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Hozier, beloved forest man of our hearts, has released new music at last.
The Irish singer and songwriter took to social media on October 3rd to announce the lead single, “Swan Upon Leda,” for his upcoming album Unreal Unearth said to be released at some point in 2022. In contrast to most artists, the first taste of his new album was not released with an extravagant teaser but rather a somber message reflecting on the state of the world. Hozier touched on the ongoing oppression of women, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and Iranian protests.
The title “Swan Upon Leda” comes from the Greek myth where Zeus transforms himself into a swan and rapes Leda, Queen of Sparta. This violence produces two of her four children, one of whom is Helen of Troy. In the song the myth is used analogously to depict the everyday violence committed against women around the world and forced births at the hands of the patriarchy.
On social media Hozier wrote that the overturning of Roe v. Wade news reached him while finalizing “Swan Upon Leda” in his studio. In releasing it first, he had hoped this track would show solidarity to those affected. However, this topic is far from an issue that only impacts people of the United States; the singer’s own home country of Ireland’s politics provide unique and painful imagery to the song.
History of Abortion in ireland
Up until 2018, the abortion laws in Ireland were some of the strictest in the world. Upheld by the Irish Constitution’s 8th amendment, abortion was illegal at every stage of pregnancy due to the clause that entailed the right to the life of the unborn. Through this amendment, legislature was in place that made it a federal offense to perform or receive an abortion, an act punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Until 1992 it was illegal to travel outside of Ireland to obtain an abortion.
This was later overruled by the Irish Supreme Court after outrage over an injunction placed on a 14-year-old victim, prohibiting her from traveling for fear she could acquire an abortion abroad, after inquiring about pressing charges against her abuser.
The Eighth Amendment was then repealed by a majority vote in 2018, and Ireland followed suit with the U.K. guaranteeing access to abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and then if there are health risks later in term.
imagery in lyrics
“A grandmother smuggling meds
Past where the god-child soldier, Sétanta, stood dead
Our graceful turner of heads
Weaves through the checkpoints like a needle and thread”
These lyrics tell a story of a woman seeking an illegal abortion through what is called the “abortion trail” in Ireland. Sétanta, a demigod in Irish mythology, died close to the present day border of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Prior to 2018, passage from Ireland to Northern Ireland, part of the U.K., was common to obtain abortions or drugs that were often unsafe and harmful.
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade we are likely to see a large increase of people traveling from states with strict regulations to states with less restrictions, the same way the people of Ireland traveled to the U.K. and farther to access them.
support for palestine
The song also alludes to the singer’s support for a free Palestine with lyrics such as “Empire upon Jerusalem” and “Occupier upon ancient land.” Ireland recognizes Palestine’s statehood and Hozier has expressed his support for their people in the past, sharing his own experience as a person from a colonized country still suffering from the effects of imperialist conquest.
The lyrics “Occupier upon ancient land” also present a possible double meaning in combination with “Would never belong to angels / Had never belonged to men.” Referring to ancient land could also allude to the primeval existence of women’s bodies and the annexation of this territory by both men and religious pursuit.
The use of the word “upon” occurring frequently as a preposition preceding the nouns of women, land, and religious territory, again link together cruelties committed by oppressors.
final thoughts
Through hauntingly beautiful instrumentals and soaring vocals, Hozier delivers a stunning, painful ode to systems of violence across the world. The intersectionality of oppression brings together far many more people than we realize. All the way from Leda and Helen of Troy justifying mass acts of violence committed by men in the stories of the Trojan War, to present day women fighting for the right to bodily autonomy, these systems are the “world’s oldest form of occupation“.
In the United States we can learn from the history of Irish reproductive rights about what may be in store for our post-Roe future, and the effort needed to overcome this. Hozier makes it clear that these current patriarchal systems harm everyone: “One more sweet boy to be butchered by men,” and that we are all united through harm done to one of us. As humans of the same Earth, we all suffer, and hopefully soon we can all heal.
Have a listen to the masterpiece here: