By Kate Norrish
Staff Writer
Dante’s “Divine Comedy” is one of my favorite books, and while I found Hozier’s hit album “Unreal Earth,” to be a gorgeous representation of the emotions found in each circle of Hell in “The Inferno,” there was one aspect of the book that I was sad to see the album, along with most adaptations of the story, leave out - the relationship between main characters Dante and Virgil. “Hymn to Virgil,” rectified that problem so well that it knocked my socks off. Featuring choral backup singers and electronic drum sounds, this song takes the perspective of Dante, where he explains that, despite being told his journey through the afterlife was for his own self improvement, he feels that the real benefit was giving Virgil comfort after all his years in Hell. While Hozier is best known for his love songs, I feel that “Hymn to Virgil,” works whether or not you interpret Dante and Virgil’s relationship as having queer undertones. Either way, the lines “I do not do this for myself / I’d walk through Hell on living feet for you,” beautifully demonstrate the deep sense of empathy that Dante loses throughout “The Inferno” - and then regains in the rest of the poem. In a way, however, I can see why Hozier said in an interview with Rolling Stone, “I didn’t think it was worth releasing,” as the lyrics are quite simple compared to the flowery metaphors seen in songs such as “Francesca,” or “Take Me to Church.” However, given that this song still makes my heart melt after the gazillionth time listening to it, I would be an idiot if I said they weren’t effective. As someone who almost exclusively listens to folk music, Hozier has always been one of the most approachable artists in the pop genre for me. Despite using modern sounds and singing styles, his Celtic influence and use of highlighting the importance of simple human experiences with intentful words and powerful instrumentals has always made his work sound different and special. His signature style of belting the lyrics - in a way that can only be seen as portraying deep intent - is at its most obvious. It’s as though Dante is downright begging Virgil to understand his perspective. A different artist could have easily made the mistake of mischaracterizing the nervous and obedient Dante by giving him a display of agency of this degree. But this song, instead of showing rage or bitterness, pulls out the love that Dante develops toward Virgil throughout the book, and his sense of loss as Virgil returns to Hell at the end of “The Purgatorio,” section of the poem. I would also like to highlight the humming during the introduction of the song. It reminded me of the beginning of the choral version of another song from “Unreal Earth,” “Eat Your Young.” While it may have been unintentional, I’d like to think it was a callback, as both songs discuss the misuse of the concept of justice. I always love a good song based on a book, and this statement by Hozier, said in an interview with “Rolling Stone,” sums up why. “There’s points where Virgil picks Dante up and carries him over certain places, and puts him on the back of beasts who fly him over ravines and all of this fantastical stuff. He holds this guy when he faints and trembles and weeps. Dante the living human in this poem is, like, horrified. And then he arrives at the end of it, and Virgil says, ‘Well, I can go no further.’ And Dante, the writer, knows on some level that Virgil is not a man who deserves to be in Hell.” I couldn’t say it better myself, and now I feel the need to re-read the book with this song in mind. Rating: A Someone finally gets Dante and Virgil