Take Me to Church by Hozier Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Profound Commentary on Love and Faith
Lyrics
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, 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
When Hozier released ‘Take Me to Church’ in 2013, he not only gifted the airwaves with a haunting melody but also provided a profound lyrical contemplation that would reverberate through the consciousness of listeners worldwide. The track, with its soulful rhythm and emotive vocals, quickly escalated from being a song to an anthem, dissecting themes of organized religion, individual spirituality, and human sexuality.
As the song continues to resonate with fans years after its release, it invites an exploration into its depths, teasing apart the complexities woven into its words. Deep dives into ‘Take Me to Church’ unveil not just a single narrative, but a myriad of interpretations, all underscored by Hozier’s poetic finesse. Here, we unpack the multi-layered meanings of this indelible track, as potent today as it was upon its debut.
The Heretic’s Love Anthem: A Fusillade Against Doctrine
At its heart, ‘Take Me to Church’ sets up an allegory, contrasting genuine affection with the dogmatism of religious institutions. Hozier crafts a scathing critique of the Church’s stance on love, particularly non-heteronormative relationships. By equating love with worship, the song positions a romantic relationship as sacred, and in doing so, it challenges the traditional sanctuaries that have long dictated moral authority.
The lover is depicted as ‘the giggle at a funeral,’ representing a paradoxical beacon of joy in the somberness dictated by religious settings. In this subversive imagery, Hozier suggests that true enlightenment and salvation come not from rigid adherence to doctrine but from embracing love’s natural form – an idea that resonates as a bold declaration of independence from oppressive norms.
Decoding the Cryptic: ‘Deathless Death’ and ‘Shrine of Lies’
The recurrent imagery of ‘deathless death’ and the ‘shrine of lies’ in the chorus presents a cryptic puzzle. It speaks to the untouchable, immortal aspect of love – a force transcending the physical death. Conversely, the ‘shrine of lies’ seems to refer to the superficial and often deceitful facades that religious institutions uphold, according to Hozier. By willingly participating in this ritual of confessional love, the narrator both acknowledges his transgressions and deconstructs the pretense of holiness offered by the Church.
The fierce plea to ‘Take me to church’ is thus an ironic reversal—rather than seeking sanctuary in a physical church, Hozier’s protagonist finds absolution in the act of sincere, unconstrained love. This shirks the guise of sanctity in exchange for authenticity, a quality that organized religion, as criticized in the song, often lacks.
The Poignant Poetry of Human Vulnerability
Hozier doesn’t just point a finger at religious institutions; he also crafts a vivid portrait of human frailty. The verses are imbued with Shakespearean tragedy, taking on a ritualistic quality that conveys the gravitational pull of forbidden desire. The singer’s acknowledgment of being ‘born sick’ is delivered with an ironic acceptance, blurring the lines between sin and virtue, purity and profanity.
Emerging from this verse structure is a narrative that values humanity’s imperfections. By celebrating the ‘gentle sin’ and the ‘sweet innocence’ within it, Hozier isn’t advocating for moral decay; he is rather highlighting the inherent beauty in human flaws and the honesty of admitting to them, something that the dogmatic narratives often choose to condemn or deny.
Unearthing the Song’s Hidden Meaning: A Parade of Sacrifices
A deeper foray into the lyrics reveals the artist’s indictment of society’s penchant for sacrifice in the name of piety. When Hozier speaks of draining ‘the whole sea to get something shiny’ for a deity’s appetite, he touches on humanity’s destructive pursuit of appeasement – be it in the religious context or our relationships.
The ‘fine looking high horse’ and ‘starving faithful’ illustrate the imbalance of power where the opulent few feed off the blind obedience of many. This skewering of sacrificial rituals symbolizes the often exploitative nature of institutions that demand undying loyalty at the cost of individual agency and the welfare of the masses.
‘To Keep the Goddess on My Side’: Unforgettable Lines that Still Resonate
‘If I’m a pagan of the good times, my lover’s the sunlight’ stands out as a line that captures the essence of the song’s rebellious spirit. Through this poetic device, Hozier elevates the mundane to divine, finding spirituality in the carnal and the commonplace. The lover, acting as the metaphorical ‘sunlight,’ is the source of life and joy, superseding any deity or dogmatic belief.
The line resonates with the notion that true worship, and by extension true meaning, can be found in the natural, the real, and the here-and-now. Hozier’s narrative weaves fervent love and devoted worship into one, presenting a poignant exploration of spirituality that defies the walls of the church and breaks down into the bedroom, where true communion—free from judgment or prohibition—takes place.
