Who We Are

Who We Are is a profound exploration of identity, loss, and the human capacity for endurance, deeply rooted in the thematic framework of Dante's Inferno. Specifically, the song corresponds to the Fifth Circle of Hell, which houses the Wrathful. However, rather than explosive rage, Hozier focuses on the sullen, passive wrath—a simmering, internal frustration and despair at the world and oneself.

The central metaphor of "carving through the dark" speaks to the arduous, often blinding journey of life. Hozier posits that the struggle isn't just against external circumstances, but against the inherent nature of the self. The line "The hardest part is who we are" suggests that our own flaws, history, and nature are the heaviest burdens we carry.

A pivotal moment in the lyrics is the plea, "Hold me like water / Or Christ, hold me like a knife." This illustrates a desperate need for connection so intense that the narrator is willing to be held as a weapon—dangerous and capable of causing harm—just to be held at all. It blurs the line between love and destruction, acknowledging that in the dark, survival often requires becoming something sharp and hardened.

The narrative begins with a reflection on the retrospective nature of loss, suggesting that the true weight of a bond is only felt once it is gone. The protagonist describes an emotional attrition, where love and connection slip away gradually, like water through fingers, despite a desperate attempt to hold on. There is a sense of depletion, of having given everything until there is nothing left but a plea for intimacy, even if that intimacy is dangerous or painful.

As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the existential struggle of the human condition. Life is depicted as a journey through perpetual night, a labor of "carving through the dark" to make any progress. The central realization is that the most difficult obstacle to overcome is not the darkness itself, but the nature of our own identities—"who we are." This revelation is presented as a hard, unavoidable truth that sits at the core of the struggle.

The narrator then laments a shared history of wasted effort and sacrifice for an undefined goal, describing a relationship or a life path that burned out while chasing illusions. This "phantom life" eventually comes into focus, but the clarity brings pain rather than comfort, sharpening "like a knife." The song concludes by reiterating the cyclical nature of this struggle: the endless pushing through the dark and the confronting reality of the self.

Who We Are was released on August 18, 2023, as part of Hozier's third studio album, Unreal Unearth. The album was written largely during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period of global isolation that heavily influenced its themes. Hozier (Andrew Hozier-Byrne) co-wrote the track with a team of collaborators including Daniel Tannenbaum (Bekon), Daniel Krieger, Peter Gonzales, Sergiu Gherman, and Stuart Johnson.

The song's creation was guided by the album's concept, which mirrors the structure of Dante Alighieri's Inferno. Hozier used the nine circles of hell as a device to explore the pandemic experience and the journey through personal darkness. "Who We Are" was specifically crafted to represent the circle of Wrath. In interviews, Hozier has noted that the song reflects the frustration of "chasing someone else's dream" and the burnout that follows, capturing the collective exhaustion felt during the lockdown years.

The song utilizes a mix of perfect and slant rhymes to create a sense of cohesion that feels slightly jagged, fitting the theme. For instance, the chorus relies on the strong monorhyme connection of "dark," "far," and "are," which anchors the listener in the central existential realization.

Rhythmically, the track follows a slow, deliberate meter (likely 4/4) that feels like a heavy trudge—mimicking the act of "carving" through resistance. The phrasing often extends past the expected bar lines, with Hozier dragging out notes to emphasize the exhaustion and the "weight" mentioned in the lyrics. The juxtaposition of the steady, plodding rhythm against the soaring vocal melody creates a tension that resolves only in the cathartic release of the chorus.

Musically, Who We Are employs a dramatic, cinematic build that mirrors the emotional trajectory of the lyrics. It begins with a somber, solitary piano melody, establishing a tone of isolation. As the song progresses, the arrangement expands with swelling percussion, synthesizers, and layered vocals, creating a sonic representation of the "simmering wrath" reaching a boiling point.

Hozier's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element; he utilizes a strained, emotive belt in the chorus to convey desperation, contrasting with the softer, almost defeated tone of the verses. This technique effectively captures the duality of the "sullen" (internal) and "active" (external) wrath found in the Dantean source material. The production, helmed by Bekon and Chakra, uses atmospheric distortion to give the track a gritty, earthen texture.

Upon the release of Unreal Unearth, Who We Are quickly became a fan favorite for its raw emotional power. The album itself marked a significant milestone, earning Hozier his first UK Number 1 album. Critics and fans alike praised the song for its sophisticated integration of literary references (Dante) with modern alternative rock.

Culturally, the song resonated deeply with listeners recovering from the collective trauma of the pandemic, with many identifying with the lyrics about "burning out steam" and "chasing someone else's dream." It stands as a centerpiece of the album's narrative arc, solidifying Hozier's reputation as one of the premier lyricists of his generation.

The song is rich with elemental and tactile imagery:

• Carving through the dark: This acts as the central allegory for life. It implies that existence is not a passive experience but an active, exhausting labor of tunneling through obscurity. It also parallels Dante's physical descent into the earth.
• Water vs. The Knife: Water represents something precious, life-giving, but impossible to hold onto ("slips through your fingers"). In contrast, the knife represents something solid, dangerous, and capable of inflicting pain. The shift from wanting to be held like water to a knife signifies a shift from innocence to a hardened, survivalist state.
• The Phantom Life: Describes an existence that felt unreal or unfulfilled, yet when it finally becomes clear ("sharpens"), it cuts. This suggests that the truth, while necessary, is often a painful weapon.

The phrase "Who we are" is the anchor of the song, repeated at the end of the chorus. Its repetition transforms it from a simple statement of identity into a lament/verdict. It suggests that our identity is not a prize, but a sentence or a burden.

Another motif is the concept of holding/grip. The lyrics move from water slipping through fingers (loss of grip) to asking to be held like a knife (dangerous grip). This progression underscores the theme of desperation—the need to be felt and perceived, regardless of the cost.