"Francesca" is the debut single from Hozier's third studio album, Unreal Unearth. The track is inspired by Dante Alighieri's 14th century epic poem, Inferno, the initial part of The Divine Comedy, which portrays the journey of the soul towards God in three parts. The song is about Francesca da Rimini, a beautiful noblewoman from Ravenna who finds herself condemned to the second circle of Hell for her sins.
In Dante's epic poem The Divine Comedy, the story of Francesca da Rimini unfolds within the depths of the second circle of Hell, as depicted in Canto V. This circle, the second out of nine progressively severe circles of Hell, is known as the circle of Lust. It's a place where souls are punished for their uncontrolled desires and lustful actions during their mortal lives.
As Dante and his guide, the poet Virgil, descend into Hell, they encounter a whirlwind of souls perpetually swept up in its tormenting winds. Among them, Dante notices two figures locked in an eternal embrace, desperately caught in their insatiable passion.
Approaching them, Dante recognizes Francesca, who, with great sorrow and anguish, begins to recount her tragic story. She reveals that she was married off to Giovanni Malatesta, the deformed brother of her true love, Paolo Malatesta. Francesca and Paolo, bound by their shared love and desire, found solace in secret meetings, concealed behind the veil of forbidden romance.
In the depths of their longing, the two lovers read the tale of Lancelot and Guinevere, the renowned Arthurian adulterous couple. It was during one of these moments, while immersed in the romantic narrative, that their passions overwhelmed them and they succumbed to their desires, sealing their fate.
Francesca's husband, Giovanni, discovered their illicit affair. Consumed by rage and betrayal, he confronted them, bringing their forbidden love affair to a brutal end. In a violent act of jealousy, Giovanni murdered the lovers, sending them into eternal damnation.
As Francesca concludes her heart-wrenching account, Dante, deeply moved by her tragic fate, faints in overwhelming pity and sorrow. When he awakens, he finds himself in the third circle of Hell, leaving behind the anguished souls of the second circle.
Here, Hozier explore themes of love, desire and commitment singing from the perspective of Francesca da Rimini.
In the fiery depths of damnation, Francesca, undeterred by their eternal sentence, refuses to lament their forbidden affair. She would do it all over again, unyielding in her desire to rewrite their actions.
I'd tell them, "Put me back in it"
Da-ah, darlin', I would do it again (Ah-ah, ah-ah)
If I could hold you for a minute
Da-ah, darlin', I'd go through it again
She willingly forfeits any chance of ascending beyond hell, sacrificing it all for the fleeting moments spent with Paolo. The intensity of their love eclipses the agony of eternal torment, even in the face of premature death at a tender age.
Hozier co-wrote and co-produced "Francesca" with Jennifer Decilveo (Andra Day's "
Rise Up," Anne-Marie's "
Ciao Adios," Demi Lovato's "
I Love Me").
Hozier played the guitar and Jennifer Decilveo the synthesizer and piano. The other musicians are:
Alex Ryan: organ, bass
Sam KS: drums
David Levita: guitar
Alex Ryan is Hozier's musical director. He's provided bass, vocals and keys since Hozier's 2014 eponymous debut album.
Hozier debuted the song during his Pop-Up Show in Paris on April 21, 2023, He released it as the debut single from his third studio album, Unreal Unearth, on May 19, 2023.
This was a more personal song until Hozier got inspired by the story of Francesca da Rimini. "It started from personal experience and then I allowed those themes and some of the imagery from that character in and then let the two mix," Hozier told Apple Music. "It's an example of letting the song have a life above ground and resonate with a life below ground in regard to that character."
Hozier tried in vain to write the song in terza rima, an Italian verse form in triplets the Roman poet Virgil used. It was also the same rhyme scheme Dante used in Inferno. "I was a like, 'OK, I have to step back a little bit from this,'" he said.
Hozier celebrated his first UK #1 album when Unreal Unearth debuted at the top of the Official UK Albums Chart. His previous albums were his 2014 debut longplayer, Hozier (#3), and his 2017 set Wasteland, Baby! (#6).
"Francesca" topped Billboard's Adult Alternative Airplay chart. It was Hozier's fourth #1 on the tally, following his one-week stay with "
Take Me to Church," two-week run of "
Nina Cried Power," and the two-week reign of "
Eat Your Young."
