Abstract (Psychopomp): The lyrical poeticism of Hozier
“Abstract (Psychopomp)” is a song from Hozier’s album “Unreal Unearth”. It communicates the power of memories and experiences and how they can impact your life.
The album itself is inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy” and describes the 9 circles of hell. Hozier doesn't blatantly say which circle each song represents so you have to use the lyrics to figure it out; it is almost like a riddle. However, in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph; he does say that Abstract is from the Perspective of a sphinx which is found in the 8th circle of hell or “Malebolge” of Dante's inferno, which represents Fraud and Malevolence. So the question is how is this represented in the song?
Hozier’s Style has many different influences, including blues, soul, and folk, but what is interesting is this album is a mix of genres, electro, soul, blues, etc. He has a very strong unique voice that sets him apart from other singers. His use of instrumentation is very unique as well; with emphasis on the vocals and guitar. The guitar parts are so cool and complicated and it honestly amazes me how he can do that because I try and it is so hard. His sound is also very rich and deep, you can feel it inside you. Not only does he use his voice to express his message, but the sound of the music itself, if that makes sense.
“Abstract (Psychopomp)” is written from an autobiographical point of view and is a collaboration of Hozier’s Memories which he uses to create a metaphor for love. One of the most prominent ones being the time he saw an animal get hit by a car and saw someone run into traffic to save it and bring it into the woods so it could die, another being the time he came across a dead sheep. The alternate title “Psychopomp” is a reference to that first memory. A psychopomp is a deity in many religions that guides souls to the afterlife. For example, the Grim Reaper, or as Hozier describes, the person who saved the animal.
I chose this song because of the use of imagery and the way he words his lyrics. Hozier writes his music in a very poetic way.
Verse 7, “The speed that you moved, the screech of the cars
The creature still moving, that slowed in your arms
The fear in its eyes, gone out in an instant
Your tear caught the light, the earth from a distance” (Hozier).
It puts the listener in Hozier's point of view, and how he saw the situation, as well as paints a picture of the moment. As Hozier states in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, “It is about the fragility of one person who ran into that traffic and put themselves into the position of being mashed by those cars as well. The song is just reflecting on this moment of compassion in this very cold and brutal space and how much admiration you can have for that” (Egan).
He goes on to repeat the line “See how it shines” multiple times throughout the next verse. There could be many meanings to this phrase, an earlier reference to the glistening eyes of the animal, it could be referring to the psychopomp's own soul, both innocent and glistening (Genius), or how this abstract memory shines through his past.
Verse 9 “Darling, there's a part of me, I'm afraid will always be,
Trapped within an abstract from a moment of my life
The weeds up through the concrete
The traffic picking up speed
All my love and terror balanced there between those eyes” (Hozier).
I believe it is about how even though his lover is no longer a part of his life, they’re still present in his mind and memories. Alternately, Hozier is referencing the part of him that finds beauty and pain in the every day – the part that feels too deeply. It has existed since he was a kid, as referenced by the deer in the street, and continues to exist in “the weeds up through the concrete” (Genius).
The mood of this song and most of Hozier's music is very somber, but not in a bad way. In kind of a, yeah life is hard but we’re only human, we all experience these things and it'll get better, kind of way. It starts out very soft and slow but then builds up to the chorus. Each song has so much emotion, and has very deep messages, usually about the pain of love or the current social status of the world. In his music he takes these instances and turns them into a story, using Ethos, Pathos, and logos. He uses his social status to address and bring attention to modern problems, ex. “Take Me to Church” addresses the corrupt status of the church and how they've turned religion into a form of control within unjust authorities. He makes his music relatable, writing about problems we all face, love, death, depression, and anxiety, destigmatizing them, and showing how even though we may feel alone, it happens to everyone. Lastly, he makes logical connections between his music and these social/political dilemmas, making valid arguments that could turn an opposing point of view, and presenting new perspectives to these problems, which encourages the listener to view it differently.
The artist himself is very active when it comes to social activism, he isn't afraid of speaking his mind about these problems, very rarely receiving backlash. He uses his large social media presence to spread awareness about issues such as human rights, equality, and climate change as well as a place to fundraise, support, and inform.
The first song I ever heard was Hozier's “Take me to Church”, and I fell in love with him. I felt very connected with the message of the song. Not only is it about the church, but love, and being accepted. It describes the struggles of having to hide yourself because of who you love. And it really resonated with me at the time. It's also just a really good song in general, with a strong melody and captivating vocals. Another thing that got me hooked was his use of guitar, he uses very intricate tabs which are so hard but are so beautiful. I have found that a lot of his songs have the same kind of sound when it comes to the guitar, fast paced fingerpicking with a strong consistent basenote on the downbeat.
With his new album “Unreal Unearth”, it has gotten me through some pretty tough times, heartbreak, depression, loneliness. Well, it could have made it worse actually because his music is kind of sad but it made me cry which was nice. But now it is really hard to listen to that album because it brings back all of the memories. He is such a sweet person too, and has a very welcoming aura. Everything about him screams ethereal.
Personally, my favorite line from this song is “The memory hurts, but does me no harm” We all have our bad memories, I know I do. This lyric identifies that we all struggle, we all have bad memories, but in the end those are just memories. Sure the pain lives on, it is just a memory, “echoes of the past”, they can't hurt you.
In conclusion, Hozier is not only a lyrical mastermind, but a storyteller, whose music goes beyond sound, he puts so much thought and meaning into his work, and weaves together a song that could pretty much be considered art. He stands not only as a musician but as a beacon for those who are struggling, with the empathy and activism that can be found in his music.
Works Cited.
Egan, B. (2023, August 13). Hozier: I am on a road that Sinéad O’Connor paved at a great cost to herself. BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/hozier-i-am-on-a-road-that-sinead-oconnor-paved-at-a-great-cost-to-herself/a1743527376.html46.
Genius. (2023, August 18). Hozier – Abstract (psychopomp). Genius. https://genius.com/Hozier-abstract-psychopomp-lyrics
Hozier. “Abstract (Psychopomp)”. Unreal Unearth. Rubyworks, Spotify. 2023https://open.spotify.com/track/5XNOw5EcLiqeqx8KDQY5Q6?si=e575ebb4a0eb4d