Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” is a powerful commentary on the intersection of religion, sexuality, and societal oppression. The song gained widespread acclaim for its haunting melody and thought-provoking lyrics, which challenge the institutionalized norms and dogmas that often dictate human behavior.

The central theme of “Take Me to Church” revolves around the destructive influence of oppressive religious doctrines on individual freedom and personal identity. The song serves as a critique of organized religion’s role in perpetuating discrimination and marginalization against multiple communities.

Hozier employs vivid and evocative imagery to convey the emotional and psychological toll of religious oppression. Lines such as

My lover’s got humor, she’s the giggle at a funeral,

juxtapose love and laughter with somber imagery, highlighting the conflict between personal relationships and societal condemnation.

Throughout the song, religious symbolism is used to underscore themes of sacrifice and persecution. The repeated references to “worship” and “sacrifice” serve as metaphors for the sacrifices individuals make in order to conform to societal expectations, even at the expense of their own happiness and authenticity. The chorus sings

Take me to church, I’ll worship like a dog at shrine of your lies, I’ll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife,

illustrating the coercive nature of religious guilt imposed on individuals for their natural tendencies. “Take Me to Church” adopts a narrative structure that chronicles the journey of self-discovery and liberation. The progression from the opening lines, which depict an intense love affair, to the defiant chorus, where the protagonist rejects societal judgment and embraces their true identity, mirrors the process of emancipation from oppressive societal norms. The bridge

No masters or kings when the ritual begins, There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin,

is a passionate declaration of self-discovery. The lyrics push for liberation from institutional authority and instead guide themselves through personal experiences. Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” represents an exploration of existential despair and the quest for spiritual freedom. It works to confront the oppressive forces of society and religion, portraying the struggle for individual autonomy and self-expression in the face of societal conformity. Hozier’s song externalizes a psychological breakdown through the lens of religious and societal oppression, ideals of individualism, and rebellion against societal constraints.

The poem, “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” written by Emily Dickinson, romanticizes the journey to death by writing it as a metaphorical carriage ride “toward Eternity.” John Mayer wrote a song about the journey of life to death, similar to Dickinson’s carriage, as a train ride. The song “Stop This Train” from his album Continuum, represents the complicated relationship of life, death, and growing old.

One common device, and yet the biggest difference between the two pieces is the use of a 1st person speaker’s point of view throughout the ride. Dickinson writes from a state of serenity, whereas Mayer writes from a state of existential panic.

Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly, won't someone stop this train? 

In the song, Mayer shows his fear of growing old “I’m only good at being young,” and losing the people around him. He wants to stop the “train,” he wants to live in this moment of time forever. The misunderstanding of why we live, just to die. Why do some people seem content with death? Mayer answers this question like most younger people do, through the advice of an elder.

Had a talk with my old man
Said, "Help me understand"
He said "Turn 68, oh, you'll re-negotiate"
"Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
And don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train"

The beauty of the entire poem and this song is that it shows that when your time comes, you make peace with death, and it isn’t this luminous evil figure but a peaceful part of life, that everyone must go through. It’s the unchangeable thing of life. Towards the end of the poem, by using repetition, this lesson settles in.

Never gonna stop this train
Oh, I'm never gonna stop this train
Oh, I'm never gonna stop this train
Oh, I'm never gonna stop this train

Everyone has a complicated relationship with death, no one wants to lose those around them to it, and no one ever truly wants to go themselves. What this song and poem do, is romanticize life as a journey with the same destination, that none of us can alter. Making peace with it is all we can do, allowing the journey and enjoying it, not fearing how many more stops till it's over. By romanticizing the journey of life to death, Mayer and Dickinson are able to bring comfort to themselves and the people they connect with through their verses.