De Selby (Part 2)

Album: Unreal Unearth (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "De Selby (Part 2)" is the third single and sequel to the opening track on Hozier's third studio album, Unreal Unearth. Penned during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hozier found solace in Dante Alighieri's epic work, Inferno. He drew inspiration from the 14th century poem's nine circles of Hell to shape the album.

    In a letter to his fans, Hozier stated that "De Selby Parts 1 and 2" are the prequels before "the descent into the circles that follow."
  • The track draws inspiration from Irish writer Flann O'Brien's novel The Third Policeman, whose narrator is devoted to the philosopher and scientist De Selby. De Selby's theories are often absurd and nonsensical, but they also offer a unique perspective on the world. Among his more eccentric ideas is that the Earth is shaped like a sausage.

    But "De Selby (Part 2)" delves deeper than just quirky concepts. Hozier's lyrics explore darkness in the context of connection – with himself, his love interest, and the very fabric of time and space.

    "This song reflects on darkness and night falling," said Hozier. "It aligned with the thinking of the character of De Selby. When you can't see where your hands and the darkness end, they literally become one and the same. Part 2 is something of a descent. We are lost together in this moment with no beginning and no end. The track explores this theme over a disco track."
  • Hozier composed the song with Bekon, Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman, Rappy, Daniel Kreiger and Peter Gonzales.

    Bekon, Rappy and Krieger worked on Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers album. All three contributed to the tracks "Auntie Diaries" and "Mirror."
  • Bekon arranged the strings, Krieger played the guitar and bass, Gonzales played the synthesizer, and Gitelman played the electric guitar and synthesizer. The other musicians are:

    Stanley Randolph: drums
    Stuart Johnson: percussion
    Alex Ryan: bass
    Daniel Lim: cello
    Drew Alexander Forde: viola
    Haesol Lee: violin
    Andrew Kwon: violin
    Ginny Luke: violin
  • Hozier debuted "De Selby Part 2" on July 16, 2023, during a live performance in Gardone Riviera, Italy at Anfiteatro del Vittoriale.
  • On Unreal Unearth, Hozier embraced collaboration more than ever before. The shift towards collaboration was a response to the isolation of the pandemic. Hozier told Grammy.com that he reached the "limitations during lockdown of what solitude could offer me," which led him to seek the invigorating energy of working with others.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.