Day 15: No Plan – Hozier

Humanity needs a purpose. It’s what philosophers have been debating for centuries – why are we here? What is the role of Man? Is it to worship, to create, to destroy? Is it all of those things? Maybe we’re just a happy accident, so the best we can do is enjoy ourselves until the world blows up.

It’s safe to say there are several schools of thought as to why we’re here, and more disillusioned people might tell you there’s no reason we’re here. For me, that’s too much of a downer for me to swallow. But sure, if you decide to live your life that way, so be it. At one point, we came into being, and here we are, alive in the universe, and someday, the universe will die.

How will it die? I have no idea, but smarter people than me have a few. According to Dr. Katie Mack, there are 4 possibilities for the end of the Universe (most of which would probably happen billions of years from now.) So what are we to do in the meantime?

According to Hozier, do anything. There’s no plan.

Day 15: No Plan – Hozier

This song contains strong language. 

It’s about darn time Andrew Hozier-Byrne released another album after his 2014 smasher. His spooky tone and bluesy tune infected like, everyone from the start. His first album makes me think of the cold wind of winter – primal and howling, with chills of nuance. Even with such a limited discography, he’s adopted quite the following. “Take Me to Church” still sneaks onto airwaves from time to time, and you may remember I covered him last year at about the halfpoint of this series. In his 2019 release Wasteland, Baby! Hozier gets a little jazzier, with R&B, hip-hop, and bluegrass flavors.

“No Plan” is described by collaborator Booker T Jones as “a cosmic tune,” and he’s absolutely correct. The intro is a simple guitar ditty, followed by the guitar theme that will follow through the entire song behind Hozier’s vocals. That theme is probably my favorite part of the entire song, just like this song is my favorite in the entire album. I just feel like I’m walking into a highly-produced music video when I listen to this.

For starts
What a waste to say the heart could feel apart
Or feel complete, baby
Why would you make out of words a cage for your own bird?
When it sings so sweet
The screaming, heaving f–kery of the world?

This song is also “cosmic” because Hozier lays before us the school of thought that the universe has no meaning, which a lot of people prescribe to. For example, in the very first verse he starts off my chastising us for holding back. Let your bird sing, man. Say what you need to say, as other musicians might say. Hozier likes to hide thinly-veiled love songs in his more funky and cerebral tunes (ie, “In a Week,” which is two lovers who just die out on a hill together and rot there. So cute omg.) So Hozier might also be trying to coax his lover out of her shell.

Why would you offer a name to the same old tired pain?
When all things come from nothing and, honey, if nothing’s gained?

The “same old tired pain” might mean a number of things. Hozier could be referring to the trials and travails of this world that, in retrospect, seem insignificant. While it bears different names, it might be the same old “pain.” The pain of loss, grief, failure, etc. However, Hozier wonders, what’s the point if we are dust and to dust we shall return? And if there’s no point, then, well, what’s the point?

There’s no plan, there’s no race to be run
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun
There’s no plan, there’s no kingdom to come
I’ll be your man if you got love to get done

Hozier likes to poke and prod at the idea of religion (hence “Take Me to Church.”) The chorus proposes that there’s no “kingdom to come.” He also says that that “realization,” however bitter, might be somewhat freeing. So free love, baby.

Sit in and watch the sunlight fade
Honey, enjoy, it’s gettin’ late
There’s no plan, there’s no hand on the rein
As Mack explained, there will be darkness again

I love how Hozier literally name drops a scientist. That’s 2019 for you. In the midst of this chill, laid-back tune there’s a message. You’re not gonna get anything after this life, so just live, dangit. But when does living for nothing become nihilism, or even hedonism? Where do we draw the line?

Maybe we don’t, Hozier says. Because what’s the point? I mean, it’s kind of hard to argue with that. Like most Christians know, the Bible is our point of reference for talking about the afterlife, life itself, and its purpose. But it doesn’t always work to use that as a frame of reference when talking to atheists. You’ll probably be responded by a big, “so what?”

Let it hurl, let the awful song be heard
Blue bird, I know your beat, baby
But your secret is safe with me ’cause if secrets were like seeds
Keep my body from the fire, hire a gardener for my grave
Your secret is safe with me, and if secrets were like seeds
When I’m lying under marble, marvel at flowers you’ll have made

Remember how I talked about thinly-veiled love songs? Here it is again. And here’s that bird imagery again. Even if she keeps her bird inside, he’ll keep the secret of her strength.

I don’t necessarily agree with the shaky philosophy Hozier poses, but I love this tune. While it’s verbose and meaty, it’s also breezy and carefree. I could make a life metaphor here, but that’s kind of cheesy. However, I will pose more philosophy – I think that life having a purpose makes it sweeter. I’m a Christian, so having the purpose of living for Christ and being identified in Christ is a comfort and a joy to me. It also keeps me accountable for my actions. I’m not sure what side of the tracks you fall on, but evaluating your sense of purpose and placement in this world is always better than having no plan at all.