We Are Missing the Point of Hozier's 'Nobody's Soldier'

With strikes of lightening illuminating the massive stage and a gentle steady rain beginning to alleviate the scorching Chicago Summer heat, I watched and listened closely as Hozier debuted 'Nobody's Soldier,' at Lollapalooza to a crowd of thousands. The low and heavy guitar immediately strikes you in the chest and the sheer power behind the song becomes clear very early on, even long before we had any comprehension of the lyrics and their multitude of meanings.

Hozier has never shied away from voicing his political beliefs. His first massive hit, the 2014 'Take Me to Church,' went up against the all-powerful Catholic Church. He has taken several minutes out of each show as of late to talk about colonization, civil rights, political violence, oppression, and particularly one prominent issue that this all very much revolves around—the ongoing genocide in Gaza. In Chicago, he dedicated a portion of the show to the topic.

"If anybody here feels moved to reach out to their representatives and asks them to support meaningfully a ceasefire in support of peace and safety and security for everybody in that region, everybody in the Middle East. And sincere peace and safety and security which would of course mean a Palestine free from occupation and a Palestine free from violence."

As an Irishman himself, he has been no stranger to violence, generational trauma, colonialism, lost history, and the general public's tendency to turn a blind eye to these sensitive topics. He does no such thing.

The music video for 'Nobody's Soldier' is perhaps the most compelling evidence for the undeniable, hard-hitting, and bloodied meaning behind the song. Although, of course, all art is subjective, it is clear to see, even within the first few moments, with the white flag waving and severed doll parts on a manufacturing line, there is a message here to be received. Between harrowing images of missiles with the word "SALE" imprinted, flashing dollar signs, a child's shoe with "COLLATARAL" engraved—we flash often back to the image of Hozier himself. He is the entertainment figure, distracting us with flashing lights, good looks, and shiny guitars.

It is clear to see that in today's world, we often witness small flashes of horror and greed but perhaps without much second thought, distract ourselves with entertainment figures who are often put there to do just that. We stare at beautiful people on a screen while our country pays to murder children on the other side of the world.

Out of sight out of mind.

But Hozier won't let us forget that easily, and he uses his platform in a way that all public figures should be doing so right now. His calls for a Free Palestine are loud yet lost on the masses.

The lyrics of the song have a profound message as well. The chorus is especially poignant as he expresses, "And I don't wanna / Choose between being a salesman or a soldier / Just let me look me look a little older / Let me step a little bolder / Choose between being a butcher or a pauper / Honey, I'm taking no orders / I'm gonna be nobody's soldier."

It is common in this modern age to either partake in the violence of capitalism or being a "salesman" or to fall into the militarized industrial complex, which preys on impoverished youth. He wants no part in either, as they both perpetuate a nonstop cycle of brutality. Just as he doesn't want to choose between being a butcher, or rather a synonym for a soldier, or a pauper—just another victim of poverty and systemic greed. His rejection of all shows us something to aspire to and demonstrate that we have more than two options in a world that locks us in a box from an early age.

It is my belief that Hozier wrote this song to call attention to the interlocking ties between capitalism, militaristic violence, brutality, colonialism, and greed, but most importantly— the ongoing and unjust Genocide in Gaza. All we have to do is open our eyes, open our hearts, and listen.

You can learn more about the Genocide happening in Gaza here and donate to various Gazan charities/families in need here.