Deep Dive: Swan Upon Leda

The first release from his upcoming album “Unreal, Unearth” is a song inspired by writings from Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy and was said to be released “to be a stand in solidarity” with women protesting across the earth for basic human rights. Yet again, Hozier showing support for progressive movements and for the rights of everyone to be equal. Let’s take a deep dive into the meaning behind the song.

To start, the name of the track already has a deep meaning in Greek mythology. Leda and the Swan is a story about the Greek god Zeus, in swan form, who comes down and rapes Leda. There are several slightly different versions of this tale that have been told throughout history. But, knowing how methodical Hozier is in his songwriting, the title was one that was likely carefully picked to show that the struggles women go through now are ones that they have had all through history. The song even starts by alluding to that tale:

“A husband waits outside/A crying child pushes a child into the night/She was told he would come this time/without leaving so much as a feather behind”

By saying a child is having a child, almost how people make the arguments that children shouldn’t have children, especially in the case of rape. Mentioning the feather alludes to the swan in the story.

The song continues, describing another scenario:

“A grandmother smuggling meds/Past where the god-child soldier Setanta stood dead”

In Irish myth and legend lies the story of Setanta. It is a story about a young boy who wants to join his Uncle, the Kings, army. He eventually does and one day the King and the army get invited to go and feast at a blacksmiths home. While the rest of the group goes, Setanta stays behind to finish a game he was playing. By the time he finishes and catches up to the group, they are already inside and the blacksmith has left his vicious guard dog out, and Setanta is forced to fight and kill the dog in order to survive. In return for killing the dog, he becomes the blacksmiths new “watch dog”

Setanta, while a valiant and noble knight, was still just a boy who was playing a game, but because he was he ended up having to become this tough soldier and guard. Hozier uses this line to describe this boy that this grandmother needs to get past without him finding her meds.

“Someones frightened boy waves her on/She offers a mother’s smile and soon she’s gone”

The scenario continues, this young boy, who is just as scared as the grandmother seems, lets her go and she offers him a smile before continuing on. It is almost a commentary on how just as women have to hide their meds, for whatever purpose (but within context of the song likely abortion or birth control meds), young boys are often times forced to grow up too quickly as well, with a vicious cycle continuing.

“The gun in a trembling hand/where nature makes the boundary/the pillar of myth still stands.

Again, this line seems to continue on that thought that boys are forced to grow up, are put into the army and guns get put into their hands long before they should. The myths and legends that are told, wether it be Leda and the Swan or Setanta as was shared in this song already or others, still hold some truths today.