Swan Upon Leda

Swan Upon Leda

Hozier

“Swan Upon Leda” is a track inspired by Hozier’s interest in exploring the struggles and injustices that women face in politically charged settings. The lyrics were influenced by Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian columnist and global feminist speaker, who referred to the global systems that control and endanger women as the world’s ‘oldest form of occupation.’

The track’s title and lyrics also reference the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan, as well as Ireland’s history with abortion rights. Hozier highlights the changing laws in Ireland, where abortion was illegal for many years except when the mother’s life was at risk. In 2018, a referendum was held, and the Irish public voted to legalize abortion.

In a post on his socials, Hozier felt that this track was a chance to express his support for American women after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The track was first teased on October 4, 2022, and was originally thought to be a part of his 2023 album, Unreal Unearth, but never made it to the tracklist.