Songfacts®:

• "De Selby (Part 2)" is the third single and sequel to the opening track on Hozier's third studio album, Unreal Unearth. Penned during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hozier found solace in Dante Alighieri's epic work, Inferno. He drew inspiration from the 14th century poem's nine circles of Hell to shape the album.
  
  In a letter to his fans, Hozier stated that "De Selby Parts 1 and 2" are the prequels before "the descent into the circles that follow."
• The track draws inspiration from Irish writer Flann O'Brien's novel The Third Policeman, whose narrator is devoted to the philosopher and scientist De Selby. De Selby's theories are often absurd and nonsensical, but they also offer a unique perspective on the world. Among his more eccentric ideas is that the Earth is shaped like a sausage.
  
  But "De Selby (Part 2)" delves deeper than just quirky concepts. Hozier's lyrics explore darkness in the context of connection – with himself, his love interest, and the very fabric of time and space.
  
  "This song reflects on darkness and night falling," said Hozier. "It aligned with the thinking of the character of De Selby. When you can't see where your hands and the darkness end, they literally become one and the same. Part 2 is something of a descent. We are lost together in this moment with no beginning and no end. The track explores this theme over a disco track."
• Hozier composed the song with Bekon, Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman, Rappy, Daniel Kreiger and Peter Gonzales.
  
  Bekon, Rappy and Krieger worked on Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers album. All three contributed to the tracks "Auntie Diaries" and "Mirror."
• Bekon arranged the strings, Krieger played the guitar and bass, Gonzales played the synthesizer, and Gitelman played the electric guitar and synthesizer. The other musicians are:
  
  Stanley Randolph: drums
  Stuart Johnson: percussion
  Alex Ryan: bass
  Daniel Lim: cello
  Drew Alexander Forde: viola
  Haesol Lee: violin
  Andrew Kwon: violin
  Ginny Luke: violin
• Hozier debuted "De Selby Part 2" on July 16, 2023, during a live performance in Gardone Riviera, Italy at Anfiteatro del Vittoriale.
• On Unreal Unearth, Hozier embraced collaboration more than ever before. The shift towards collaboration was a response to the isolation of the pandemic. Hozier told Grammy.com that he reached the "limitations during lockdown of what solitude could offer me," which led him to seek the invigorating energy of working with others.