“Take Me to Church” is a song by Irish recording artist Hozier, released as a single in 2013 and taken from the EP Take Me to Church. It is also the first track of his self-titled debut album.
The song entered the Irish Singles Chart in October 2013 and reached number two, where it stayed for four weeks. In May 2014, Hozier performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman. It was sent to US modern rock radio on June 24th 2014 by Columbia Records. It eventually became his first top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 2014.
The music video for “Take Me to Church” was directed by Brendan Canty and was released on September 25th 2013. The video, shot in grayscale, follows the relationship between two men in a same-sex relationship and the violently homophobic backlash that ensues when the community learns of one of the men’s sexuality. Hozier himself does not appear in this video.
Music Video:
Lyrics for Hozier – Take Me To Church
My lover’s got humor
She’s the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody’s disapproval
I should’ve worshiped her soonerIf 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
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.[Chorus 2x:]
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 lifeIf I’m a pagan of the good times
My lover’s the sunlight
To keep the Goddess on my side
She demands a sacrificeDrain 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 faithfulThat looks tasty
That looks plenty
This is hungry work[Chorus 2x:]
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 lifeNo Masters or Kings
When the Ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sinIn the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then I am Human
Only then I am Clean
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.[Chorus 2x:]
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