Cherry Wine

Album: Hozier (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This raw emotional song was recorded live in the early morning on an abandoned hotel rooftop accompanied by the dawn chorus. Hozier recalled during a gig at Boston's Café 939. "It was like five in the morning and I was so tired… and it ended up on the first EP!"
  • The song was written by Hozier from the male perspective of an abuse sufferer. The violence is excused by the victim as he is apparently captivated by her raw emotionality.

    Hozier said: "With the song 'Cherry Wine,' I tried to get across the difficulty of coming to terms with and facing up to domestic violence and the dynamic of an abusive relationship."
  • The track was released as a charity single on February 12, 2016 to benefit domestic abuse charities worldwide, including Women's Aid in the UK.
  • The song's music video was shot by Irish director Dearbhla Walsh. It stars Saoirse Ronan as a woman dealing with a physically abusive relationship. The actress is known for her roles as Briony Tallis in Atonement (2007) and Eilis Lacey in Brooklyn (2015). Actor Moe Dunford (Vikings, Game Of Thrones) plays her violent partner.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.