Would That I

"Would That I" is a poetic and complex exploration of love's transformative and often destructive power. Hozier uses an extended metaphor to contrast past loves with a current, all-consuming passion. Past relationships are depicted as 'wood' or 'trees'—providing shelter, comfort, and stability, like a willow tree's branches. However, these loves were ultimately finite and ended in pain, like a tree being cut down.

The current love is represented as 'fire'. This fire is intense, passionate, and overwhelming, described as a 'blinding light' that sets the narrator 'alight'. It has the power to destroy the 'wood' of his past, burning away old memories and affections. There's an acknowledgment of the danger and destructive potential of this fiery love, yet the narrator is utterly captivated by it, stating, 'Though I've handled the wood, I still worship the flame'. This suggests a willing surrender to a passion that is more volatile but feels more alive than the stability of the past.

The song's title is a pun that encapsulates its central theme. Hozier explained that 'Would that I' is an archaic phrase for 'I wish'. The final line, 'All the "would" that I'd loved is long ago', plays on 'wood', signifying that both his past lovers (wood) and his past wishes/longings (would that I) have been rendered irrelevant by this new, powerful love. It is a song about moving on, about the way a profound new connection can eclipse everything that came before, for better or worse.

The narrator begins by reflecting on a past love, painting a gentle and beautiful picture. He remembers his former lover’s hair as being like the branches of a willow tree, dancing in the air before covering him. This love was a shelter, a dappled canopy of comfort described with soft fabrics like cotton and calicoes. However, this idyllic memory is tinged with sadness. The end of this relationship was a source of great sorrow, a 'weeping' for him. He acknowledges the painful inevitability of its conclusion, comparing it to a tree that must know the sound of the saw before it is felled. There was a sense that this ending, though painful, was necessary, perhaps to fight a metaphorical cold. But he states that this was all in the past.

The chorus introduces a dramatic shift in tone and imagery, contrasting the gentle past with a fiery, intense present. This current love is not like the ones before. In this new relationship, he is 'set alight' and feels overwhelmed by his lover's 'blinding light'. The experience is powerful and all-consuming, a 'fire bright' that he wants to let 'blaze alright'. Amidst this intensity, there's a plea or a hopeful acknowledgment: 'but you're good to me'. This phrase suggests a vulnerability and a hope that this powerful connection will also be a kind one.

He delves deeper into the metaphor of this new, fiery love. The passion makes his heart rise, and he sees beauty in what could be destructive, comparing the 'ashes of ash' to something as 'soft and as pure as snow'. He recalls falling in love with this fire long ago. With every past love he let go of, he was changed. He watched as the 'still-living roots' of his past affections were consumed by this new flame. His focus was entirely on this new lover, who is described with a 'hand of gold', laying waste to all his previous loves.

In the final verse, the narrator stands in awe. Even though he has 'handled the wood'—referring to his experiences with past, more stable or tangible loves—he finds himself worshipping 'the flame'. This new, passionate love is what he is drawn to now. He concludes with a clever play on words, stating that as long as the 'amber of ember glows', all the '"would" that I'd loved is long ago'. This line serves a dual purpose: it signifies that all the 'wood' of his past relationships is gone, burned away by the new fire. It also means that all the things he used to wish for ('would that I…') are also in the past. This new love is so consuming and fulfilling that it has eclipsed all his former desires and relationships. The song ends by reiterating the overwhelming, fiery passion of the present moment.

"Would That I" is a track from Hozier's second studio album, Wasteland, Baby!, which was released on March 1, 2019. The album was Hozier's first full-length project since his debut album in 2014. Hozier wrote all the tracks on the album himself, with one exception. For "Would That I", he is credited as the sole writer, with production handled by Hozier himself and Markus Dravs. In an interview with Apple Music, Hozier explained the central concept: 'It's about somebody characterising all of their past romances, people that they cared for, as trees they took shelter under, and describing a would-be jealous lover as fire that ultimately burns that wood'. He also highlighted the 'weirdly elaborate pun' in the title, connecting the phrase 'would that I' (meaning 'I wish') with 'wood that I've loved'. The album was over a year in the making and was recorded in various locations. The album cover art, a distinctive oil painting of Hozier submerged in a dilapidated room underwater, was created by his mother, Raine Hozier-Byrne.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Would That I" are meticulously crafted to enhance its emotional arc.

Rhyme Scheme: The song does not follow a strict, consistent rhyme scheme throughout but uses rhyme effectively within its sections. For instance, in the first verse, you see near rhymes and assonance (tree/me, ago/cold). The chorus employs a more straightforward rhyme pattern, with 'alight', 'light', 'tonight', 'tight', and 'bright' creating a cohesive and impactful hook.

Rhythm and Meter: The song is written in a 12/8 time signature, which gives it a lilting, triple-feel rhythm. This compound meter is often found in ballads and waltzes, contributing to the song's romantic and soulful atmosphere, as opposed to the straight, duple feel of most pop and rock music.

A key rhythmic device is the use of harmonic rhythm—the rate at which the chords change. In the verses, the harmonic rhythm is slow, with chords held for long durations, creating a spacious and contemplative feeling. This pace allows the listener to absorb the poetic imagery of the lyrics. In the chorus, the harmonic rhythm accelerates dramatically. The chords change much more frequently, almost four times as fast, which generates a sense of urgency, tension, and heightened emotion. This increase in rhythmic intensity, combined with the soaring melody and powerful vocals, musically embodies the feeling of being 'set alight' by a passionate love.

Hozier employs a rich array of literary and musical techniques in "Would That I".

• Literary Techniques:
  • Extended Metaphor: The entire song is structured around the central metaphor of past loves as 'wood' and present love as 'fire'.
  • Imagery: The lyrics are rich with sensory and natural imagery, such as 'willow dancing on air', 'canopy dapple', and 'amber of ember glows', which create a vivid, poetic atmosphere.
  • Simile: The song opens with a direct comparison: 'I saw her hair like the branch of a tree'.
  • Pun: A key element is the pun on 'wood' and 'would', which Hozier himself has pointed out, adding a layer of lyrical cleverness.
  • Juxtaposition: The gentle, melancholic verses about past loves are sharply contrasted with the intense, fiery chorus about the present, highlighting the dramatic shift in the narrator's emotional state.
• Musical Techniques:
  • Harmonic Rhythm: The song uses changes in harmonic rhythm to build tension. The verses feature a slow harmonic rhythm, with chords changing infrequently, creating a calm, reflective mood. The chorus, in contrast, has a fast harmonic rhythm, with chords changing much more rapidly, which creates a sense of urgency and intensity that matches the lyrics.
  • Time Signature: The song is in a 12/8 time signature. This compound meter, based on triplets, gives the song a flowing, romantic, and somewhat ethereal feel, distinguishing it from the more common and 'dancy' 4/4 time.
  • Instrumentation and Arrangement: The arrangement builds from a softer verse to a more powerful chorus. The addition of layered vocals and more forceful instrumentation in the chorus amplifies the lyrical themes of being 'set alight'. The use of added-note chords (like add6 and add9) on the guitar contributes to a softer, more ethereal feel in the melodic riffs.
  • Vocal Delivery: Hozier's vocal performance shifts dramatically between the verses and chorus. He sings the verses in a softer, more contemplative tone and moves to a higher, more powerful and soaring delivery in the chorus, emphasizing the emotional escalation.

"Would That I" is a standout track from Hozier's second album, Wasteland, Baby!, which achieved significant commercial success. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, marking Hozier's first chart-topping album in the United States. It also topped the charts in his native Ireland. While not released as a single, "Would That I" quickly became a fan favorite, celebrated for its poetic depth and intricate metaphors, which are hallmarks of Hozier's work.

The song is frequently analyzed and praised by fans and critics for its lyrical craftsmanship, particularly the central fire and wood metaphor and the clever pun in its title. Online communities and platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit feature numerous discussions, explanations, and reaction videos dedicated to dissecting the song's meaning. Its complex emotional landscape and rich imagery resonate deeply with listeners, solidifying its place as a quintessential Hozier track that showcases his unique ability to blend literary themes with soulful music. The song's atmospheric and dynamic structure also makes it a powerful piece in his live performances.

"Would That I" is built upon a central extended metaphor of fire and wood, which Hozier uses to explore the dynamics of past and present love.

• Wood and Trees: Past lovers and relationships are consistently symbolized by trees and wood. The song opens with a lover's hair being 'like the branch of a tree / Willow dancing on air before covering me'. Trees represent shelter, stability, comfort, and the organic nature of these past loves. However, they are also vulnerable; the 'sound of the saw' signifies the painful and decisive end of these relationships. 'Handling the wood' suggests experience with these more solid, predictable forms of love.
• Fire and Light: The new, current love is a powerful, consuming 'fire'. This fire is described with intense imagery like 'blinding light' and being 'set alight'. Fire symbolizes overwhelming passion, destruction, and transformation. It burns away the 'wood' of the past, representing a complete and radical shift in the narrator's emotional landscape. The fire is both beautiful ('ashes of ash... pure as snow') and potentially destructive, a force the narrator worships despite having known the safety of wood.
• The Pun ('Would' vs. 'Wood'): The song's title and its final line create a significant pun. 'Would that I' is an archaic expression of wishing. The line 'All the "would" that I'd loved is long ago' cleverly means that both the 'wood' (past lovers) and the 'would' (past wishes and desires) are rendered obsolete by the current fiery passion.

Several key phrases and motifs recur throughout "Would That I," reinforcing its central themes and emotional narrative.

• Fire/Light Motif: The most dominant recurring motif is that of fire and light. Phrases like 'set alight,' 'blinding light,' and 'fire bright' appear in every chorus. This motif consistently represents the new, all-consuming, and passionate love. Its repetition drills home the intensity and overwhelming nature of this relationship, contrasting it with the 'dapple[d]' light of the past.
• 'But that's not tonight' / 'It's not tonight': This recurring phrase acts as a pivotal transition between the past described in the verses and the present experience of the chorus. It serves to firmly ground the song's central conflict, emphasizing that while the narrator has a history of gentler, perhaps sadder loves, the fiery passion is what defines his current reality.
• 'But you're good to me': This line, repeated at the end of each chorus, is a crucial emotional anchor. Amidst the potentially destructive and overwhelming imagery of fire and blinding light, this phrase introduces a sense of hope, vulnerability, and reassurance. It suggests the narrator's awareness of the intensity and his hope that this powerful force will be a positive one.
• Wood/Trees Motif: While not a repeated phrase, the imagery of 'wood' and 'trees' serves as a constant metaphorical touchstone for past loves, appearing in each verse to set up the central contrast with the fire.