Work Song (Hozier song)

"Work Song"
Single by Hozier
from the album Hozier
Released	16 March 2015
Recorded	2013
Genre	Soul blues gospel
Length	3:49
Label	Rubyworks Island
Songwriter(s)	Andrew Hozier-Byrne
Producer(s)	Rob Kirwan Andrew Hozier-Byrne
Hozier singles chronology
"Sedated" (2014) "Work Song" (2015) "Someone New" (2015)
Music video
"Work Song" on YouTube

"Work Song" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier for his 2014 eponymous debut studio album. It was released on 16 March 2015 as the fifth single from the record, appearing on the Irish Singles Chart and Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.^[1] An accompanying music video was released in March 2015.

Promotion and release

On 5 March 2015, Hozier played the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.^[2][3] The song impacted United States Rock Radio on 16 March 2015.^[1] "Work Song" was featured in the trailer for George Tillman Jr.'s 2015 film adaptation of The Longest Ride, a novel by Nicholas Sparks^{[citation needed]} as well an episode of NBC's occult drama Constantine.^{[citation needed]}

Writing and composition

"Work Song" is a gospel-blues song listed as the ninth track on the album, written by Hozier.^[4] Hozier cites the song as one of his favorites from the record.^[5] "Work Song" has "nuances of soul" with a "strong melodic bass", composed of percussion, tambourines, guitar, and "murmurous" vocals, while the lyrics describe a love of "undying sweetness" and devotion.^[5][6][7] The song possesses gospel backing vocals and church-like hand-claps, with literary themes of love, sin, and religion returning to the record.^[8]

Critical reception

"Work Song" received acclaim from critics; The Arts Desk described it as an "elegiac spiritual head-nodder" that Hozier sings through with "easy familiarity", while The Irish Times described it as "mental-good", establishing him as "far from the boilerplate soul/blues of today".^[9][10] It is often cited as one of the strongest tracks on Hozier.^[10][11]

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number 15 on Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, spending twelve weeks on the chart and appeared within the top twenty on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and Adult Alternative Songs charts, respectively.^[12]

Music video

The official music video for "Work Song" was released on 23 March 2015.^[13] Hozier shot the video the day after the Grammy Awards, and reportedly woke up with an "outrageous hangover" during the shoot.^[14] The video features him performing for a crowd, where the audience begins to break out into synchronized, slow, dancing, that "verges on performance art", embodying the romantic lyrics of the track.^[13] The video has amassed over 118 million views on YouTube.^[15]

Charts

Weekly charts 2014–2015 weekly chart performance for "Work Song" Chart (2014–2015) Peak position Ireland (IRMA)[16] 47 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[17] 20 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 15 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[19] 15 2023–2024 weekly chart performance for "Work Song" Chart (2023–2024) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] 92 Ireland (IRMA)[21] 39

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Work Song" Chart (2015) Position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[22] 65

Certifications

Certifications for "Work Song"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[23]	Gold	30,000^‡
Canada (Music Canada)[24]	2× Platinum	160,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[25]	2× Platinum	60,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[26]	Platinum	600,000^‡
United States (RIAA)[27]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Work Song"

Region	Date	Format	Label
United States[1][28]	16 March 2015	Adult album alternative radio	Columbia
	17 March 2015	Modern rock radio

References

1. "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
2. TV News Desk. "VIDEO: Hozier Performs New Single 'Work Song' on TONIGHT SHOW". broadwayworld.com.
3. "Hozier: Work Song". NBC.com.
4. "Work Song". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
5. "GIMME YOUR ANSWERS: AN INTERVIEW W/ HOZIER". Alicia Atout. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
6. Brown, Harley. "Album Review: Hozier, 'Hozier'". Billboard.
7. "review: 'Hozier,' Hozier". The Daily. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
8. "Hozier releases stunning video for latest single 'Work Song'". Independent. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
9. "CD: Hozier - Hozier". The Arts Desk. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
10. "Hozier". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
11. "Hozier Review". Slate. Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
12. "Work Song". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
13. "Watch Hozier Host a Weird Dance Party in 'Work Song' Video". Billboard. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
14. "Hozier Interview: "The success of the first album took me completely by surprise"". Hotpress. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
15. "Work Song". Youtube. 23 March 2015.
16. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Hozier". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
17. "Hozier Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
18. "Hozier Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
19. "Hozier Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
20. "Hozier Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
21. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
22. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
23. "Brazilian single certifications – Hozier – Work Song" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
24. "Canadian single certifications – Hozier – Work Song". Music Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
25. "New Zealand single certifications – Hozier – Work Song". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
26. "British single certifications – Hozier – Work Song". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
27. "American single certifications – Hozier – Work Song". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
28. "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.