Burning Incense at the Altar of Desire | Take Me To Church | Hozier

Written by Irish singer-songwriter Andrew Hozier-Byrne, known professionally as Hozier, the hit song "Take Me to Church" quickly rose to fame upon its release in 2013. Paired with a powerful music video, the tune took on an even deeper, more poignant meaning. In exploring the song’s lyrics and music video, its themes of religion, love, and societal issues become clear.

In the song, "Take Me to Church," Hozier presents a metaphorical juxtaposition between the ecstasy of love and structured religion. The song's powerful chorus makes use of religious imagery to convey the sanctity of human passion: "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." The depiction here is not just of love but of a reverence that borders on worship.

The songwriter uses religion as a 'metaphor' to exaggerate his feelings toward his lover, and further explains this idea when he sings, "I was born sick, but I love it, command me to be well." Here, Hozier expresses the idea that expressing sexual desire in its raw, innate form is considered a "sin" by certain religious beliefs, a notion injected into us from birth. Hence he was "born sick," but he loves this "sickness" – an effective indictment of the societal and religious pressures.

On the other side, the song's music video showcases a poignant story about LGBTQ+ discrimination. The storyline follows a gay couple, whose relationship is violently disrupted by homophobic individuals. The video sends a powerful message about the intolerance that persists in contemporary society, particularly among those who warp religious beliefs to justify hate and violence. This sobering visual companion to the song amplifies the lyrics’ societal commentary.

Simultaneously, Hozier's "Take Me to Church" contrasts the concept of religious guilt, particularly Catholic guilt, with the natural human experience of love and passion. Essentially, the tune highlights the conflicts between the divine love promoted by religious institutions and the more earthly, primal forms of love. It argues that true spirituality can derive just as much from the throes of passion as from a Sunday sermon.

In conclusion, "Take Me to Church" by Hozier is a powerful anthem encompassing societal norms, religion, love, and intolerance. Through strong, poetic, and often jolting imagery, the song challenges rigid belief systems and advocates for the unabashed celebration of human passion.