True that love in withdrawal was the weeping of meThat the sound of the saw must be known by the treeMust be felled for to fight the cold

And it's not tonight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)Where I'm set alight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)And I blink in sight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)Your blinding light (ooh-ooh-oh)Oh, it's not tonight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)Where you hold me tight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)Light it fire bright (ooh-ooh-oh)Oh, let it blaze alright (ooh-ooh-oh)Oh, but you're good to meOh, you're good to meOh, but you're good to me, baby

With the roar of the fire my heart rose to its feetLike the ashes of ash I saw rise in the heatSettle soft and as pure as snowI fell in love with the fire long ago

With each love I cut looseI was never the sameWatching still living roots be consumed by the flameI was fixed on your hand of goldLaying waste to my lovin' long ago

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And it's not tonight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)Where I'm set alight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)And I blink in sight (ooh-ooh-oh)Your blinding light (ooh-ooh-oh)Oh, it's not tonight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)You hold me tight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)And the fire bright (ooh-ooh-oh)Oh, let it blaze alright, honey (ooh-ooh-oh)Oh, but you're good to meOh, you're good to meOh, but you're good to me, baby

So in awe there I stoodAs you licked off the grainThough I've handled the wood, I still worship the flameAs long as amber of ember glowsAll the wood that I'd loved is long ago

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And it's not tonight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)Where I'm set alight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)And I blink in sight (ooh-ooh-oh)Of your blinding light (ooh-ooh-oh)Oh, and it's not tonight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)When you hold me tight (ooh-oh-oh-oh)And the fire bright (ooh-ooh-oh)Oh, let it blaze, alright (ooh-oh-oh-oh)Oh, but you're good to meOh, you're good to meOh, but you're good to meOh, you're good to me

You're good to meOh, but you're good to me, baby

The lyrics to Hozier's "Would That I" are beautifully poetic and evocative. The first verse describes a woman's hair as being like the branches of a willow tree, dancing on air and then covering the singer. This could symbolize the way that love can engulf and cover us. The verse then goes on to mention cotton and calicos, which could represent innocence and simplicity, and a canopy dappled long ago, suggesting that these memories are from a distant past. The singer then reflects on the pain of love in withdrawal, which was like weeping for him. The metaphor of the saw being known by the tree suggests that the pain of separation is also felt by the one who has left, and must be felled like a tree in order to move on.

The chorus repeats twice, with the singer reflecting that it's not tonight where he is set alight and blinks in sight of the woman's blinding light. This could be interpreted as him not being able to handle the intensity of their love or not feeling worthy of it. He then acknowledges that she is good to him, even though he struggles to fully accept her love. The second verse describes the singer's heart rising to its feet with the roar of the fire, connecting the passion of their love to a blazing fire. The ashes of ash rising in the heat could represent the pain of past relationships being burned away. The verse then goes on to describe how the singer was never the same after each love he cut loose, watching still living roots of the previous relationship be consumed by the flame. He acknowledges being fixed on her hand of gold, which could represent her generosity and support. The final verse describes the singer in awe as he watches the object of his affection "lick off the grain," which is a reference to using a tongue to seal a joint in carpentry. He reflects on how he still worships the flame, even though he has handled the wood, connecting his love to the destructive power of fire. The final chorus repeats the refrain that the woman is good to him, even though he struggles to fully embrace her love.