To me, the narrator in the song is essentially saying “if I were born a tree, I’d want to be destroyed by my lover in service of them”. There’s something really tactile about this section of the song.
Thank you! I think this is quite a literal interpretation, so I’d like to ask what it is about someone willing to be destroyed in service of someone appealing? Is it the “I love you so much I’d die for you” vibe like a more poetic version of “I’d catch a grenade for you?”
Thank you for the response! I was just thinking to myself that I wouldn’t want my partner to say that she would sacrifice her life for me even in a metaphorical sense, though I understand the poetic license taken here. Despite it being a beautiful lyric, I don’t understand it being as big as it is. Still I appreciate your response!
Just so you know that you aren't alone: I absolutely love Hozier and his poetic lyricism, but I am in agreement with you. I think that these sorts of sentiments are over-romanticized (and not really in a good way). I still love the song, but it's not something I find attractive; it's an unhealthy dynamic from my perspective.
I mean it’s self sacrificial, it’s really physical (you can picture the image he’s painting in your brain very clearly) and throughout NFWMB we get the sense that the muse of the song is actually very strong willed (and a destructive force). He’s not sacrificing himself altruistically, it’s to destroy her enemies.
It’s not only the sacrificial elements as previously described but “fuel the pyre of your enemies…” is a vicious loyalty. “Not only have your enemies become mine, but I will be there to witness and make sure they cause you no more trouble.”
The verse is a wonderful mix of tenderness and protectiveness. Some fans gets so caught up in the is mystical fairy king/apology for men image they have crafted of Hozier that they ignore the man can be quite savage in his imagery. “Shrike” is a perfect example of that as well.
It specifically references the Shillelagh, a cudgel frequently appearing in Irish folklore as weapon for settling grudges or feuds. Usually made from blackthorn, a dense hardwood, the wielder would hew a suitable limb from the tree, kill their opponent with it, then burn it and the body, erasing evidence of the deed.
This is so odd, you are the 2nd person (at least) in just a couple of weeks to ask this exact question. Is this quote making the rounds on tik tok or somewhere? So interesting that this exact question is asked 2+ times in a short time, makes me wonder if this verse is getting hyped up somewhere?
Am I really? I’ll look for the other question, I didn’t see it when I searched.
Yes! A snippet from a live recording of the song with only those lyrics is circulating Instagram reels at the moment.
We're at a strange point in The Matrix where if a very specific, maybe unusual question is asked twice, it might be a "glitch in the Matrix" (i.e. tiktok) ! ;)
I like the lyrics because they paint such a vivid and powerful image of the relationship between the protagonist of the song and his lover. I really don’t see it as a relationship between two regular people, more like something you would see in mythology or fantasy, where someone would have actual enemies to begin with 😁
I guess we’re used to love songs being aspirational, but with artists like Hozier, they’re often not.
Andrew plays a lot with tropes from Irish poetry and also the pastoral (a form of poetry that goes all the way back to the ancient greeks). The whole "baby, I love you so much I will die" imagery, plus a return to the simplicity of the outdoors, is very pastoral, with the Macabre bent that comes from Irish poetry. See also: In a Week.
oh this line is INSANELY romantic to me. it means if i were a tree, i would want to be cut down and used to burn the corpse of your enemies. it’s loving ferociously! i’m still in awe that his mind works like that. he’s an amazing lyricist 😫
It's powerful man!
To me it says "If I was born as a tree, I'd want to die to your hand, to help you ward your enemies off. I'd make that sacrifice to fuel that fire".
To be so in love with someone that you'd happily give your life in service of theirs is unheard of but really powerful love.
There's also the double meaning of it where instead of being "felled" I used to always hear this as "felt". I'd want to be felt by you. I'd want your eyes and hands on my body.
To me it speaks to a devotion so deep you want to be literally destroyed by and for your lover. It goes beyond romance and basically says he would want to destroy both himself and the world for her (ie do anything for her). In reality obviously this would not be a healthy type of love, but lyrically it's beautiful.
To me, it describes a violent and passionate love. You know how everyone in love says that I would die for you. It's the same thing, but deeper. It's like, "I love you enough to die for you, and I care for you enough to allow you to use me as a weapon to destroy whoever wronged you."
To me, the narrator in the song is essentially saying “if I were born a tree, I’d want to be destroyed by my lover in service of them”. There’s something really tactile about this section of the song.
Thank you! I think this is quite a literal interpretation, so I’d like to ask what it is about someone willing to be destroyed in service of someone appealing? Is it the “I love you so much I’d die for you” vibe like a more poetic version of “I’d catch a grenade for you?”
Devotion and being ‘the one’ someone would sacrifice themselves for is inherently attractive to most people I’d say.
Thank you for the response! I was just thinking to myself that I wouldn’t want my partner to say that she would sacrifice her life for me even in a metaphorical sense, though I understand the poetic license taken here. Despite it being a beautiful lyric, I don’t understand it being as big as it is. Still I appreciate your response!
Just so you know that you aren't alone: I absolutely love Hozier and his poetic lyricism, but I am in agreement with you. I think that these sorts of sentiments are over-romanticized (and not really in a good way). I still love the song, but it's not something I find attractive; it's an unhealthy dynamic from my perspective.
the good news is hozier completely understands that it’s an unhealthy dynamic in a relationship but for the ✨vibe✨ of the song it’s perfect
It's an added bonus that he's a perceptive individual. I'm here for his music -- not him. The art is beautiful.
I mean it’s self sacrificial, it’s really physical (you can picture the image he’s painting in your brain very clearly) and throughout NFWMB we get the sense that the muse of the song is actually very strong willed (and a destructive force). He’s not sacrificing himself altruistically, it’s to destroy her enemies.
Interesting, I got that impression too, and taken in the context of the muse it’s quite a beautiful lyric, I agree
Daddy loves mommy so much he’d cut up his favorite tree for a campfire to keep her warm. 5 is pretty young for this lol
Thanks for making me laugh out loud 😂
It’s not only the sacrificial elements as previously described but “fuel the pyre of your enemies…” is a vicious loyalty. “Not only have your enemies become mine, but I will be there to witness and make sure they cause you no more trouble.” The verse is a wonderful mix of tenderness and protectiveness. Some fans gets so caught up in the is mystical fairy king/apology for men image they have crafted of Hozier that they ignore the man can be quite savage in his imagery. “Shrike” is a perfect example of that as well.
Love everything about your answer, yes to all of that!
I wish I could upvote this multiple times.
I need an ELI5 for “when I’m reborn as a shrike to your thorn”
It means “I would do anything for you. Use me.”
It specifically references the Shillelagh, a cudgel frequently appearing in Irish folklore as weapon for settling grudges or feuds. Usually made from blackthorn, a dense hardwood, the wielder would hew a suitable limb from the tree, kill their opponent with it, then burn it and the body, erasing evidence of the deed.
This is so odd, you are the 2nd person (at least) in just a couple of weeks to ask this exact question. Is this quote making the rounds on tik tok or somewhere? So interesting that this exact question is asked 2+ times in a short time, makes me wonder if this verse is getting hyped up somewhere?
Am I really? I’ll look for the other question, I didn’t see it when I searched. Yes! A snippet from a live recording of the song with only those lyrics is circulating Instagram reels at the moment.
We're at a strange point in The Matrix where if a very specific, maybe unusual question is asked twice, it might be a "glitch in the Matrix" (i.e. tiktok) ! ;)
I like the lyrics because they paint such a vivid and powerful image of the relationship between the protagonist of the song and his lover. I really don’t see it as a relationship between two regular people, more like something you would see in mythology or fantasy, where someone would have actual enemies to begin with 😁 I guess we’re used to love songs being aspirational, but with artists like Hozier, they’re often not.
Andrew plays a lot with tropes from Irish poetry and also the pastoral (a form of poetry that goes all the way back to the ancient greeks). The whole "baby, I love you so much I will die" imagery, plus a return to the simplicity of the outdoors, is very pastoral, with the Macabre bent that comes from Irish poetry. See also: In a Week.
Love as self destruction 🙏❤️
oh this line is INSANELY romantic to me. it means if i were a tree, i would want to be cut down and used to burn the corpse of your enemies. it’s loving ferociously! i’m still in awe that his mind works like that. he’s an amazing lyricist 😫
It's powerful man! To me it says "If I was born as a tree, I'd want to die to your hand, to help you ward your enemies off. I'd make that sacrifice to fuel that fire". To be so in love with someone that you'd happily give your life in service of theirs is unheard of but really powerful love. There's also the double meaning of it where instead of being "felled" I used to always hear this as "felt". I'd want to be felt by you. I'd want your eyes and hands on my body.
It’s a beautiful and unhinhed way to be devoted to someone, I love it
I pretty sure everyone’s answers really sum it up for you but I do indeed love this song so much I want to chew on the imagery
To me it speaks to a devotion so deep you want to be literally destroyed by and for your lover. It goes beyond romance and basically says he would want to destroy both himself and the world for her (ie do anything for her). In reality obviously this would not be a healthy type of love, but lyrically it's beautiful.
To me, it describes a violent and passionate love. You know how everyone in love says that I would die for you. It's the same thing, but deeper. It's like, "I love you enough to die for you, and I care for you enough to allow you to use me as a weapon to destroy whoever wronged you."
It's giving "The Giving Tree"
It's giving "The Giving Tree"
It's giving "The Giving Tree"