the meaning for this song; Hozier: “That's a collaboration because for the actual melody, that piano that you're hearing at the beginning is my wonderful musical director and longtime friend and bandmate Alex Ryan. He sent me this beautiful piano piece, and it was at a very difficult time, and his father's name is Nick, so I asked him if I could call it "Son of Nyx," as a sort of play on words that would also honor his father, and I was delighted to have his work on it because, to me, it's such a beautiful piece. And Nyx is a Greek goddess, and one of Nyx's sons is Charon, the boatman in Greek mythology. So the song, to me, really felt like a crossing, and it reflected on that river crossing or that sort of crossing over. So that was a wonderful example of opening up the process, of opening the door to a new experience of sharing in the creation of something. And I think the result is beautiful - it's one of my favorite pieces on the album, and I am so proud of that.”

I don’t know why, but to me this song feels like finally reaching acceptance after struggling with something for a very long time. It's a masterpiece.

I didn't realize he was releasing the rest of the album at once. Had to make sure my heart still worked. 😂

Imagine seeing this live in concert with the orchestra.

After listening to the full album, I feel this is the song that epitomizes its themes the most - while individual high points are reached in songs like I, Carrion, and Eat Your Young, listening to this feels like a dream. Closing one's eyes, one can imagine floating on an infinite lake, hearing the distant waves lap against a shore you'll never reach - and, in a sense, beyond even water and night, loss and the passage of time, the theme that pervades Unreal Unearth is that of dreamlike reality.

"there are many sons of nyx, which are you seeking? sleep? death? the crossing guard?" "the persistent one" "ah doom. moros. then he seeks you, not the other way around, and lead you to his brothers in order"

And in the middle of the album, in the middle of this fantastic journey, an instrumental song... mind-blowing

Is it possible to cry over a song without words? Yes, apparently it is

I need a 1 hour loop of just this track. Obsessed doesn't begin to cover it.

It may be an instrumental song but this is fantastic, sounds like it should be in a movie

This song indeed has the ‘ancient Greek’ vibe and I’m so here for it

Hozier knows how to pull at your heartstrings just so 😭

This makes me think of when Zoë Nightshade passed away in Artemis' arms and when Clarisse got her vengeance for Silena and Beckendorf's deaths, she earned the blessing of her father, Ares, as she slayed the Drakon.

Hozier need to do the soundtrack of a movie

The start of this song is so eerie, it feels like the birth of her children, and the fear of what they are as they form, and then it shifts to the beauty of what they are as it crescendos. Creating this image in my mind of the joy of death and dreaming, and that at the end you will not cross the river alone.

Well done Alex Ryan for your wonderful piano piece that inspired this stunningly beautiful work. It is so haunting. Between you, you and Andrew have created a masterpiece

If I close my eyes, listening to this music, I can perfectly imagine myself in a fanciful, dark setting, shrouded in a dense mist. It's like I'm sailing in uncharted deep waters. Amazing how this song manages to get that through!

I love music that can make you feel so much more, even without words. This is a masterpiece

I've been playing Hades recently and this is perfect especially for the scene where you first reach the surface and Zagreus, raised by Nyx, is greated by the sunrise for the first time in his life.

This song feels like dying in the most peaceful and enrapturing way.

All of the thoughts that are constantly running through my head are silenced by this piece. It makes me feel at home in a very specific way that’s difficult to verbalize

At 1:52 you can hear a few notes from adagio in g minor, by Albinoni. I have no idea if it was on purpose or not, either way, it is my favorite classical piece, so it made this one even better.

THIS will be a sound track in a future movie

This piece also contains the "themes" of all the other songs in the album, I'm far from having found them all but these are the ones I did find so far: - 0:45 and 2:20 you can hear "See how it shines" from Abstract/Psychopomp - 2:10 you can hear "It's who we are" from Who We Are - 0:49 I think it's the melody from First Light's chorus (but I could be wrong) - 2:50 there's some of the backup vocals from "Damage Gets Done" Let me know if you spot any more

This sounds like its should be in lord of the rings as like an Elven song 😭😭 its so beautiful

Whenever I hear this song I'm reminded of this restaurant in my hometown where they have tango dancing. It is MORE beautiful than any cinematic masterpiece I've heard to date.☮️♥️🕊️🖋️🎨

Been waiting forever for Unreal Unearth😍😍😍😍

Please, make a longer version of this masterpiece. It's so beautiful that 3:20 minutes is not enough

I feel like I’m ascending to another dimension

I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS NOT TO HAVE ACTUAL LYRICS. I SCREAMED

This feels like you're closing your eyes, only to open them again and find yourself floating off into space. Looking at the earth, the sun, the immensity of the galaxies expanding around you, a show just for you, and you're a part of it. You're dancing along with the rest of the universe, going back to the place where you belong to, going back with your siblings: The stars, the children of the night, the children of Nyx. You're finally home, you finally feel alive.

You know it's amazing when the music moves you more than lyrics ever could. Masterpiece!!💚

i need an hour long version of this. it's perfect for studying

If a show or movie was scored by this man, it would be all over for us.

0:47 abstract 0:53 abstract vocals 1:03 eat your young (ha sound between verses) 1:14 choir note from first light 1:33 damage gets done vocals 1:43 Francesca outro 1:58 who we are 2:10 who we are 2:19 slowed down distorted shalala? 2:22 first light 2:39 idk 2:43 after the yeah ah ahs from damage 2:50 I only pray icarrion 3:04 outro I can't decode

Omg the way I screamed when I got the notification 😭

Wow the mysterious sound of this song… I was drown into a world full of secrets… Feel like the perfect sound for a movie

I adored hearing an instrumental and to have it be so moving and eerie fit the album perfectly.

Listened to this just before my parents dropped me off at uni. Truly encapsulates that feeling for me

Changing this to my ringtone rn

those chords at 2:06 knock my whole world back into color vision if just for a moment during this dreary winter. literally beautiful.

Is raining outside while listening to my favorite piece from this album, almost feels like a scattered puzzle with roughed edges that doesn't need to be solved

This song gives me a mix between sevdaliza and james blake, such a beautiful sound❤

When this piece begins, I take a long, slow breath and just…listen. Thank you Alex and Hozier. Mesmerizing💙💜

thank you alex ryan. 🌜 indeed a majestic piece.

The feeling this song gives me is so indescribable... it's a good feeling this song is just... wow it's so beautiful❤

When he echos “Who We Are” lyrics near the end and then realize little snippets of vocals from various songs on the album make up Son of Nyx

This song would easily be a soundtrack for the Dune part 2 movie

i feel like i lived my whole other life in ancient egypt during this song

Beautiful as always

I havent the words to express how much i love this track. Soooo beautiful ✨️💖✨️

this is just beautiful

why am I sobbing like?????

I am absolutely transfixed by this…

I will state again, the Man put out a masterpiece, So lucky to live in His world.

my heart melts at 1:19

reading the comments it looks like people forgot how wonderful it is to listen to a song without words

This is so giving me Phoenix Jean Grey vibes

Hozier should score a movie

so beautiful❤

I'm actually crying, the emotions.. This man never ceases to amaze me

I think that's what heaven sounds like😭😭😭😭😭😭

this is like a breath of fresh air 😍

this is ETHEREAL OMFG IM SCREAMING

This is just criminal. It feels amazing, but criminal. Every minute

I played this on a speaker for my roommates while lying on the grass in the park behind our house during the 2024 solar eclipse; Never before in my life have I had a more surreal or spiritual experience. Thank you.

He’s done it again... released another set of musical masterpieces ❤

Beautiful...

Ooh, I love this

i am literally hugging my bluetooth speaker for this

Ooooooooooo, I love this soo much ❤

I'm melting 🥰

I love hozier smmm

This song is so filling ❤ I can’t elaborate further

BELLÍSIMO

help... i forgot how to breathe . this is so amazing

AHH ITS FINALLY OUT !!!

My love hozier😍

My heart i can't❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

this + all things end are my favorite songs from his new album

I know this song is very personal to Alex and Andrew. It feels like it is telling such a deep story. Andrew said melodies from the other songs in the album have been made part of this song. I could definitely hear Who We Are. Probably because it's one of the rare words found in the song and because I like it very much.

I love it! Truly I do😊 But ... I'm scared of the visuals😭 That's mildly horrifying to me and I can't even explain whyyyy😭😭😭

🌻 A very precious piece, charming , May this day be eternal !!!!

This song, full of sorrow, but strength.

This is one of my favourite songs on the album, the piano at the start is very similar to Antony and the Johnsons 🤍

This song is the closest thing to a religious experience I’ve ever, well, experienced 😂😫😫

I love you man. Wish I had the money to see you. I will one day

Brooo I've got so many new song to listen to now

This could be an epic game soundtrack truly !!! This is beautiful 😍😍😍

hello yes LOSING MY DAMN MIND

woah.

I don’t know how Hozier got his recording studio in my dreams, but I like it.

It’s just the whole album is so fuckin genius

This is so underrated

❤❤❤❤YAAAY

🖤🖤🖤

Hozier has made Alan eternal with this song.

God, I’m so happy. 😭🖤🖤🖤

❤❤❤

Recommendation: listen to this while high, looking at the night sky. Enjoy the ride ;)