Take Me to Church - wikipedia Take Me to Church `` Take Me to Church '' Single by Hozier from the album Take Me to Church EP and Hozier Released 13 September 2013 ( 2013 - 09 - 13 ) Format Digital download Recorded 2013 Genre Indie rock soul blues Length 4 : 02 Label Rubyworks Island Columbia Songwriter ( s ) Andrew Hozier - Byrne Producer ( s ) Rob Kirwan Hozier singles chronology `` Take Me to Church '' ( 2013 ) `` From Eden '' ( 2014 ) `` Take Me to Church '' ( 2014 ) `` From Eden '' ( 2014 ) Hozier chronology Take Me to Church ( 2014 ) ' Take Me to Church'2014 From Eden ( 2014 ) ' From Eden'2014 `` Take Me to Church '' is a song by Irish musician Hozier from his debut extended play ( EP ) Take Me to Church ( 2013 ) -- -- originally released as a free download in September 2013, featuring original recordings & mixes of songs `` Take Me To Church '', `` Like Real People Do '', `` Angel Of Small Death And The Codeine Scene '' and `` Cherry Wine '' -- -- as well as his later self - titled debut album ( 2014 ). The song was released as his debut single 13 September 2013. Hozier, a struggling musician at the time of its writing, wrote and recorded the song in the attic of his parents ' home in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. A mid-tempo soul song, its lyrics detail Hozier 's frustration with the Catholic Church and its stance on homosexuality. The song first caught the attention of independent label Rubyworks, where producer Rob Kirwan overdubbed the original demo with live instruments. Only two musicians feature on the track : Andrew Hozier - Byrne ( Hozier ) and drummer Fiachra Kinder. The song 's music video has contributed to its widespread popularity. The clip, directed by Brendan Canty and Conal Thomson of small production company Feel Good Lost, follows the relationship between two men and the subsequent violent homophobic backlash. Upon its YouTube release in September 2013, the video quickly began to go viral, leading to Hozier 's subsequent license with Columbia Records US and Island Records UK. In 2014, the song achieved widespread global popularity, topping the charts in 12 countries and reaching the top 10 in 21 other territories. Aided by music platforms Shazam and Spotify to become a rock radio hit in the US, the song spent 23 consecutive weeks at the top of the Hot Rock Songs chart, tied with Imagine Dragons ' `` Radioactive '' as the longest - running # 1 in its chart - history ( at the time ), later crossing over to the all - genre Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at # 2 in December 2014. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. The song has been certified five times platinum in the US. On 16 April 2016, Hozier released the original Take Me to the gig EP on special edition 12 - inch vinyl picture disc for Record Store Day UK ; this was the first time the EP was available as a physical release. Contents 1 Background 2 Lyrical interpretation 3 Commercial performance 4 Music video 5 Track listing 6 Cover versions and use in media 7 Charts 7.1 Weekly charts 7.2 Year - end charts 7.3 All - time chart 8 Certifications 9 Release history 10 References 11 External links Background In 2013, Hozier was a struggling musician, often seen in Dublin - area open mic nights. During this period, he penned `` Take Me to Church '' at his parents ' home in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, and recorded a rough demo in their attic with a programmed backing track. He wrote the song after a bad breakup. `` The vocals were recorded in my attic at 2 o'clock in the morning. So it 's a real homemade job '', he later remarked. It caught the attention of independent label Rubyworks, who paired him with producer Rob Kirwan. The song was overdubbed with live instrumentation, but the original demo vocals remained, as Kirwan found them `` powerful '' enough to remain. For the Grammys, Hozier performed the song with Annie Lennox, along with Annie 's cover of I Put A Spell On You. Lyrical interpretation `` Take Me to Church '' A 24 - second sample of `` Take Me to Church '' by Hozier, where a portion of the chorus is heard. Problems playing this file ? See media help. Lyrically, `` Take Me to Church '' is a metaphor, with the protagonist comparing his lover to religion. The song grew out of Hozier 's frustration with the Catholic Church 's teachings which, although he himself was raised in the Protestant Quaker faith, dominated the social and political outlook of the Irish state. `` Growing up, I always saw the hypocrisy of the Catholic church '', Hozier said in an interview with Rolling Stone. `` The history speaks for itself and I grew incredibly frustrated and angry. I essentially just put that into my words. '' In an interview with The Irish Times, Hozier stated, I found the experience of falling in love or being in love was a death, a death of everything. You kind of watch yourself die in a wonderful way, and you experience for the briefest moment -- if you see yourself for a moment through their eyes -- everything you believed about yourself gone. In a death - and - rebirth sense. In an interview with New York magazine, he elaborated : Sexuality, and sexual orientation -- regardless of orientation -- is just natural. An act of sex is one of the most human things. But an organization like the church, say, through its doctrine, would undermine humanity by successfully teaching shame about sexual orientation -- that it is sinful, or that it offends God. The song is about asserting yourself and reclaiming your humanity through an act of love. The song draws inspiration from atheist author Christopher Hitchens and paraphrases the poet Fulke Greville 's verse `` Created sick, commanded to be sound ''. Commercial performance I never wrote music for the mainstream. I think I was incredibly fortunate that the song crossed over and people connected with it. Spotify played a big role. It 's a discovery platform and it 's been invaluable to me over the past year. Hozier in 2015 The song rose in prominence alongside its viral music video, attracting A&R representatives from major labels in a bidding war to sign Hozier. He was signed by Justin Eshak of Columbia Records, who later opined that the song became a hit due to a shift on pop radio, spearheaded by Sam Smith : `` The music is connecting because when it gets on the air it 's such a sharp juxtaposition to the existing material on top 40 radio. '' The song first experienced chart success in his native Ireland, climbing the charts in October 2013 and eventually reached number 2 on Irish Singles Chart. In May 2014, Hozier performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman. It was sent to US modern rock radio on 24 June 2014 by Columbia Records. It eventually reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks in December 2014 and January 2015, behind Taylor Swift 's `` Blank Space '', while becoming his first top - five single there. As of July 2015, the song has sold 4,270,000 copies in the US. The track has since reached top 5 in many other countries including peaking at number 2 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The song initially attracted US attention in Nashville via an adult album alternative radio station. From there, it became the top song for the area on music identification application Shazam, which led to its appearance on a local top 40 station. `` Take Me to Church '' achieved widespread popularity in the United States between the summer and fall of 2014. Despite the song 's popularity on YouTube, the song achieved more listens on Spotify, becoming the service 's most - streamed song of 2014, achieving 87 million listens. Music video The concept for the `` Take Me to Church '' music video was the result of a collaboration between Hozier, Brendan Canty and his writing partner Emmet O'Brien. It was directed by Brendan Canty and Conal Thomson of Feel Good Lost and was released on 25 September 2013. The video, shot in grayscale on location at Inniscarra Dam in Cork, Ireland, follows a same - sex relationship in Russia and the violently homophobic backlash that ensues when the community learns of one of the men 's sexuality. The video had a budget of 500 Euros. The song went viral following its release. `` I remember someone texting me to say it was getting 10,000 views an hour '', he recalled. The song achieved 230,000 YouTube views within two weeks. Hozier stated, `` The song was always about humanity at its most natural, and how that is undermined ceaselessly by religious organizations and those who would have us believe they act in its interests. What has been seen growing in Russia is no less than nightmarish. I proposed bringing these themes into the story and Brendan liked the idea. '' Track listing Digital download -- single No. Title Length 1. `` Take Me to Church '' 4 : 01 Digital download -- EP No. Title Length 1. `` Take Me to Church '' 4 : 01 2. `` Like Real People Do '' 3 : 17 3. `` Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene '' 3 : 38 4. `` Cherry Wine '' ( Live ) 3 : 59 German CD single No. Title Length 1. `` Take Me to Church '' 4 : 01 2. `` Run '' 3 : 17 Cover versions and Use in Media Matt McAndrew performed `` Take Me to Church '' on U.S. television program The Voice season 7 as his top 12 act. His cover peaked at number 5 on the iTunes charts and at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was used in season 14 of the documentary series Intervention. The song was used in a commercial for Beats by Dre which featured LeBron James. The commercial showed James returning to his old high school in Akron, Ohio. Ellie Goulding posted a cover of `` Take Me to Church '' on her official YouTube channel. The cover was featured in the Supergirl episode `` Livewire ''. Demi Lovato performed the song live from Live Lounge. The song was used in the closing credits of the third episode of the first season of The Leftovers. India Carney performed this song on U.S. television program The Voice season 8 as her Top 12 act. Amber Galloway Gallego performed an ASL version of the song Industrial metal band Vampires Everywhere ! released a cover of the song in their 2016 album `` Ritual ( Vampires Everywhere ! album ) '', featuring Chelsea Grin vocalist Alex Koehler. Morgan James performed a cover version arranged by Scott Bradlee on the Postmodern Jukebox YouTube channel. Wé McDonald performed this song on U.S. television program The Voice season 11 as her Top 12 act. Sergei Polunin danced to the song, directed by David LaChapelle. Several artists have covered this song, including YouTube star Jasmine Thompson and Broadway actress Lena Hall. The song was used in season 10 of Supernatural, in episode 13 `` Halt and Catch Fire ''. The song was used in commercials for the 2014 television series Constantine on NBC Charts Weekly charts Chart ( 2013 -- 15 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) Canada ( Canadian Hot 100 ) Canada AC ( Billboard ) Canada CHR / Top 40 ( Billboard ) Canada Hot AC ( Billboard ) Canada Rock ( Billboard ) 13 Colombia ( National - Report Top Rock ) Czech Republic ( Rádio Top 100 ) Czech Republic ( Singles Digitál Top 100 ) Denmark ( Tracklisten ) Dominican Republic ( Monitor Latino ) Europe ( Euro Digital Songs ) Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) France ( SNEP ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) Greece Digital Songs ( Billboard ) Hungary ( Rádiós Top 40 ) 37 Hungary ( Single Top 40 ) Iceland ( Tonlist Lagalistinn ) India ( Angrezi Top 20 ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Israel ( Media Forest ) 10 Italy ( FIMI ) Lebanon ( The Official Lebanese Top 20 ) Luxembourg Digital Songs ( Billboard ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Poland ( Polish Airplay Top 100 ) Russia ( 2M ) 6 Scotland ( Official Charts Company ) Slovakia ( Rádio Top 100 ) 5 Slovakia ( Singles Digitál Top 100 ) Slovenia ( SloTop50 ) 6 Spain ( PROMUSICAE ) 8 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 12 US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) 32 US Hot Rock Songs ( Billboard ) US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) US Rock Airplay ( Billboard ) Year - end charts Chart ( 2014 ) Position Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 5 Canada ( Canadian Hot 100 ) 83 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 61 Ireland ( IRMA ) Italy ( FIMI ) 37 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 84 UK Singles Chart 66 US Hot Rock Songs ( Billboard ) 13 US Rock Airplay ( Billboard ) 15 US Adult Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) US Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) 17 Chart ( 2015 ) Position Australia ( ARIA ) Belgian Singles Chart ( Wallonia ) 8 Canada ( Canadian Hot 100 ) 7 France ( SNEP ) 7 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 30 Israel ( Media Forest ) 25 Italy ( FIMI ) 7 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Poland ( ZPAV ) 20 Slovenia ( SloTop50 ) 8 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 14 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 26 US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) 13 All - time chart Chart Position Italy ( FIMI ) 12 New Zealand ( RIANZ ) 32 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Australia ( ARIA ) 6 × Platinum 420,000 Austria ( IFPI Austria ) Gold 15,000 Belgium ( BEA ) 3 × Platinum 90,000 Canada ( Music Canada ) 8 × Platinum 640,000 Denmark ( IFPI Denmark ) 2 × Platinum 120,000 France ( SNEP ) Diamond 250,000 Germany ( BVMI ) 2 × Platinum 600,000 Italy ( FIMI ) 6 × Platinum 300,000 New Zealand ( RMNZ ) 3 × Platinum 45,000 Norway ( IFPI Norway ) 7 × Platinum 70,000 South Korea ( Gaon Chart ) 269,845 Spain ( PROMUSICAE ) Platinum 40,000 Sweden ( GLF ) 3 × Platinum 120,000 Switzerland ( IFPI Switzerland ) Platinum 30,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) 3 × Platinum 1,800,000 United States ( RIAA ) 6 × Platinum 5,000,000 Streaming Denmark ( IFPI Denmark ) Platinum 2,600,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone sales + streaming figures based on certification alone Since May 2013, RIAA certifications for digital singles include on - demand audio and / or video song streams in addition to downloads. Release history Region Date Format Label Ireland 13 September 2013 Digital download ( EP ) Rubyworks United States 16 September 2013 24 February 2014 Adult album alternative radio Columbia Ireland 20 March 2014 Digital download Rubyworks United States 24 June 2014 Modern rock radio Columbia 8 September 2014 Hot adult contemporary radio 16 September 2014 Contemporary hit radio Italy 14 November 2014 Island References Jump up ^ `` iTunes -- Music -- Hozier ''. Retrieved April 28, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Andy Greene ( January 29, 2015 ). `` Behind Hozier 's Unlikely Rise ''. Rolling Stone. New York City. ISSN 0035 - 791X. Retrieved February 8, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Rob LeDonne ( October 10, 2014 ). `` For Hozier and ' Take Me To Church, ' a Four - Year Overnight Success Story ''. The New York Observer. ISSN 1052 - 2948. Retrieved February 8, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Andrew R. Chow ( November 21, 2014 ). `` Protesting Injustice, Accepting Fame ''. The New York Times. ISSN 1052 - 2948. 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Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Take Me to Church in the `` Search BPI Awards '' field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Hozier -- Take Me To Church ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 18 January 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. Jump up ^ `` Certificeringer -- Hozier -- Take Me To Church ''. IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 27 November 2014. Jump up ^ `` RIAA Adds Digital Streams To Historic Gold & Platinum Awards ''. Recording Industry Association of America. May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Take Me to Church ( Digital Download -- Ruby Works # RWXCD 109D ) -- Hozier ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 26 February 2015. Jump up ^ `` Hot / Modern / AC Future Releases ''. All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 24 August 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top 40 / M Future Releases ''. All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014. Jump up ^ Mompellio, Gabriel. `` Hozier -- Take Me To Church ( Island Records ) '' ( in Italian ). Radio Airplay SRL. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015. External links Official video on YouTube Hozier Discography Studio albums Hozier ( 2014 ) Extended plays Take Me to Church ( 2013 ) From Eden ( 2014 ) Nina Cried Power ( 2018 ) Singles `` Take Me to Church '' `` From Eden '' `` Sedated '' `` Work Song '' `` Someone New '' Related articles Rubyworks Records Island Records Columbia Records Ivor Novello Awards -- Best Song Musically and Lyrically 1960s `` She 's Leaving Home '' ( 1968 ) 1970s `` Where Do You Go To ( My Lovely ) ? '' ( 1970 ) `` Something '' ( 1971 ) `` Do n't Let It Die '' ( 1972 ) `` Without You '' ( 1973 ) `` Daniel '' ( 1974 ) `` Streets of London '' * ( 1975 ) `` Do n't Cry for Me Argentina '' ( 1978 ) `` Baker Street '' ( 1979 ) 1980s `` The Logical Song '' ( 1980 ) `` Woman in Love '' ( 1981 ) `` Memory '' ( 1982 ) `` Have You Ever Been in Love '' ( 1983 ) `` Every Breath You Take '' ( 1984 ) `` Against All Odds '' ( 1985 ) `` Nikita '' ( 1986 ) `` Do n't Give Up '' ( 1987 ) `` Something Inside So Strong '' ( 1988 ) `` They Dance Alone '' ( 1989 ) 1990s `` The Living Years '' ( 1990 ) `` Sacrifice '' ( 1991 ) `` The Whole of the Moon '' ( 1992 ) `` Why '' ( 1993 ) `` If I Ever Lose My Faith in You '' ( 1994 ) `` Think Twice '' ( 1995 ) `` Common People '' ( 1996 ) `` Too Much Love Will Kill You '' ( 1997 ) `` Paranoid Android '' ( 1998 ) `` Believe '' ( 1999 ) 2000s `` Strong '' ( 2000 ) `` Babylon '' ( 2001 ) `` Walk On '' ( 2002 ) `` The Other Side '' ( 2003 ) `` Leave Right Now '' ( 2004 ) `` Dry Your Eyes '' ( 2005 ) `` Suddenly I See '' ( 2006 ) `` Elusive '' ( 2007 ) `` Love Is a Losing Game '' ( 2008 ) `` One Day Like This '' ( 2009 ) 2010s `` The Fear '' ( 2010 ) `` Becoming a Jackal '' ( 2011 ) `` The A Team '' ( 2012 ) `` Next to Me '' ( 2013 ) `` Strong '' ( 2014 ) `` Take Me to Church '' ( 2015 ) `` Was n't Expecting That '' ( 2016 ) `` Black Man in a White World '' ( 2017 ) `` Magnificent ( She Says ) '' ( 2018 ) * Awarded as The Best Song Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Take_Me_to_Church&oldid=862972351 '' Categories : 2013 singles 2013 songs Black - and - white music videos Billboard Rock Songs number - one singles Soul ballads Hozier ( musician ) songs Number - one singles in Austria Ultratop 50 Singles ( Flanders ) number - one singles Number - one singles in Greece Number - one singles in Hungary Number - one singles in Italy Number - one singles in Poland Number - one singles in Sweden Number - one singles in Switzerland 2010s ballads Billboard Adult Top 40 number - one singles Debut singles Viral videos LGBT - related songs Songs involved in plagiarism controversies Songs critical of religion Hidden categories : CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) CS1 maint : Archived copy as title CS1 Russian - language sources ( ru ) CS1 German - language sources ( de ) CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) CS1 Polish - language sources ( pl ) CS1 Danish - language sources ( da ) CS1 Norwegian - language sources ( no ) CS1 Swedish - language sources ( sv ) Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2017 Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Wallonia Singlechart usages for Canada Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardcanadaac Singlechart usages for Billboardcanadachrtop40 Singlechart usages for Billboardcanadahotac Singlechart usages for Billboardcanadarock Singlechart usages for Czech Republic Singlechart called without artist Singlechart usages for Czechdigital Singlechart usages for Denmark Singlechart usages for Billboardeurodigital Singlechart usages for Finland Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Hungary Singlechart usages for Hungarytop10 Singlechart usages for Ireland Singlechart usages for Israelairplay Singlechart usages for Italy Singlechart usages for Luxembourgdigitalsongs Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Poland Singlechart usages for Scotland Singlechart usages for Slovakia Singlechart usages for Slovakdigital Singlechart usages for Spain Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardadultpopsongs Singlechart usages for Billboarddanceclubplay Singlechart usages for Billboardrocksongs Singlechart usages for Billboardpopsongs Singlechart usages for Billboardrockairplay Certification Table Entry usages for Australia Certification Table Entry usages for Austria Certification Table Entry usages for Belgium Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for Denmark Certification Table Entry usages for France Certification Table Entry usages for Germany Certification Table Entry usages for Italy Certification Table Entry usages for New Zealand Certification Table Entry usages for Norway Certification Table Entry usages for unsupported region Certification Table Entry usages for Spain Certification Table Entry usages for Sweden Certification Table Entry usages for Switzerland Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca Català Deutsch Ελληνικά Español فارسی Français Հայերեն Italiano עברית Nederlands Polski Русский Svenska Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 9 more Edit links This page was last edited on 7 October 2018, at 22 : 16 ( UTC ). 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Question: what does the take me to church music video mean
Answer: the relationship between two men and the subsequent violent homophobic backlash