In might be a little early to draw comparisons between Hozier and Van Morrison, but certainly the talented – and thoughtful – Irish singer songwriter has shown that he can channel Van the Man’s soulful sound with equal power and eloquence.

“Andrew John Hozier-Bryne broke through with the smash hit “Take Me to Church” in 2013 – its audacious indictment of homophobia proving to be a prelude to the artist’s future socially relevant perspective. Such as in “Nina Cries Power,” this week’s video offering from 2018.”

An homage to the legacy of protest songs and singers who were there at the beginning of the movement, the rousing anthem name checks a long list of artist-activists, from Woody Guthrie to Bob Dylan and John Lennon, and Billy Holiday to Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, and, of course, American R&B and gospel great, Mavis Staples, for whom Hozier went even further by recruiting her to pair with him on the song.

In fact, the title was copped from a line in Staples’ recording of the African-American spiritual “Sinner Man,” which referenced Nina Simone, who had famously recorded a version of the song herself in 1965.

It’s a lot of layers for a Hozier song that ultimately is very simple and powerful, and as relevant now as it was during the social turmoil of the 1960s.

As Mavis thunders, “And I could cry power/ Power has been cried by those stronger than me/ Straight into the face that tells you/ To rattle your chains if you love being free.”

And as Hozier himself proclaims: “It’s not the waking, it’s the rising.”

Lyrics

It’s not the waking, it’s the rising
It is the grounding of a foot uncompromising
It’s not forgoing of the lie
It’s not the opening of eyes
It’s not the waking, it’s the rising

It’s not the shade, we should be past it
It’s the light, and it’s the obstacle that casts it
It’s the heat that drives the light
It’s the fire it ignites
It’s not the waking, it’s the rising

It’s not the song, it is the singing
It’s the heaven of a human spirit ringing
It is the bringing of the line
It is the bearing of the rhyme
It’s not the waking, it’s the rising

[Hozier & Mavis Staples:] And I could cry power (Power), power (Power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Billie cried power
Mavis cried power
And I could cry (Power) power, (Power) power
Hey, power
Curtis cried power
Patti cried power
Nina cried power

[Hozier:] It’s not the wall, but what’s behind it
Oh, the fear of fellow man, it’s mere assignment
And everything that we’re denied
By keeping the divide
It’s not the waking, it’s the rising

[Hozier & Mavis Staples:] And I could cry power (Power), power (Power)
Oh, power
Nina cried power
Lennon cried power
James Brown cried power
And I could cry (Power) power, (Power) power
Hey, power
B.B. cried power
Joni cried power
Nina cried power

[Mavis Staples:] And I could cry power
Power has been cried by those stronger than me
Straight into the face that tells you
To rattle your chains if you love being free

[Hozier & Mavis Staples:] But I could cry power (Power)
‘Cause power is my love when my love reaches to me
James Brown cried power
Seeger cried power
Marvin cried power
Yeah ah, power
James cried power
Lennon cried power
Patti cried power
Billie, power
Dylan, power
Woody, power
Nina cried power