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Hozier – Eat Your Young Lyrics Meaning
“Eat Your Young”, written by Hozier, is a lead single from his 2023 EP of the same title, Eat Your Young. It was released on the 17th of March 2023. The meaning of the song “Eat Your Young” lyrics by Hozier is an expression of a selfish attitude, primal urges, & hunger for new experiences. Hozier conveys an aggressive and self-centered attitude toward others. Then, he sings about primal urges and a hunger for new experiences. Hozier explores the tensions and contradictions of contemporary society. He invites every reflection on the values that shape our lives and relationships.
Hozier’s EP “Eat Your Young” features the title track as its opening song. The lyrics of this track are inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy”. These lyrics reference to the 3rd Circle of Hell, which is associated with the sin of gluttony. The title of the track is a nod to Jonathan Swift’s satirical essay “A Modest Proposal”. Here, he suggests that the poor should sell their children as food for the rich as a solution to poverty. Hozier announced the release of the track, along with the EP’s artwork and track list, on his social media accounts on February 24th, 2023.
Embedded below is the Official Lyric Video of the song from YouTube. Read the rest of the article while the music plays in the background. The complete lyrics of the song “Eat Your Young” by Hozier at the end of this article.
What “Eat Your Young” Lyrics by Hozier Are About?
Hozier’s “Eat Your Young” lyrics suggest a competitive and opportunistic attitude towards life, as well as individuality, authenticity, and inclusivity. He emphasizes on the importance of seizing opportunities and achieving material success. The important goal is to be successful regardless of the cost or impact on others. However, individuality, authenticity, and inclusivity are the true markers of value. He says wealth and status are not powerful markers of success. The lyrics also critique the violence and exploitation that arise from a focus on profit and power. He highlights the need for compassion and generosity towards others. The line-by-line analysis of the meaning of the lyrics behind the song “Eat Your Young” by Hozier:
“Eat Your Young” lyrics is a commentary on the darker side of ambition and success, and the tradeoffs and compromises made by Hozier.
[Verse 1]: Desire and Eagerness for New Experiences in Metaphorical Expressions
I’m starvin’, darlin’
Verse 1 of Hozier’s “Eat Your Young” Lyrics
Let me put my lips to something
Let me wrap my teeth around the world
Start carvin’, darlin’
I wanna smell the dinner cooking
I wanna feel the edges start to burn
In the second snippet of “Eat Your Young” lyrics, Hozier conveys a sense of hunger and eagerness for new experiences. Also, he shows a willingness to take risks and pursue his desires. The use of metaphors and sensory language creates a vivid and intense image of his desires and motivations.
“I’m starvin’, darlin’,” is a metaphorical expression that means a strong desire for something. Hozier expresses a physical hunger and a hunger for something more abstract, such as success and love. “Let me put my lips to something, Let me wrap my teeth around the world,” implies that Hozier is eager to take action and experience new things. The use of the words “lips” and “teeth” suggests a desire for pleasure and satisfaction.
“Start carvin’, darlin’,” further emphasizes Hozier’s desire to take action and experience something new. The use of the word “carvin'” means a willingness to actively pursue his desires. “I wanna smell the dinner cooking, I wanna feel the edges start to burn,” is another metaphorical expression that means a strong desire for something. “smell the dinner cooking” implies anticipation and excitement, while “feel the edges start to burn” means a desire to take risks and push boundaries.
[Pre-Chorus]: Ambition, Competition, and Opportunism
Honey, I wanna race you to the table
Pre-Chorus of Hozier’s “Eat Your Young” Lyrics
If you hesitate, the gettin’ is gone
I won’t lie if there’s something to be gained
There’s money to be made, whatever’s still to come
In the pre-chorus of the lyrics of “Eat Your Young, Hozier suggests a competitive and opportunistic attitude towards life. “Honey, I wanna race you to the table” implies a sense of urgency to succeed and acquire wealth or resources.
“If you hesitate, the gettin’ is gone” reinforces the idea that opportunities must be seized quickly, or they may be lost. “I won’t lie if there’s something to be gained” suggests a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve success, even if it involves deceit.
“There’s money to be made, whatever’s still to come” implies a focus on financial gain, regardless of the cost or impact on others. It suggests a view of the world as a competitive marketplace. Here, success is measured by material wealth, rather than personal values or relationships.
These lyrics convey a sense of ambition and drive. Also, they suggest a potentially ruthless and self-serving approach to life.
[Chorus]: Greed, Exploitation, and Violence in Society
Get some
Chorus of Hozier’s “Eat Your Young” Lyrics
Pull up the ladder when the flood comes
Throw enough rope until the legs have swung
Seven new ways that you can eat your young
Come and get some
Skinning the children for a war drum
Putting food on the table selling bombs and guns
It’s quicker and easier to eat your young
The chorus of “Eat Your Young” lyrics by Hozier suggests a message about greed, exploitation, and violence in society. “get some” implies a desire for more, regardless of the consequences. The line “pull up the ladder when the flood comes” suggests a selfish attitude of not helping others in need. “Throw enough rope until the legs have swung” implies a willingness to harm others for personal gain.
The line “seven new ways that you can eat your young” is a metaphor for finding new ways to exploit and harm the vulnerable. It includes harming one’s own offspring. “Skinning the children for a war drum” and “putting food on the table selling bombs and guns” suggest the idea of profiting from war and violence. “it’s quicker and easier to eat your young” suggests that exploiting and harming others, even one’s own children, is a shortcut to gain upper hand, at the cost of moral values and empathy.
[Verse 2]: Celebration of Individuality, Authenticity, and Inclusivity
You can’t buy this fineness
Verse 2 of Hozier’s “Eat Your Young” Lyrics
Let me see the heat get to you
Let me watch the dressing start to peel
It’s a kindness, highness
Crumbs enough for everyone
Old and young are welcome to the meal
In the second verse of “Eat Your Young” lyrics, Hozier suggests a celebration of individuality and authenticity. He doesn’t talk about conformity and material wealth in this verse. “You can’t buy this fineness” implies that there are certain qualities and traits that cannot be purchased and acquired through money.
“Let me see the heat get to you/Let me watch the dressing start to peel” means a desire to witness people’s true selves. He wants to see people without their façade and pretense that social norms and expectations may create. The phrase “It’s a kindness, highness” implies that accepting and embracing people’s true selves is a compassionate act.
The final lines, “Crumbs enough for everyone/Old and young are welcome to the meal” suggest an inclusive and generous attitude towards others. It implies that there is enough to go around for everyone, regardless of age or social status. These lyrics celebrate individuality, authenticity, and inclusivity. They suggest that these are the true markers of value, rather than external markers of success such as wealth or status.
What Are the Lyrics From the Snippets of the Song “Eat Your Young” by Hozier?
These are the lyrics of Hozier’s “Eat Your Young” via Genius:
I’m starvin’, darlin’
Let me put my lips to something
Let me wrap my teeth around the world
Start carvin’, darlin’
I wanna smell the dinner cooking
I wanna feel the edges start to burnHoney, I wanna race you to the table
If you hesitate, the gettin’ is gone
I won’t lie if there’s something to be gained
There’s money to be made, whatever’s still to comeGet some
Pull up the ladder when the flood comes
Throw enough rope until the legs have swung
Seven new ways that you can eat your young
Come and get some
Skinning the children for a war drum
Putting food on the table selling bombs and guns
It’s quicker and easier to eat your youngYou can’t buy this fineness
Let me see the heat get to you
Let me watch the dressing start to peel
It’s a kindness, highness
Crumbs enough for everyone
Old and young are welcome to the mealHoney, I’m makin’ sure the table’s made
We can celebrate, the good that we’ve done
I won’t lie if there’s something still to take
There is ground to break, whatever’s still to comeGet some
Hozier’s “Eat Your Young” Lyrics
Pull up the ladder when the flood comes
Throw enough rope until the legs have swung
Seven new ways that you can eat your young
Come and get some
Skinning the children for a war drum
Putting food on the table selling bombs and guns
It’s quicker and easier to eat your young
What Is the Conclusion of Hozier’s “Eat Your Young” Lyrics Meaning?
In conclusion, the “Eat Your Young” lyrics by Hozier explores themes of ambition, competition, and the pursuit of success at any cost. The song uses metaphors of hunger and cooking to express a desire for achievement. Also, the song contains lines that suggest a willingness to harm and exploit others for personal gain. At the same time, there are hints of celebration of individuality and inclusivity. It suggests that the pursuit of success should not come at the expense of others. These lyrics paint a nuanced and thought-provoking picture of the tradeoffs and compromises involved in the pursuit of ambition and success.
The album art for the forthcoming EP [Eat Your Young] is dark, with just two feet discernible. Those feet may even be shown upside-down, with a field above (or below) them, depending on your perspective. The imagery portends something unusual, something perhaps dark or nefarious.
JACOB UITTI on “Eat Your Young” via American Songwriter
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