The song's core conflict stems from the doctrine of original sin. Hozier draws on Fulke Greville’s 1554 poem Chorus Sacerdotum , specifically the line "Created sick, commanded to be sound," to describe a church that shames people for their natural desires.

: Hozier has stated that if viewers are more disgusted by the image of two men kissing than the brutal violence depicted, they should re-examine their values.

The official music video, shot in stark black-and-white, provides a visceral counterpoint to the metaphorical lyrics.

: The central object of the video—a locked box buried and later destroyed by the mob—symbolizes the "precious" but hidden nature of the couple’s identity, which they are forced to keep secret for survival. Reclaiming Humanity through Love