The Meaning Behind The Song: Like Real People Do by Hozier

Hozier, the Irish singer-songwriter, took the world by storm with his chart-topping hit, “Take Me to Church.” While that song spoke about the negative effects of organized religion on the individual, his lesser-known song, “Like Real People Do,” speaks about the positive effects of love on a person’s life.

Table of Contents

The Lyrics

Before delving into the meaning behind “Like Real People Do,” let’s first take a look at the lyrics of the song:

I had a thought, dear, however scary
About that night, the bugs and the dirt
Why were you digging? What did you bury
Before those hands pulled me from the earth?

I will not ask you where you came from
I will not ask and neither should you
Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips
We should just kiss like real people do

I knew that look, dear, eyes always seeking
Was there in someone that dug long ago
So I will not ask you why you were creeping
In some sad way I already know

So I will not ask you where you came from
I would not ask and neither would you
Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips
We should just kiss like real people do

I could not ask you where you came from
I could not ask and neither could you
Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips
We could just kiss like real people do

The Message

At first glance, “Like Real People Do” seems like a simple love song. But Hozier’s lyrics are more complex than that. The song tells the story of a love that transcends societal norms and expectations.

The opening lyrics, “I had a thought, dear, however scary, about that night, the bugs and the dirt,” evoke an eerie feeling. But as the song progresses, we realize that the protagonist has been “pulled from the earth” by their lover’s hands. The listener doesn’t know how the protagonist ended up in the earth, but it doesn’t matter. The song isn’t about what happened before; it is about what is happening now.

Hozier sings that he won’t ask where his lover came from, and neither should she ask him. The two characters have a connection that makes societal norms and expectations irrelevant. They simply want to be together, “kiss[ing] like real people do.”

At one point, Hozier sings, “I could not ask you where you came from, I could not ask and neither could you.” This is a reflection of how the couple’s connection is deeper than base physical attraction or curiosity. They don’t care about each other’s past, only their present and future together.

The Music

The music of “Like Real People Do” is just as important as the lyrics. The song starts with a guitar riff that sets up a mellow, intimate atmosphere. Hozier’s voice is soft and soothing, adding to the feeling of being in a private moment with the two lovers.

As the song progresses, the instrumentation builds to include drums and a banjo that give the song a folk feel. The use of the banjo is reminiscent of traditional Irish music and helps to ground the song in Hozier’s cultural heritage.

The Personal Connection

While Hozier’s lyrics can be interpreted in many ways, it is clear that the Irish singer has a personal connection to the song. In an interview with NME, Hozier revealed that he wrote the song when he was 17 or 18 years old.

“I had already written about the church and things like that, so I didn’t think I should be doing that again,” Hozier said. “But there was this little abstract idea of two people being together and the line ‘we should just kiss like real people do’ was the thing that came out of it.”

Hozier’s personal experience of falling in love is reflected in the song’s lyrics and his intimate delivery. The singer’s vulnerability and tenderness towards love are evident in “Like Real People Do.”

The Reception

“Like Real People Do” may not have achieved the same level of success as “Take Me to Church,” but it has still garnered critical acclaim. NME called the song “achingly beautiful,” and The New York Times praised Hozier’s “sharp eye for detail and vividness of description.”

Fans have also expressed their love for the song. On YouTube, one commenter wrote, “This song hit different… it’s sad, sweet, haunting, unexplainable. It’s so timeless and classic.”

The Conclusion

In conclusion, “Like Real People Do” by Hozier speaks to the power of love and connection. The song’s lyrics and instrumentation create an intimate atmosphere that speaks to the listener’s personal experiences with love.

The song’s message is that love can transcend societal norms and expectations. It can be a simple act of two people being together and sharing a kiss “like real people do.” In today’s fast-paced and often disconnected world, “Like Real People Do” is a reminder of the importance of intimacy, vulnerability, and tenderness in our relationships.

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