Been thinking more about Hozier’s “Sunlight” (which I found on an ofmd playlist. i never seek out Hozier songs, but they find me and hold me captive)

I looked up song meanings, what other ppl had to say, and I gotta say I was a little surprised? People are like “oh this is a happy song! I wanna be loved like that!” And I’m? Idk that isn’t the vibe I get from it, at least not entirely.

I feel like he is talking about two kinds of love, the kind that warms and brightens and the kind that burns. These are both sunlight, bc sunlight can do both of these things.

There is so much contrast in these lyrics! Even just the first verse

I would shun the light, share in evening’s cool and quiet

Who would trade that hum of night?

For sunlight, sunlight, sunlight

This is talking about the harsh, glaring midday sun. Who would ever trade a cool evening for that? The night is comforting and safe. People who feel more energized in the evenings, you know what I mean.

But then you get

But whose heart would not take flight?

Betray the moon as acolyte

On first and fierce affirming sight

Of sunlight, sunlight, sunlight

If you’ve been living in darkness and cold and finally, finally there is light and warmth? Of course you would turn away from the moon and towards the sun.

Then this whole verse, which I just love, illustrates the warmth and burning of sunlight!

Each day, you’d rise with me

Know that I would gladly be

The Icarus to your certainty

Oh, my sunlight, sunlight, sunlight

Strap the wing to me

Death trap clad happily

With wax melted, I’d meet the sea

Under sunlight, sunlight, sunlight

This is just!! This is knowing that sunlight and love are destructive, going in with eyes open, accepting the eventual pain, because you love the person so much. You will allow them to lift you up and pull you along. Eventually you will crash, but you will still be under that sunlight. And it’s worth it.

Then the chorus!

Oh, your love is sunlight

Oh, your love is sunlight

But it is sunlight

Your love is “sunlight” (warmth and light, attractive and soul affirming)

But it is “sunlight” (burning and destructive pain)

I could do more verses, but I don’t want this to get too long. I just had to yell about this!! I love how he is like ‘this word has two meanings. I will make those meanings clear, but I will only use this one word, so you can feel the triumph and the tragedy and maybe understand why someone would put themself through fire just to feel warm.’