Cherry Wine
Hozier · Hozier [Deluxe Version] [2014]
Her eyes and words are so icy
Oh but she burns
Like rum on the fire
Hot and fast and angry
As she can be
I walk my days on a wire
It looks ugly, but it's clean
Oh mamma, don't fuss over me
[Chorus:]
The way she tells me I'm hers and she is mine
Open hand or closed fist would be fine
The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine
Calls of guilty thrown at me
All while she stains
The sheets of some other
Thrown at me so powerfully
Just like she throws with the arm of her brother
But I want it, it's a crime
That she's not around most of the time
[Chorus:]
Way she shows me I'm hers and she is mine
Open hand or closed fist would be fine
The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine
Her fight and fury is fiery
Oh but she loves
Like sleep to the freezing
Sweet and right and merciful
I'm all but washed
In the tide of her breathing
And it's worth it, it's divine
I have this some of the time
[Chorus:]
Way she shows me I'm hers and she is mine
Open hand or closed fist would be fine
The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine
Oh but she burns
Like rum on the fire
Hot and fast and angry
As she can be
I walk my days on a wire
It looks ugly, but it's clean
Oh mamma, don't fuss over me
[Chorus:]
The way she tells me I'm hers and she is mine
Open hand or closed fist would be fine
The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine
Calls of guilty thrown at me
All while she stains
The sheets of some other
Thrown at me so powerfully
Just like she throws with the arm of her brother
But I want it, it's a crime
That she's not around most of the time
[Chorus:]
Way she shows me I'm hers and she is mine
Open hand or closed fist would be fine
The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine
Her fight and fury is fiery
Oh but she loves
Like sleep to the freezing
Sweet and right and merciful
I'm all but washed
In the tide of her breathing
And it's worth it, it's divine
I have this some of the time
[Chorus:]
Way she shows me I'm hers and she is mine
Open hand or closed fist would be fine
The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine
Cherry Wine
Hozier's "Cherry Wine" serves as a haunting centerpiece on his 2014 debut album, blending soulful vocals with a brooding, gospel-tinged rhythm. The track explores themes of spiritual longing and the bittersweet nature of love, utilizing a minimalist production style that emphasizes Hozier's distinctive baritone voice. As a defining work of his early discography, the song captures the raw, poetic intensity characteristic of his debut era, resonating with listeners seeking a blend of folk authenticity and modern R&B sensibilities. Its enduring appeal lies in its atmospheric depth and the way it frames romantic devotion within a broader spiritual context.