When introducing "NFWMB" at his London concert on December 12th 2018, Hozier explained: "This song is about watching the world burn and realising that the person next to you is completely unfazed by it β and may have even been the one to start the fire themselves".
NFWMB
Hozier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The end was soon
To Bethlehem it slouched
And then it must've caught a good look at you
Give your heart and soul to charity
'Cause the rest of you
The best of you
Ain't it a gentle sound, the rollin' in the graves?
Ain't it like thunder under earth, the sound it makes?
Ain't it exciting you, the rumble where you lay?
Ain't you my baby? ain't you my baby?
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing can get a look in on my baby
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
If I was born as a blackthorn tree
I'd wanna be felled by you
Held by you
Fuel the pyre of your enemies
Ain't it warming you, the world gone up in flames?
Ain't it the life you, you're lighting of the blaze?
Ain't it a waste they'd watch the throwing of the shade?
Ain't you my baby? ain't you my babe?
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing can get a look in on my baby
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing can get a look in on my baby
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing can get a look in on my baby
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
The lyrics of "NFWMB" by Hozier depict an intense love and possessiveness towards the subject of the song. The opening lines suggest that the singer was caught off guard by the person they were singing to and that they were immediately enamored. The line "To Bethlehem it slouched" is a reference to the biblical story of Jesus' birthplace, and the mention of it could suggest that the singer sees the subject of the song as divine or holy.
In the chorus, the lyrics take a darker turn as the singer declares their ownership over the subject, stating that while they may give their heart and soul to charity, the rest of their being belongs solely to the singer. The repetition of the phrase "Nothing fucks with my baby" underscores the possessive nature of the singer's love and their determination to protect their beloved at all costs.
The lyrics in the second verse continue to evoke religious imagery, with the singer saying that if they were a tree, they would want to be "felled by you / Held by you / Fuel the pyre of your enemies." This line further emphasizes the singer's devotion to the subject, even if it means being sacrificed on their behalf. The final line of the song echos the chorus, with the singer repeating the phrase "ain't you my baby" as a reaffirmation of their possession over the subject.
Overall, "NFWMB" is a complex and intense song about love and possession. The lyrics use religious imagery to convey a sense of reverence and devotion to the subject, while also highlighting the darker aspects of possessive love.
Line by Line Meaning
When I first saw you
The moment I first saw you, I knew that our relationship would soon end.
The end was soon
Our relationship was always destined to come to a close, and it happened quickly.
To Bethlehem it slouched
Our relationship gradually lost its way until we no longer had hope for the future.
And then it must've caught a good look at you
However, when I met you, it was as if our relationship had found new hope and a reason to continue.
Give your heart and soul to charity
You should give away everything you have to someone in need, except for the best part of yourself, which is meant for me.
'Cause the rest of you
While you might belong to others in some ways, the most important part of you belongs to me.
The best of you
You possess a beautiful, unique quality that makes you mine.
Honey, belongs to me
You are my love, and I am possessive of our relationship.
Ain't it a gentle sound, the rollin' in the graves?
Isn't it lovely to listen to the sound of death, to consider the inevitability of our mortality?
Ain't it like thunder under earth, the sound it makes?
The sound of death is like a powerful reminder that our lives are fleeting and fragile.
Ain't it exciting you, the rumble where you lay?
Does it not thrill you to be reminded of the transience and beauty of your life?
Ain't you my baby? ain't you my baby?
Are you not my beloved, precious partner?
Nothing fucks with my baby
No outside force, however powerful, can harm or undermine the sanctity of our relationship.
Nothing can get a look in on my baby
Our love is so strong that it is impenetrable by external interference or scrutiny.
If I was born as a blackthorn tree
If I were a type of tree, I would want to be a blackthorn tree.
I'd wanna be felled by you
I would want you to be the one to cut me down.
Held by you
When I am felled by your hand, I will be held in your arms.
Fuel the pyre of your enemies
Use my wood to build a fire to destroy your enemies - this is the ultimate sign of loyalty and devotion.
Ain't it warming you, the world gone up in flames?
Isn't it exhilarating to watch the world burn and remake itself in the image of your desires?
Ain't it the life you, you're lighting of the blaze?
Setting the world alight is the ultimate display of your power and mastery over your own destiny.
Ain't it a waste they'd watch the throwing of the shade?
It's ridiculous that others would dare to criticize or try to interfere with your incredible display of strength and autonomy.
Nothing fucks with my baby
No one can ever harm or diminish my love for you.
Nothing can get a look in on my baby
Our bond is irreplaceable, unbreakable, and untouchable by any external force.
Nothing fucks with my baby
We are unbreakable together - nothing will come between us.
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
Our love is pure, unadulterated, and unyielding.
Nothing fucks with my baby
We are truly inseparable and undefeatable, come what may.
Nothing can get a look in on my baby
Our love is like a fortress, impenetrable by any outside force or influence.
Nothing fucks with my baby
We are invincible, unchangeable, and unbreakable.
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
Our love is eternal and will never falter or wane.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hozier-Byrne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ad-zx4iv
Oh boy brace yourselves. It's a long read. Here's what I wrote:
Itβs a calm song. Haunting even. One of Hozierβs best songs ever.
The repetition of the single note-guitar song structures the song like a chantβan ode to his lover. You can feel the admiration and love dripping from his voice. Heβs gentle and colludes the song from exactly when he saw her.
*When I first saw you
The end was soon
To Bethlehem
It slouched (and then)
Must've caught a good look at you*
I feel like this song tells a story from centuries ago. Bethlehem. The end was near, the new messiah was slouching to his glory and power. The people and the land were in chaos. Just as the messiah was aiming towards Bethlehem, the people too were slowly starting to move. An unspoken decision to move from Bethlehem. Amidst the chaos of movement and migration, he saw her. He took the long journey/voyage to his advantage. He unintentionally observed her. A secret admiration, a new feeling.
*Give your heart and soul to charity
'Cus the rest of you
The best of you
Honey, belongs to me*
He is in awe of her beauty. He approaches her, lazily, and eyes her well. He tells her of his intentions. He is in love with her beauty. The possessive demeanor here is clear. βThe best rest of you, the best of youββhe lusts for her body first because she already βbelongsβ to him to devour. His lover is equally passionate and submissive to his desires. He asks her heart and soul to be given away--to himβa heartless and soul-less beggar, and she complies. The sexual encounters fuel their love and desires grow with their journey together.
*Ain't it a gentle sound, the rolling in the graves
Ain't it like thunder under earth, the sound it makes
Ain't it exciting you, the rumble where you lay
Ain't you my baby, ain't you my babe*
The pre-choruses are my favorite parts of the song. The change from the chant-like guitar driven verses to the bass and harmony driven prechorus.
He βcorruptsβ her naivety. He influences her to think of all those bodies back in Bethlehem. Thinking of how they escaped and met in the journey to escape comforts him. He asks his lover to confirm their privilegesβthe privilege of being alive. The depth of his character is evident. Heβs possessive, lust driven, love driven and dominating, yet gentle and warm. He asks her how relief (of escaping) sounds like the thunder they hear while theyβre making love. He asks her how she rumbles with excitement when her climax is heightened. These rhetoric questionings need no answers. Sheβs agreeing with everything that he says. βAint you my babyβ is another reminder out of passion. He loves her like sheβs her own child (sounds weird but think about the degree of love he must have for her).
*Nothing f*cks with my baby
Nothing can get a look in on my baby
Nothing f*cks with my baby
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing*
As long as he lives, nothing can hurt her. Nobody gets to see her except him. Possessiveness. Nothing can fuck her up because it would have to go through him first. He worships her. He is devoted to her body.
If I was born as a blackthorn tree
I'd wanna be felled by you
Held by you
Fuel the pyre of your enemies
Notice how tenderly he sings from here. Before, he wasnβt this delicate. He sang about her beauty and how she belonged to him. But starting here, he speaks of what heβs willing to sacrifice for her. Development of character. He kneels before her wishes now.
If he were a blackthorn tree, he would want to be happily cut/killed by her if she pleased. Even after he dies, he would be the one who would burn her enemies.
(An interesting choice of word βfelledβ. Heβd, maybe, also want to be touched by her and her only.)
*Ain't it warming you, the world gone up in flames
Ain't it the life you, your lighting of the blaze
Ain't it a waste they'd watch the throwing of the shade
Ain't you my baby, ain't you my babe*
He's telling her about where his commitment to her happiness and protection extends to.
The hypothetical rebirth of Hozier as a blackthorn treeβat this point his love for her is endless and beyond his grave--him burning and ending her enemies. Sheβs βwarmβ again. Sheβs safe again. His blaze gives her βlifeβ back. Sheβs secure inside the fire, inside what heβs burning for her. Sheβs trapped inside the fire, inside him, yet sheβs safer inside--the consuming fire than when sheβs out with βthemβ. The fire burns her, consumes her, but thatβs his love burning. Thatβs his passion burning, literally, for her.
βThemβ, the spectators, that try to throw the βshadeβ to the fire, meaning how theyβre trying to put out the fire to save the womanβall futile, mortal, actions. Itβs a waste to try to put it off because his love burns so passionately, nothing will kill the fire.
And even after heβs gone, and sheβs consumed wholly by the fire, itβll keep on burning. Nothing will be able to get to her. Never. Because he would burn them all, just how heβd burn himself for her.
This was my interpretationβso different than Hozierβs! I've been listening to this every single day multiple times on repeat ever since it was released. Thatβs the beauty of words, they vary from perspective to perspective. The βsheβ and βwomanβ in my interpretation may not necessarily be bound to a single gender, I hope you realize. If you made it this far, thank you for your patience haha.
Anybody else up for their interpretations?
@ahmaddaraghmah9390
When I first saw you
The end was soon
To Bethlehem it slouched
And then, it must've caught a good look at you
Give your heart and soul to charity
'Cus the rest of you
The best of you
Honey, belongs to me
[Pre-Chorus]
Ain't it a gentle sound, the rolling in the graves
Ain't it like thunder under earth, the sound it makes
Ain't it exciting you, the rumble where you lay
Ain't you my baby, ain't you my babe
[Chorus]
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing can get a look in on my baby
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
[Verse 2]
If I was born as a blackthorn tree
I'd wanna be felled by you
Held by you
Fuel the pyre of your enemies
[Pre-Chorus]
Ain't it warming you, the world gone up in flames
Ain't it the life you, your lighting of the blaze
Ain't it a waste they'd watch the throwing of the shade
Ain't you my baby, ain't you my babe
[Chorus]
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing can get a look in on my baby
Nothing fucks with my baby
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
@pinetree7542
Whenever I meet a man I come here to remind myself that I deserve better
@amandafeliciano542
Yesss lol
@hanami741
haha omg, so true. guys usually fall right on their face when asked if they read any actual books. 99% of cases the answer is sth between 'no' and nervous laughter. Then I immediately know I deserve better xD
@shaheenziyard5631
@@hanami741 99% really? What sort of guys do you speak to.
@SwitchSilver
OMG
@ruviklychee4308
@@hanami741 Well books arent really necessary now that youve got the net, almost everything can be read for free online nowadays.
@shannonrachelrafuse1950
He makes the F bomb sound classy and sophisticated.
@septegram
I found it a trifle jarring, TBH.
@StrangeShady
@@septegram not sure if you are aware Hozier is Irish, its part of our vernacular
@twegan
@@StrangeShady he used it just enough to make the point...