Hozier – Swan Upon Leda – listen now: hozier.lnk.to/swanuponledaID

Egyptian journalist and author Mona Eltahawy once referred to the global systems that control and endanger women as the world's "oldest form of occupation."

Ever since hearing her speak in Dublin, I wanted to explore that thought in a piece.

I wrote Swan Upon Leda in Ireland a year ago and recorded it recently with producer Jenn Decilveo. We were tracking it in studio when the news came through of Roe v. Wade being overturned. I felt there was an opportunity to offer some show of solidarity.

We're reminded again by the protests in Iran that progressivism is a global movement. the recent pushbacks against civil liberties and human rights respect no boundaries or borders, and like all acts of control, violence and indeed all forms of occupation, their legacies can be immeasurable in both the personal and political spheres.

Of all the songs coming from my 3rd album "Unreal Unearth", I wanted to offer this song at this time. I’ll be making a donation to Mayday, AidAccess, Plan C and Amnesty International, organizations working toward ensuring women and pregnant people can gain safe access to reproductive healthcare and civil rights. Click the links below to read about their work and contribute to their funds should you be in a position to do so.

Mayday: www.mayday.health/
Aid Access: aidaccess.org/
Plan C: plancpills.org/
Amnesty International: www.amnesty.org/en/

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Lyrics:
A husband waits outside
A crying child pushes a child into the night
She was told he would come this time
Without leaving so much as a feather behind

To enact at last the perfect plan
One more sweet boy to be butchered by men

But gateway to the world
Was still outside the reach of him
Would never belong to angels
Had never belonged to men
The swan upon Leda
Empire upon Jerusalem

A grandmother smuggling meds
Past where the god child-soldier Setanta stood dead
Our graceful turner of heads
Weaves through the checkpoints like a needle and thread

Someone’s frightened boy waves her on
She offers a mother’s smile and soon she’s gone

The gateway to the world,
The gun in a trembling hand,
Where nature unmakes the boundary
The pillar of myth still stands,
The swan upon Leda
Occupier upon ancient land
But gateway to the world
Was still outside the reach of him
Would never belong to angels
Had never belonged to men