Check out Hozier Butchered Tongue Lyrics on Song Language Translator.
As a child it was the place names Singing at me as the first thing How the mouth must be employed In every corner of itself To say "Appalacicola" Or "Hushpukena" like "Gweebara" A promise softly sung of somewhere else And as a young man Blessed to pass so many road signs And have my foreign ear made fresh again On each unlikely sound But feel at home Hearing a music That few still understand A butchered tongue still Still singing here above the ground The ears were chopped From young men If the pitch-cap didn't kill them They are buried Without scalp In the shattered bedrock of our home You may never know your fortune Until the distance has been shown between What is lost forever And what can still be known So far from home To have a stranger call you darling And have your guarded heart Be lifted like a child up by the hand In some town that just means 'Home' to them With no translator left to sound A butchered tongue Still singing here above the ground
Discover The Meaning And Story Of The Song’s Lyrics
Verse 1: The song reflects on childhood memories associated with place names, which seem to sing out to the narrator. These names evoke a sense of nostalgia and the wonder of language. The difficulty of pronouncing unique names like “Appalacicola” and “Hushpukena” highlights the beauty and complexity of language, suggesting that these words carry with them a promise of distant places.
Verse 2: As a young man, the narrator experiences joy in encountering various road signs, each representing a new sound and a fresh perspective. This highlights the idea of adventure and discovery, while also expressing a sense of belonging to a musicality that may be fading from common understanding. The “butchered tongue” symbolizes a language or dialect that is imperfect yet still vibrant and alive.
Verse 3: The imagery shifts to the harsh realities faced by young men, alluding to violence and loss. The reference to being “buried without scalp” and “shattered bedrock” suggests a deep-rooted trauma and the sacrifices made by previous generations. It speaks to the pain of losing one’s heritage and the struggle to find value in what remains.
Chorus: The narrator reflects on feeling far from home yet finding comfort in the affection of a stranger. This connection, akin to being lifted as a child, conveys a sense of warmth and acceptance. The mention of “no translator left to sound” emphasizes the difficulty of bridging cultural gaps, yet the “butchered tongue” continues to resonate with life and meaning, reaffirming that even amidst loss, there is still a song to be sung.
Other Songs by the Singer
Are you curious about the singer’s other songs? Then click here.
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