Eat Your Young

Hozier's 'Eat Your Young' is a song that delves into the darker aspects of human nature and societal issues, using vivid and sometimes disturbing imagery to convey its message. The lyrics suggest a critique of greed and the destructive behaviors that arise from it. The opening lines, 'I'm starvin', darlin' / Let me put my lips to something,' set the tone for a song that is about insatiable hunger, not for food, but for wealth, power, and control.

The chorus, 'Pull up the ladder when the flood comes / Throw enough rope until the legs have swung,' uses metaphorical language to describe the ruthlessness of survival instincts and the lengths to which people will go to protect their own interests, even if it means harming others. The phrase 'eat your young' is a stark metaphor for self-destructive or cannibalistic behavior within a society, where the future (the young) is sacrificed for short-term gains. The song's imagery of 'skinning the children for a war drum' and 'putting food on the table selling bombs and guns' is a powerful condemnation of war profiteering and the military-industrial complex.

Hozier, known for his soulful voice and thought-provoking lyrics, often tackles complex themes in his music. 'Eat Your Young' is no exception, as it challenges listeners to reflect on the moral implications of their actions and the societal structures that enable and perpetuate such behaviors. The song's haunting melody and evocative lyrics create a compelling narrative that resonates with contemporary issues of greed, exploitation, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.