Why "Take Me To Church" is an unusual pop song

[@sthubbins4038]

I love it when a brilliant piece of music actually becomes a massive pop hit. So rare, but so wonderful when it happens.

[@gulzadahalliyeva3381]

I agree

[@berlineczka]

Another example is Toxic by Britney Spears. Adam Neely named a video about it some time back - it is actually quite unusual tonally and musically advanced.

[@rocknrolan7371]

Somebody that I used to know … the song only gets better to me

[@JustinLe]

it's not that rare tbh

[@notnotme1715]

@@JustinLethank you

[@idreamofgenie2599]

When I first heard this song on the radio, I heard the "Amen, amen, amen" part and thought it might be a religious song. Then I heard the lyrics about "worship like a dog" and "sharpen your knife", etc., and realized the singer wasn't making a straightforward request to be taken to a church service. But I thought it was a metaphor for the singer being in a toxic relationship with a bad partner. After watching this, it sounds like I wasn't entirely wrong about that--but that the singer's toxic relationship was with the church itself! Quite a powerful song.

[@Quasihamster]

Or, to put it with Rammstein, "This is not a love song."

[@karenkalweit6018]

It’s not rare for church to create a toxic relationship with people. So the song works for any toxic relationship.

[@karenkalweit6018]

It’s not rare for church to create a toxic relationship with people. So the song works for any toxic relationship.

[@thisaruguruge9168]

Damn, I too went down on that trip! ❤️

[@SoleaGalilei]

I vividly remember when I first heard this song. It played on the radio while I was in a waiting room, and the sound of it was so different and intense that it grabbed my attention immediately. Even before I understood all the lyrics, it was very obvious that there was something unusual about the message the song wanted to send.

[@avedic]

Same! Not in the same setting...but same reaction. Our reactions kinda prove something.....really good pop music should actually GO for it. Try something new. Be bold. Sound different. Stand out. It may fail. But when it DOES land.....boy does it land. And people notice. imo...it's not that modern music is "bad." OR that modern audiences are "bad." It's that modern music doesn't swing for the fences....enough/as much as it used to.

[@creiwentheelvenone6730]

I am in the same boat. I listened to this song over and over again after the first time I heard it and I have loved it every single listen.

[@ivanheffner2587]

Just reading the lyrics at a surface level told me immediately that this was not an endorsement of the church in any way. “I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies. I’ll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife.” This is the chorus; the part everyone is supposed to be able to join in on. That’s not even taking the time to consider the intimate relationship suggested by “that deathless death” (la petite mort), especially following the line “Worship in the bedroom.” The middle verse is innuendo from start to finish. It’s yet another example of mass (no pun intended) consumption of media by those who do not understand it. See Also: Rage Against the Machine.

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

See also 99% of songs from back when most people heard songs the first time on AM radio.

[@flower4750]

i think you can read "offer me that deathless death" a couple of ways, to me it makes me think of the institution demanding that you devote your life to it in return for the promise of immortality when you die. the obviously nonsensical phrasing of deathless death is at the same time a very literal description of the promise, so it exposes the sad desperate absurdity of the idea

[@Kiwi_DeFruit]

Also "drain the whole sea" is such a clever way to reference the "Holy See" (Sancta Sede), referring to the church. He's saying Drain the Holy See. If that's not direct, I don't know what is.

[@7kraska]

@@flower4750 Hozier himself said it is reffering to the promise of immortal life but is also a play on the french "little death" meaning orgams

[@lisahoshowsky4251]

I take deathless death more as the promise of eternal life in heaven, you die but not really. The song Last Kiss with the lyrics “she’s gone to heaven so I’ve got to be good so I can see my baby when I leave this world” really come to mind. The church sells you this promise of death not really being the end but the beginning of a new “life” where all your loved ones are going to be there waiting to meet you in heaven if you’re good on earth. Definitely paired with the worship in the bedroom it can be read as “le petit death” but I think it’s more thought provoking to me to read it as another coercion tactic of the church to keep you amongst its flock. “If you leave, you won’t go to heaven, you won’t see your loved ones, etc, etc but if you stay with us you’ll never really die you’ll live on in the kingdom of heaven with your lost loved ones.” The thought of death not being the end, of loved ones reuniting is really comforting to some, they crave that reassurance and that makes it powerful.

[@skirtonbear1]

That Cm to G is common among the black congregations. It’s not felt like an acrimonious shift, just a bluesy one that I’m quite used to.

[@MaggaraMarine]

It's actually very common in classical church music too. For example listen to the ending of Mozart's Lacrimosa (but you also hear it in the end of a lot of renaissance and baroque pieces).

[@carlolombardi1998]

@@MaggaraMarine Exactly, a common variation that I've heard is the more ornate IV-iv-Isus4-I.

[@freshbeans]

interesting

[@jrhooman]

it would make sense why hozier would make use of it, he has been very vocal about the influences of black and choir music on his work

[@je-pq3de]

but theres context

[@michellegarciamartinez786]

What I love most about the switches between the time signatures in the first half was the weight it ended up pulling to the 4/4 verses. The 3/4 verses had a rapidity to them, and as soon as it slowed to accommodate the new 4/4 signature, the phrases in the meter were emphasized so much more.

[@romicor9]

There's a song by Hozier called Foreigner's God (also from the 1st album) that changes from 3/4 to 4/4 very often in the verse before setting to 4/4 in the prechorus and chorus. It makes the lyrics in those last two sections feel more important somehow.

[@JayBigDadyCy]

His line ".... When the ritual begins" is so incredibly sung. I can't even replicate it no matter how hard I try.

[@argo8276]

The bridge part of the song is so addictive to listen to for some reason.

[@JesterWDE]

So many Hozier parts are exactly like this. Upon first listen I think I know where he’s taking the melody and I’m dead wrong every time. And even once I know it, it’s impossible to sing along to. He’s a one of one.

[@saoirsedeltufo7436]

One other thing is that the Amen is sung with melisma - as well as the plagal cadence this is very reminiscent of religious music

[@NeilMcGrath]

First time I heard this song was on the radio in a shopping center and I thought it was Elton John lol…I said to my wife “wow this is best piece of music Elton’s written since the 70s” 😂

[@gavinrode9153]

hahahahahhah

[@thomasoegerli7762]

I first heard this song on a radio channel usually playing rather classic (hard) rock stuff. And it struck me immediately. It mixes elements of rock, of blues and, obviously, of Gospel. And what a fantastic voice! Masterpiece...

[@kier1568]

Most of Hozier's songs are a combination of those elements. Try listening to 'Shrike', 'From Eden', 'Movement' and 'Dinner and Diatribes' by him too.

[@harrylane4]

@@kier1568they’d probably be a big fan of Nina Cried Power, even if it’s far less somber than this

[@kier1568]

@@harrylane4 very true. What an anthem! I'm just listening to his latest album now. I'd not listened to it before but the production is excellent and he's really pushing his abilities. He's grown with every album imo

[@lindenlynx]

@@kier1568 Unreal Unearth is an incredible album. "Abstract (Psychopomp)" and "I, Carrion" instantly became two of my favorite pieces of his. I had the opportunity to see him live last month, and he sang both -- words can't even describe the experience

[@kier1568]

@@lindenlynx they're two of my favourites as well, you lucky b*stard😂

[@MarybearASMR]

I have distinct memories of listening to this song behind my parents' backs because it's "sacrilegious"

[@bactrosaurus]

Good thing mine don't speak english 😂

[@rayeblack]

Thanks for this breakdown! I walked down the aisle at my wedding to this song. I choose it specifically because, being raised Irish Catholic, my homosexuality is not accepted by the church I was raised in. We had a pianist playing instrumental versions of songs. It was a beautiful Declaration of Independence. This song is for every Catholic raised queer person.

[@St0ckwell]

Your "wedding" was an abomination.

[@jheckie14]

That's beautiful

[@Kiwi_DeFruit]

Oh that is so lovely! Congrats!

[@owenmacpherson5311]

womp womp.

[@rayeblack]

I don't think that "sad trombone" is necessary but you do you @@owenmacpherson5311

[@Rubrickety]

I like the callout to Born In the USA. We could add Every Breath You Take. Any other classic “No, listen carefully, you’ve got it all wrong” songs?

[@Rubrickety]

Just remembered Elvis Costello’s “Alison”, though that one’s not crystal clear.

[@LightningSpritesJetsWizard]

Dido - Don't Leave Home. Some people play it at their wedding :D

[@fel24thecat]

CCR’s Fortunate Son is in the same situation as Born In The USA

[@guy9197]

cherry wine by hozier himself, the song's about domestic violence but many insist on walking down the aisle to it

[@kaitlyn__L]

Do people think it’s a romantic song? I read it as being about stalking even the very first time I heard it… heck, it was part of what made me realise that was even a thing

[@Zveebo]

I enjoyed this for ages before I actually really thought about the lyrics and looked at the themes behind it - and wow, my respect for it grew massively when I did. What a powerful piece of songwriting. Lovely and smart analysis as always, David.

[@DavideMenezes42]

Check out his other work! He is a great songwriter, a very good vocalist and a very inspiring human being.

[@tinaferr]

So so so so good

[@ben5947]

I cannot begin to describe how much Hozier means to me. Clicked on it as soon as I saw the title. Some songs on his new album have some unusual things happening harmonically as well. Worth checking out!! Thanks for everything, David!

[@nearjuice5072]

Thank you for a good video as always David. Another Hozier song that's very interesting in my opinion is "From Eden" which is written in 5/4 time and features a section using the phrygian dominant scale.

[@twoheartsinharryshouse594]

i LOVE from eden yes i agree

[@potatolord02lololololol7]

I love Hozier. I wish he was real

[@PowerRedBullTypology]

what is not real? I do not know him at all?

[@karenkalweit6018]

Thanks for explaining this so clearly. I’m the musician, but I knew from the first time I heard this song. It was not a religion thing.

[@doctormojo]

And his song From Eden is mostly in 5 time, but with a syncopated groove that makes it roll along better than most 5/4 tunes. From Eden also has 4/4 sections in the breakdowns.

[@Nanakinsz]

Ohmygosh, I have been waiting YEARS for someone to discuss this! Thank you Mister David! I think this is SUCH a brilliant song. ❤

[@Kylzee]

i’ve seen someone point out that they would notate the odd time signature in the verses as 3/2 instead of 3/4. in my ears this honestly fits more, cos it just doesn’t have that waltz-y feel to it. makes it even more unique, hozier is a genius

[@lsaint87l]

"I added 4/4 here and there 'cause it didn't fit with the lyrics I wanted to sing." -Genius

[@ric8248]

I think it's the last two "Amens" that use Cm, not just the last one. Thank you David for analysing this truly amazing song.

[@lucypreece7581]

I have never clicked on a video faster. The love that I have for this song runs deep and Hozier is one of my fave artists ever.

[@birgittaydelotte3898]

Luka... Suzanne Vega.... Sounds so gentle, if you don't Listen...

[@bass-tones]

I’ve covered this song in the past and don’t think I ever realized it was mirroring (or putting a twist on) the Amen cadence. Pretty clever stuff.

[@carlsong6438]

Please do more stuff on Hozier!!! My favorite modern artist and so much gold in his body of work, way beyond his image as a one hit wonder from the titular song

[@stoatystoat174]

the 4/4 sections sounds bit like slowing down for a corner before he accelerates out of it again (but in a big heavy metaphorical vehicle)

[@serenitygoodwyn]

I was shocked that people actually believe this is in support of the Church. Seriously, the only way you could think that, is if you've never read or listened to the lyrics or seen the video! Did they just read the title and make assumptions?

[@AshArAis]

I knew a bride who chose Jar of Hearts as one of her wedding songs in the church. It's about a serial cheater. People can often be blissfully unaware of song lyrics

[@tinaferr]

Typical of Christians who don't really dig too deep into stuff. I hate to say that because I know lots of diligent, seeking Christians and most are trying to be good people. But the fact remains some are very superficial. Source: significant time in evangelical circles

[@mayowaoni5908]

Even when I was a kid who was raised in a religious household, I knew it was not a church song. I still liked it tho

[@mayowaoni5908]

@@AshArAis I think the band OutKast said something like that once

[@firstname405]

Some guy I knew from the church I was raised in became obsessed when Take Me To Church first came out. Learned to sing it, learned to play it on piano. Then one day I never heard him talk about it ever again. It took him moooonths to realise it was actually being critical of his cult 😂 Edit, typo

[@alessandrosummer]

You could have used this song as an example in the harmonic minor axis progression video!! Btw, I think many talked about this song also from the production and the mixing point of view. They're both at a very high level and add something really unique to the track

[@brandonbuchner1771]

Hozier is brilliant. One of the best lyric writers in modern music.

[@royalex21]

I really enjoyed this analysis, David. I gotta say, when this song first came out I wasn't too keen on it, but it's grown on me. I have noticed the meter changes but not any of the other stuff, so thank you for that.

[@Hanban14]

I love that the end of the song is another plagal cadence but it's now fully subverted with both chords being minor/fully Em cadence. - iv (Am) - i (Em)

[@roterfrosch5808]

Deine Analysen sind total super! Ich genieße die Lieder danach noch mehr, da ich dann die Besonderheiten erkenne.

[@MedorraBlue]

I love to sing, but I never really understood the technical "how" of why certain notes and chords go together. When you brought out the fact that he was jumping between C and E, or C-minor and E, it finally hit me... in those moments, he's harmonizing around the notes OF THE CHORD. Those notes aren't notes, each one is a chord that he's dancing between! That's crazy!

[@mailfergal]

I’m a total novice on music theory, but this is how to teach it. Awesome work mate, love your vids.

[@auxdity6]

Love this song and love to see Hozier get the recognition he deserves. I saw him live just last week - it was amazing. I highly recommend checking out the rest of his music if you enjoy TMTC! Most people don't realize that the rest of his discography is just as great!

[@Steveofthejungle8]

His comparison of the song to Born in the USA is spot on, and coincidentally that song is exclusively I IV

[@monkeybusiness673]

And to top it all of, the Irish twang just makes everything better! 😀

[@nixneato]

Ok this is uncanny, I've had this song in my head all day with no reason whatsoever

[@gulzadahalliyeva3381]

I love all your videos especially on song analysis!

[@goldfishkaden1539]

craziest part about this is pretty much every hozier song can be picked apart like this AND he has gotten better at writing over the years.

[@josephsavoca7907]

If someone actually added this song to a Christian music playlist, then they're not paying attention at all to the song lol 😂 I'm not a huge fan of this song, but the musical breakdown is very interesting. Great video

[@harrylane4]

Ignoring the intended meaning of a piece is basically the core of most modern Christian belief to be fair

[@adamkozakiewicz6766]

There's nothing surprising about it. People don't listen fully to the words. Songs like "Every breath you take" end up in weddings - BTW, there's an even more jarring example in Poland, "Windą do nieba". You have "Born in the USA" mentioned in the video. In Poland, "Mury" have been used countless times to glorify some revolutionary trend - when the words actually show how the revolutions kill all nuance, including their origins... And so on, and so forth. As long as the main line or two seem to send some message, a few easy-to-hear keywords scattered in the lyrics support it and the music seems to agree... the song will be used as if it had that meaning, even if it actually has the opposite.

[@firstname405]

​@@harrylane4BOOM 😂

[@zzzaphod8507]

Interesting how a couple minor changes to the chords can make a big difference!

[@GUIDESPERSPECTIVE]

Thank you for this wonderful analysis . Love your work. That was awesome.

[@PufflePie]

hozier is just so good man

[@Chaz06]

Does anybody else hear the faint overtone of a G# in the chorus, right as he sings "good God"? I've always heard it and actually liked the dissonance between the G he sings and this rogue G#. People I have asked can't hear it so half thinking I've always imagined it but it's definitely there to me!

[@jasmyncrumpler82]

Trying to play these ties, rhythm and time signature changes by music notation rather than by ear is a nightmare. Shoutout to the people transcribing this stuff.

[@dakota3713]

didn’t understand any of this but i enjoyed watching! i love this song

[@sfij1]

David I think we should look after why Scott Bradlee's PMJ makes covers for a specific songs, and how.

[@DennisUlijn]

As a drummer I would have called it 6/4 and 4/4 to make it clearer the bars are longer

[@abeycee7427]

Only a couple of other pop songs come to mind with a 3/4 time, Kiss from a Rose (Seal) and You and Me (Lifehouse). I know there are others that don't come to mind right now. Solsbury Hill (Peter Gabriel) is 7/4 or (mix of 4/4 and 3/4)

[@eliisa5788]

Mikä analyysi! David, kävit läpi niin tekstin, tahtilajien vaihtumisen kuin "Aamen-kadenssin" merkityksen kokonaisuuden ymmärtämisen kannalta. Arvostan tällaisia analyyseja. Lisäksi nuotituksen ja soinnutuksen käyttäminen selvensi koko ajan antamaasi informaatiota. Kiitos tästä.🙏

[@lambda1863]

I didnt know who hozier was before this but im glad you made a video on him cuz this song was really interesting

[@Sam-no2kb]

Do more Hozier!!!

[@rweny]

His new album is masterpiece too! Much more confident and mature in the meaning of lyrics and music.

[@Lefty7788tinkatolli]

Haha. Earlier just today, I was driving to work and this song came on on my playlist. I hadn't heard it in 2 years. I forgot it existed. I forgot how good it was. It was a great moment. This evening, you upload a video on it! 🤣

[@cram23]

this song can mean many things for many people. as a christian who grew up being told homosexuality was the worst thing you could do now being queer its been hard to find my path with god outside of the overarching 'church' and this song hits both sides of my pain.

[@andrewdevine5223]

That was fascinating, thank you!

[@haroldcampbell]

Brilliant break done. Thank you

[@ravusursi893]

I wouldn’t necessarily describe his animosity towards religion as the reason for the Cm use at the end, as opposed to C. In context, I would suggest it’s subjective. Just listening to that final phrasing, I find it quite a bleak and lonely ending. Sadness? Anger? Who knows, that’s the beauty of music! Great video David, as always. Thank you.

[@jacobkilstrom]

I always knew it was something special about this song!

[@xnikoo]

I really hope than people in the future will remember this song as a classic and will still listen to it

[@tentothepowerof10]

Can you also try to understand the song also by Hozier "Too Sweet" thanks!

[@jonahjonah1]

It seems so funny to me that anyone could think this song was celebrating Christianity… when i was first heard it as a young Christian, i thought it was heresy and everyone talked about how evil it was in my youth group, and i always thought it was a shame that it was such a banger😂. Thanks for a great video!

[@drumming_cat]

around 0:58 for the word "shouldv'e" the first two notes should both be Gs edit: the "er" of "sooner" should also be a G and at 4:34 the lyrics in the sheet music are one note to early

[@MattCooperKay]

I'm not at all into pop music, but this is undoubtedly a great song and I really enjoyed this video!

[@megs2244]

i think you just explained 3/4 and 4/4 music better than any other music essay ive watched

[@gargantuasounds]

According to the engineer - Hozier programmed the meter as "going from 4/4 to 6/8 to 8/8 to 6/8 to 4/4 and so on". Anyone big on their knowledge of time signatures, would this change the analysis presented here, or is it technically incorrect to consider it 6/8?

[@dihydrogen]

6/8 usually means two "beats" of three eighth notes as opposed to the three beats in 3/4 i interpret it as bars of 6/4 and 4/4.

[@MikeyG_f-of-x]

I would love to hear Hozier respond to this.

[@nyoaeuikhoudu]

For all the angry Christians in the comments: this song is literally about religious trauma. Please stop. - me, a former catholic.

[@Looofii]

It's actually about a toxic relationship, with the religious stuff being metaphorical. but btw, thank god you're not catholic anymore those people are usually terrible.

[@CassandraElkin]

The first time I heard this song, a good friend wanted me to hear it because he said the line "If the Heavens ever did speak She's the last true mouthpiece" reminded him of me

[@bclaus0]

Would love to see you dive into lyrics of songs you love

[@waluigithemaster6864]

I clicked on this video having no honest idea it was a critique of religion and homophobia. Makes me like the song a lot more…

[@hectorlupin9392]

do a Hozier - abstract analysis

[@austinmchale7232]

Donald Tovey said, "When is a tonic not a tonic? When it's a dominant. ie, V resolves to I, or I to IV, etc. But this idea has a corollary, ie.,"When is a tonic not a tonic? When it's a subdominant. ie. IV 'reconciles' to I, or I to V, etc. So there is a different 'grammatical' effect between these two cadential forms, which may give Hosier's song some of its peculiar effect? Slán!

[@andrewgonzalez7143]

Who else hears the intro as a bar of 4 and a bar of 2, repeating, rather than a consistent 3 over 4?

[@grandtout1953]

Why is the IV I conclusive and where is the tension ? Is it between the tonic of the IV and third of the I, between the F of the F chord and the E of the C chord ?

[@Symphonicrockfran]

The first melody reminds me of Natural Blues by Moby

[@MariUSukulele]

excellent analysis - DANKE

[@issacwentzel6620]

Listen to Amen by Otis Redding. It’s bases off the omen cadence as well.

[@emilyrln]

Omg I love this song so much!!!

[@gabrielsirkis704]

Great analysis of a great song like always

[@gui18bif]

The song from a man bullied onto buying an iph*ne and actually caved in

[@dylanthekoreanteacher]

Thanks for this amazing video :)

[@sergiorestrepo6657]

Thank you David

[@applimu7992]

What is the music at the end? I love it!

[@markdochertymusic]

Knew this was amazing and now I know why! Do Gotye Somebody that I used to know next!

[@JeffSeaIndustries]

The music over the patreon support list is awesome!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!!

[@RoyGBiv-lc8tv]

Great video as always 👍

[@ravendevino6419]

I hate that I never caught the funky time signatures. I study MUSIC DAMNIT

[@falsefriend3706]

I know a lot of people will not care about this, but does anyone know the chord progression of BrooklynBloodPop by Syko?

[@AutumnLuz]

omg the hoot I let out as soon as that iv-I hit the screen 😲🤓😂

[@amtc4ihs2005]

the minor 4 chord is used for amen in hymns in minor keys, like If Thou But Trust In God To Guide Thee and Jesus Priceless Treasure

[@diethylmalonate]

this song was how I realized I'm asexual because I've always interpreted it as dating someone in a satanic cult, with the bridge being literally the cult initiation ceremony in the woods

[@lorenzo_villa]

What is the music playing at the end of the video? Is it yours David?

[@TeckTheBlooded]

As much as I like Take Me to Church, the song I like most from Hozier is the track that was used in Dark Souls 3's release trailer, "In the Woods Somewhere".

[@piotrbukowski9566]

You forgot to note the swing in the chorus melody (dotted notes etc)

[@piotrbukowski9566]

And it's not just the harmonic minor. It's harmonic only during the B major chord. The G major chord afterwards has D instead of D# again

[@1oolabob]

I just want to mention that Hozier's vocals sound very sincere even though the lyrics are fairly ironic. I think it's his sincere vocal delivery that really makes his music compelling.

[@calmeilles]

The most remarkable thing is. _How can it possibly be ten years ago…?_

[@bobbymills08]

Great content!

[@tiktokism]

I was all set to get a new strategy, but this is… what I already do 😅 If I’m having a big struggle kind of day and I still need to get stuff done I will do timer tasks, with short, equal, alternating “work” and “rest” periods. If I feel motivated I’m allowed to put off the rest period, and if I finish the task before the end of the timer, I’m allowed to use that as extra rest time. It lets me switch tasks often so that I don’t get bored OR hyper-focused.