The Meaning of Take Me to Church: What It Is and How To Use It

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of the song Take Me to Church? This article will provide you with all of the info you need on the song Take Me to Church by Hozier, including its meaning, lyrics, and more!

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What does the song “Take Me to Church” mean?

According to American Songwriter and Pop Song Professor, the phrase “Take Me to Church” references a song by Hozier, AKA songwriter Andrew Hozier Byrne. The phrase “take me to church” is used in the chorus. The song is a commentary on anti-homosexuality and anti-same sex marriage in the Catholic church. Hozier-Byrne is opposed to judgment based on sexuality or sexual orientation and believes the church uses doctrine in the Bible and political cowardice to shame people, and is an assertion of hypocrisy. He also believes in an expression of love and that the “small death” comparison is used to describe how falling in love is watching yourself die in a wonderful way, whetehr though an act of sex in a rebirth sense or otherwise. You can listen to the song on Spotify or many other music services.

According to Grammy, Hozier was nominated for Song of the Year in 2014 at the 57th annual Grammy awards. He also made his Grammy stage debut on this night performing “Take Me to Church” and “I Put a Spell on You.“ Throughout the entire song, Hozier uses metaphors for the Catholic church and the lover in the song. Uses many phrases such as worship in the bedroom and tell you my sins to compare his love of the person he is speaking about to the feelings he receives from the Catholic Church. Hozier is Irish and feels a strong sense of cultural hangover coming from the influence of the Catholic church.

The music video of the song Take Me to Church was directed by Brendan Canty and conal Thompson. This video reflects instances of homophobia that people face everyday. The music video to the song went viral and propelled the song to the top of the charts. It was a global hit in 12 different countries. The song was picked up by the Indie label Ruby Works after they heard a home demo that Hozier recorded while living in his parents attic in Country Wicklow, Ireland. Hozier did all of the vocals for the song and played all of the instruments except for the drums. 

The lyrics to the song are below, from Genius.

 My lover’s got humor

 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 and 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

Hozier has many other songs that have been released on numerous different albums. These are listed below, from Song Facts.

  •  From Eden (2014)
  •  Wasteland, Baby! (2019)
  •  Cherry Wine (2014)
  •  Nina Cried Power (2018)
  •  Take Me to Church (2013)
  •  Almost (Sweet Music) (2019)
  •  To Be Alone (2014)
  •  Like Real People Do (2014)
  •  Work Song (2014)
  •  Movement (2018)
  •  Arsonist’s Lullabye (2014)
  •  Angel Of Small Death And The Codeine Scene (2014)
  •  Better Love (2016)
  •  In A Week (2014)
  •  Someone New (2014)

Overall, the song “Take Me to Church” means 

Sources:

  1. Hozier – Take Me to Church Lyrics | Genius  
  2. Behind The Song: “Take Me To Church” by Hozier | American Songwriter 
  3. What does “Take Me to Church” by Hozier Mean? | The Pop Song Professor 
  4. List of songs by Hozier | Song Facts 
  5. Andrew Hozier-Byrne | Artist | Grammy