☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Swan Upon Leda' by Hozier contains strong symbols and refers to various mythological and historical stories.
- The song title refers to Greek mythology and can be interpreted as a metaphor for power, dominance, and the resulting conflict.
- The line 'Empire upon Jerusalem' could allude to repeated conquests and wars throughout history.
- The song lyrics use the image of a grandmother smuggling eggs to symbolize resistance and survival amidst conflict and oppression.
- 'Gateway to the world' could refer to the barriers created by power structures and conflicts, as well as limited freedom.
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'Swan Upon Leda' by
Hozier are highly symbolic and refer to various stories from mythology and history. The title of the song is an allusion to Greek mythology, where Zeus transforms into a swan and seduces Leda. This event leads to the birth of Helen of Troy, whose abduction triggers the Trojan War. In this sense, the 'swan upon Leda' can be interpreted as a metaphor for power and dominance that lead to conflicts and wars.
The line 'Empire upon Jerusalem' could be a reference to various historical events where Jerusalem was conquered by different empires. This could be another portrayal of power and dominance, showing the repeated history of conquests and wars.
The song lyrics also speak of a 'grandmother smuggling eggs' and weaving through checkpoints 'like a needle and thread'. This could be a metaphor for resistance and survival amidst conflict and oppression. The 'gateway to the world' metaphor could also be an allusion to limited freedom and barriers created by power structures and conflicts.
Overall, 'Swan Upon Leda' seems to explore the themes of power, dominance, conflict, and resistance. It uses metaphorical and symbolic language to convey complex ideas and stories from mythology and history.