In my last ‘Letter’, I examined light and dark literary themes in the stained-glass windows created by the Irish artist Harry Clarke. In this ‘Letter’, I focus on another Irish artist Hozier, who uses light and dark (often literary) themes in song. His recent hit ‘Too Sweet’ is a wonderful play on such contrasts.
Detailing a relationship of opposites, the singer takes the part of the hard drinking night owl, while his lover is a pure living early bird.
As ever, I admire the poetry and lyricism of Hozier’s lyrics: waking up ‘dark as a lake’ and smelling like a ‘bonfire’ is wonderful, evocative songwriting.
Here, the dark power of his unforgettable 2013 song ‘Take Me to Church’ is tempered by humour, showing that he can write equally memorably in a lighter register.
Simply, a great song!
