Andrew Hozier-Byrne, better known as Hozier, is an Irish singer-songwriter. In his song titled ‘Cherry Wine,’ he pairs a gentle instrumental arrangement with lyrics that are anything but a gentle experience. The song is told from the perspective of a man who is in both an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. Hozier opens the song, by exploring the duality of looking into his partner’s eyes—feeling both fear and comfort, pain and warmth, all from the same person.

Her eyes and words are so icy Oh, but she burns like rum on a fire Hot and fast and angry as she can be I walk my days on a wire.

Abusive relationships can be incredibly complex. Many victims find themselves caught in cycles of abuse, and when asked about their experiences, they might respond with justification or a sense of calm detachment. Hozier captures this dynamic beautifully when speaking of his relationship to his mother. 

It looks ugly, but it’s clean. Oh, Mama, don’t fuss over me.

Reflecting how victims often minimize or rationalize their experiences to maintain a sense of control or protect their loved ones from worry.

Hozier flips this narrative when he introduces the chorus 

The way she tells me I’m hers and she is mine. 

He reveals the way his partner manipulates him into believing that what they have is love. His partner becomes possessive, insisting that their dynamic works because ‘I’m hers, and she’s mine.’ This line showcases an emotional imbalance in the relationship, where possessiveness and control replace mutual respect and a genuine connection. Hozier softly sighs and whispers ‘she’s mine’ a second time, underscoring the unequal power dynamic and his internal conflict—caught between love and control.

In the chorus, Hozier expresses a heartbreaking resignation to the abuse, suggesting that he’s willing to endure it in any form. Regardless of what happens, how bad it gets, or how hard his partner might hit, he convinces himself that he’ll be fine. Reflecting the psychological toll of abuse—where love, and pain become tragically entangled. 

Open hand or closed fist, oh, would be fine. 

The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine.

Beyond their similar color, blood and cherry wine are used as motifs for the abusive relationship. Hozier presents blood as something valuable—a vital substance that powers us and represents the core of our being: the heart. 

Cherry wine, often sweet or tart, is easily consumed and intoxicating. As the song unfolds, the line between these two similes begins to blur. In moments of drunken despair, the cycle of abuse emerges, and blood and cherry wine become indistinguishable—converging into one, making it impossible to tell them apart.

Listen to Cherry Wine on Spotify and Youtube

Image Credits: Yellow 3423  on Unsplash