Butchered Tongue Lyrics – Hozier

[Verse 1: Hozier]

In the opening verse, Hozier describes his childhood fascination with place names and the unique way they require the mouth to move. These place names symbolize a promise of distant and unknown lands, evoking a sense of wonder and curiosity. The act of pronouncing names like "Appalacicola" and "Hushpuckena" suggests a connection to different cultures and histories. This verse sets the stage for the song's exploration of how language connects us to places and histories beyond our immediate experience.

[Chorus: Hozier]

The chorus reflects on the experience of encountering unfamiliar sounds and road signs as a young man. Despite the foreignness of these names, there is a sense of belonging and recognition in hearing music that few understand. The "butchered tongue" symbolizes the remnants of lost languages and cultures that still resonate despite their marginalization. The imagery of a tongue still singing above the ground highlights the resilience of cultural expressions that survive against the odds.

[Verse 2: Hozier]

In the second verse, Hozier delves into the violent history of linguistic suppression, particularly referencing the punishment of young men in Ireland whose ears were cut off if the pitch cap didn't kill them. This verse underscores the brutality inflicted on people to erase their cultural and linguistic identity. The buried young men without scalps symbolize the erasure of cultural heritage. The verse also suggests that understanding one's fortune requires recognizing the distance between what is irretrievably lost and what can still be preserved and known.

[Chorus: Hozier]

The chorus repeats, emphasizing the theme of feeling far from home yet finding solace in a stranger's affection. The act of a stranger calling you "darling" and lifting your guarded heart evokes a sense of unexpected connection and belonging in a foreign place. The town that means "home" to others but remains alien to the protagonist highlights the disconnection between personal and collective experiences of home. The "butchered tongue" singing above the ground reinforces the enduring presence of marginalized voices and cultures, despite attempts to silence them.