: In response to this shame, the narrator shifts their worship from the church to their lover, stating the "only heaven" they will ever know is found in their private intimacy.
: The video features a lynch mob hunting and beating a gay man, inspired by the state-sanctioned and gang-led persecution of LGBTQ+ people in Russia during 2013. hozier_take_me_to_church_lyric_video
Hozier ’s "Take Me to Church" is a soulful critique of organized religion’s role in shaming human sexuality. While the lyrics use a female pronoun for the narrator's lover, the music video explicitly depicts the violent persecution of a gay couple to highlight institutionalized homophobia. Together, the song and video argue that human connection and sex are a more authentic form of worship than the "poisonous" doctrines of repressive institutions. The Rejection of "Born Sick" : In response to this shame, the narrator
The official music video, shot in stark black-and-white, provides a visceral counterpoint to the metaphorical lyrics. While the lyrics use a female pronoun for
: By calling their connection a "gentle sin," the narrator reclaims the idea of innocence from those who would label their love as deviant. Visual Commentary on Persecution