Hozier is confused when fans get engaged during “Cherry Wine”: “This song of all things?”
A couple got engaged at a Hozier show when he played “Cherry Wine,” which confused him given the song’s dark subject matter.
Although “Cherry Wine” is sometimes misunderstood as a love song, it is actually about domestic violence – “The way she tells me I’m hers and she’s mine./An open hand or a closed fist would be fine./The blood is rare and sweet like cherry wine.” Hozier sings on the chorus.
When Hozier played the song at a gig in Madison, Wisconsin, a marriage proposal occurred. When he heard people screaming excitedly, he paused to propose before starting the song again.
“Congratulations,” he said to the couple. “Congratulations on scaring me, well done. I’m so happy for you. Is that the hand, freshly ringed?” he said as the bride-to-be showed off her new ring. “Okay… that song of all things?”
Check it out below:
Hozier reacted to the audience’s marriage proposal at Cherry Wine in Madison yesterday
“Of all the songs too” 😭 pic.twitter.com/ELcXiu40L1— Daily Hozier Pictures and Videos (@dailyhozierpics) 18 August 2024
Some of his fans didn’t find it particularly amusing either. “Cherry Wine is one of the few songs where Hozier actually speaks clearly and you can hear the lyrics and explicit references to domestic violence VERY clearly and yet you STILL misinterpret it. I’m sure some of you listen to music with your ears covered,” wrote one fan on X/Twitter.
Cherry Wine is one of the few songs where Hozier actually speaks clearly, and you can hear the lyrics and explicit mentions of domestic violence VERY clearly, and yet you are STILL misinterpreting it. I’m convinced some of you are listening with your ears plugged up https://t.co/rHthvQrxFu
– Enthusiasm 🌙 (@emorsinoda) 17 August 2024
even Hozier condemns you all for proposing to me during cherry wine
— 🇵🇸 Meg loves Murphy (@babyloverry) 17 August 2024
Gatekeeper Hozier until people stop using cherry wine as a love song
— eliza 🐰 (@icarriancarion) 17 August 2024
a couple got engaged last night at Hozier while drinking cherry wine… please give me a minute’s rest
– sayre 💙☀️🦋🍉 (@saysaymilo) 18 August 2024
I bet that’s how Hozier would have liked to respond when the couple got engaged during “Cherry Wine.” pic.twitter.com/wtec3Ecw5U
— Arizier💗 (@aricriedpower) 18 August 2024
Also this week, Hozier released the powerful new political single “Nobody’s Soldier.”
The song is taken from his new EP, “Unaired,” which was also released today. “Nobody’s Soldier” was first previewed by Hozier recently during his headlining performance at Lollapalooza 2024 and followed another new song, “July,” which he shared on social media last month.
A statement on “Nobody’s Soldier” says the film “highlights the enormously problematic aspects of the global arms trade.”
In the powerful new song we hear Hozier sing: “I don’t wanna choose between a salesman and a soldier / Just let me look a little older / Let me act a little braver / Choose between a butcher or a beggar / Honey, I don’t take orders / I won’t be nobody’s soldier.”
During his appearance at Lollapalooza 2024, he also called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip before the performance of “Nobody’s Soldier”.
