Unheard EP
In August 2023, Hozier released his third studio album Unreal Unearth. The album was inspired by Dante’s Inferno, which is the first part of the writer’s 14th-century epic poem Divine Comedy. In Inferno, Dante describes nine circles of Hell, each representing different levels of sin and punishment. Hozier’s Unreal Unearth is based on these nine circles of Hell.
The four songs on the Unheard EP are unreleased songs from the Unreal Unearth sessions. The opening track, “Too Sweet”, draws inspiration from Dante’s third circle of Hell, which describes the sin of gluttony and the punishment for those who overindulge.
The Meaning of the Song
The lyrics of “Too Sweet” explore the contrast between two people with different lifestyles within a relationship: The narrator, who prefers a more relaxed, late-night lifestyle, and the partner, who is portrayed as an early bird with a disciplined healthy lifestyle.
The narrator enjoys indulging in pleasures such as whiskey, black coffee, and staying up late. In contrast, the partner treats their mouth like it’s ‘Heaven’s gate’ and wakes up early to watch the sunrise.
While the narrator appreciates the partner’s discipline and sweetness, he also admits that the partner’s lifestyle is simply too sweet for his taste.
When speaking of the narrative of the song in a TikTok, Hozier said: “It’s a voice that just indulges, that enjoys overindulging, and rejects discipline all too much — and rejects a person on the basis they just have their life just that little bit too put together.”
Release and Success of Too Sweet
Hozier released “Too Sweet” on 22 March 2024. A week later it debuted on the UK Singles chart at number 8. In the week of 12 April, the song rose to the top of the UK chart, marking Hozier’s first number 1 single in the United Kingdom.
In an exclusive conversation with the Official Charts, Hozier expressed his gratitude for the success of the song. “Enormous thank you to everyone in the UK for all their support. I was taken aback by the response for ‘Too Sweet’ and am thrilled people are enjoying it.”
In the US, “Too Sweet” debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The following weeks, the song rose to number 2 on the chart. The song has also found success in other countries, reaching the charts worldwide. In New Zealand and Hozier’s native Ireland, “Too Sweet” reached number 1 on the charts.
The lyrics make no sense. Is coffee with cream and a whiskey sour not pleasurable?