Conclusion
- People need to learn to live their own lives, and not let organization, like churches, define who you are.
- World at large must become independent and not let hypocritical hierarchies dictate their beliefs, faith, and love.
Literary Device: Symbolism
Literary Device: Imagery
Literary Device: Alliteration
Hozier is implying that you are supposed to be forgiven for your sins at church. However, when you try to repent, they punish you for them.
"I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife."
"Earth", in this stanza, symbolizes sadness when looked down on from heaven.
"In the madness and the soil of that sad earthly scene."
"Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life."
- Questioning heaven and how you die, but somehow continue to live on. The "d" and "g" consonant sounds were repeated.
Literary Device: Personification
- He doesn't believe that heaven or God ever do or communicate anything to help their worshipers.
"If the heavens ever did speak,
She's the last true mouthpiece."
Sources:
Literary Device: Simile
- http://www.billboard.com/artist/6059764/hozier/biography
- http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/03/qa-hozier-on-gay-rights-sex-good-hair.html
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/12/15/russia-impunity-anti-lgbt-violence
- http://www.reflector-online.com/opinion/article_7f5adde8-b30c-11e4-af17-cfb3caaf4bc3.html
- http://bodolaipoetry.weebly.com/blog/analysis-of-poetic-devices-in-hoziers-take-me-to-church
- https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tjjheczmx5vqostlnrfm6ki3lym?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics
- http://bodolaipoetry.weebly.com/blog/analysis-of-poetic-devices-in-hoziers-take-me-to-church
"I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies."
- Conveying that people blindly worship and follow the orders of powerful organizations
Literary Device: Metaphor
- This is artistic and adds flair to the song, but does not add to the deeper meaning.
"If I'm a pagan of the good times
My lover's the sunlight."
"I should've worshiped her sooner," and "If the heavens ever did speak
She's the last true mouthpiece."
- The whole song is a metaphor comparing the lover to God or religion. Implies that a person should find their own beliefs.
Primary Literary Devices
The primary literary devices used in "Take Me to Church" were metaphors, similes, personifications, alliterations, symbolism, and imagery. These literary deices helped convey the theme in a creative, artistic manner.
"Take Me to Church" By: Hozier
"Take Me to Church" Central Idea
- Raise awareness of institutions that seek to "undermine the more natural parts of being a person."
- This song is way to tell people to be independent and to not let a church tell them how to live their lives.
"Take Me to Church" Background
Andrew Hozier-Byrne Background
- Wrote and released "Take Me to Church" in September 2013.
- During that time, organized attacks against the LGBT community were taking place in Russia.
- Young members were being taken by homophobic vigilante groups and filmed being tortured.
- These anti-LGBT assaults inspired him to create this song.
- Born on 17 of March, 1990 in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.
- Father was the local blues singer, so he grew up around music.
- Joined his first band when he was 15.
Andrew Hozier-Byrne Background Continued
- Grew up as an Irish Catholic, but observed many problems with the church.
- After graduating, studied for a degree in music at Trinity College Dublin.