Take Me To Church – English Lyrics

• By: Hozier

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the powerful world of Hozier's "Take Me To Church," a song that masterfully uses rich, evocative language to explore profound themes of love, spirituality, and social critique. Learning the lyrics of this soulful track offers a unique opportunity to engage with English expressions that convey deep emotion and intellectual dissent, while appreciating how music can challenge norms and assert human connection as a sacred experience. Its blues and gospel-infused style, combined with poignant storytelling, makes it an unforgettable and meaningful listening experience.

[English]

My lover's got humour, she's the giggle at a funeral

Knows everybody's disapproval

They should've worshipped her sooner

If the heavens ever did speak, she's the last true mouthpiece

Every Sunday's getting more bleak, a fresh poison each week

"We were born sick"

You heard them say it

My church offers no absolutes, she tells me, "Worship in the bedroom"

The only Heaven I'll be sent to is when I'm alone with you

I was born sick, but I love it

Command me to be well

A-, amen

Amen, amen

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

If I'm a pagan of the good times, my lover's the sunlight

To keep the goddess on my side, she demands a sacrifice

Drain the whole sea, get something shiny

Something meaty for the main course, that's a fine looking high horse

What you got in the stable? We've a lot of starving faithful

That looks tasty, that looks plenty, this is hungry work

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins, so you can sharpen your knife

Offer me my deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins, so you can sharpen your knife

Offer me my deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

No masters or kings when the ritual begins

There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin

In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene

Only then, I am human

Only then, I am clean

Oh, oh, amen

Amen, amen

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
worship /ˈwɜːʃɪp/ B2	verb - to show reverence and adoration for a deity noun - the act of showing reverence and adoration
shrine /ʃraɪn/ B2	noun - a place regarded as holy, especially a small building for worship
sin /sɪn/ B1	noun - an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law
death /deθ/ A2	noun - the end of life; the permanent cessation of all vital functions
god /ɡɒd/ A1	noun - a supreme being worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe
lover /ˈlʌvər/ A2	noun - a person who is in a romantic relationship
sacrifice /ˈsækrɪfaɪs/ B2	noun - the act of giving up something valuable for the sake of something else verb - to give up something valuable for the sake of something else
heaven /ˈhɛvən/ B1	noun - the place regarded as the home of God and the blessed after death
faithful /ˈfeɪθfʊl/ B2	adjective - loyal, steadfast, and reliable noun - a person who is loyal or devoted
ritual /ˈrɪtʃuəl/ B2	noun - a prescribed set of actions performed in a ceremonial context
innocence /ˈɪnəsəns/ B2	noun - the state of being free from moral wrong or guilt
sick /sɪk/ A1	adjective - ill or affected by disease
bleak /bliːk/ B2	adjective - lacking hope or encouragement; cold and barren
poison /ˈpɔɪzən/ B2	noun - a substance that can cause illness or death when introduced into the body verb - to contaminate or make harmful
pagan /ˈpeɪɡən/ C1	noun - a person who follows a polytheistic or non‑Abrahamic religion adjective - relating to non‑Abrahamic religious traditions
goddess /ˈɡɒdəs/ B2	noun - a female deity
command /kəˈmɑːnd/ B1	noun - an authoritative order verb - to give an order
knife /naɪf/ A2	noun - a cutting tool with a sharp blade
sharpen /ˈʃɑːrpən/ B2	verb - to make or become sharper

Key Grammar Structures

• My lover's got humour, she's the giggle at a funeral

  ➔ present perfect (have/has + past participle)

  ➔ The verb "has got" expresses possession in the present perfect.

• They should've worshipped her sooner

  ➔ modal perfect (should have + past participle)

  ➔ "Should've" = "should have" + "worshipped" (past participle) shows a missed obligation.

• If the heavens ever did speak, she's the last true mouthpiece

  ➔ second conditional with emphatic past (did + base verb)

  ➔ "Did speak" uses the auxiliary "did" for emphasis in a past‑time conditional clause.

• We were born sick

  ➔ passive voice (past simple)

  ➔ "Were born" is the passive form of "to give birth"; the subject receives the action.

• She tells me, "Worship in the bedroom"

  ➔ imperative mood

  ➔ "Worship" is an imperative verb giving a direct command.

• The only Heaven I'll be sent to is when I'm alone with you

  ➔ future passive (will be + past participle)

  ➔ "I'll be sent" combines the modal "will" with the passive "be sent" to talk about a future action done to the subject.

• Take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

  ➔ imperative + future simple (will + base verb)

  ➔ "Take" is an imperative demanding action; "I'll worship" uses the future simple to express a personal intention.

• Offer me that deathless death, oh, good God, let me give you my life

  ➔ imperative + subjunctive-like request with "let" + base verb

  ➔ "Let me give" uses "let" + base verb to politely request permission or permission‑like action.

• Only then, I am human

  ➔ inversion with adverbial phrase "only then"

  ➔ "Only then" is placed at the beginning for emphasis, causing the subject "I" to follow the verb "am".