmatic doctrines of organized religion, particularly targeting the Catholic Church’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights23.
Hozier says that his lover is like faith, which shows how holy and important love is to him. Still, the song turns into an attack on the Catholic Church, which he saw as too powerful in Ireland’s politics and society. Hozier wrote the powerful words to “Take Me to Church” because he was fed up with the hypocrisy he saw in the Catholic Church as a child of a Protestant Quaker faith.
People who follow religion often have blind faith and blind obedience, as shown in the song, “Take me to church, I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies…” In the same breath, though, it’s a celebration of love in the real world, a contrast to the judgement that commonly happens in religious settings4.
The song “Take Me to Church” goes beyond the personal to address a social problem, giving a voice to people who are left out and treated badly because of their sexuality. It’s a call for everyone to accept love in all its forms and fight the norms that try to limit it.
The black-and-white music video for “Take Me to Church” showing a same-sex relationship and the violent homophobic attack that follows made the song even more powerful. Just like the song, the movie tells a moving story about love, hate, and the beliefs that fuel hate.
“Take Me to Church” by Hozier is a captivating mix of melody, feeling, and social commentary that continues to speak to many. Its notes remind us of the strength of love and the never-ending fight for equality and acceptance.
(Sources)