HIGHLIFER FOB Jea 420's blog: "Orpheus and Eurydice "

All of this for the first line in a song, 

So i found this song by Hozier - Talk, after really listening to it, not just hearing it . i became absolutely enamored with it.

it's a song of love, hope, and desire, but to really understand it you need to know a lil greek mythology and the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Simplified version there are many. 

Orpheus was a legendary musician, poet, and prophet. It's said that Apollo the god of music, gave Orpheus a golden lyre (a harp like insterment) and taught him to play it, he studied with muses to perfect his art. He was such a great musician it's said  that his playing of the lyre was so divine that the birds, the beasts, even the stones and the trees move to the rhythm of his songs.

Eurydice not alot is know about Eurydice some say she was the daughter of Apollo, a wood nymph who's beauty captivated Orpheus and they became nearly inseparable almost immediately. 

After happily living togeather for a short time, on their wedding day Hymen came to bless their wedding as he was the god of marriage ceremonies, festivities, and songs.Upon seeing the two, he predicted that their union wouldn't last. Before the wedding she was dancing and playing with naiads, nymphs who lived in forest springs and waterfalls. While playing and danceing, she stepped on a viper. The serpent quickly bit her, and Eurydice sccumb to the  poisoning.

Completely overcome with immense grief and the loss of his only love Orpheus vowed to descend to the depths of the underworld to bring her back to life and the light , Blessed by the gods Orpheus arrived at the Stygian realm.(Basically purgatory). If you don't know anything about the Underworld you should know that it’s a vast realm full of obstacles to overcome. Many rivers cross the land of the dead. The most well-known is the river Styx The only way to cross the river Styx is to pay the ferryman Charon, 

According to legend Orpheus played a song for Charon who was so overwhelmed by the music granted Orpheus passage across the river. The same thing happened when he came upon Cerberus, Cerberus was a massive three-headed dog that guarded the underworld and as with Charon, Orpheus played a song that lulled the beast to sleep.  Eventually, Orpheus made his way to Hades palace There, he begged the god of the Underworld to let him take Eurydice back to the land of the living and light. Once again Orpheus used his music to plea. The songs captivated the king of the Underworld. The king felt Orpheus's pain and sorrow with every note.Even the Furies (godesses of vengeance)  where were brought to tears! It was a rare instance where Hades showed compassion. Surprisingly, Hades granted Orpheus permission to take Eurydice. Finally, the two were reunited! However, Hades had one stipulation. The two could not look back as they ventured out of the Underworld. With permission from Hades, Eurydice was able to do something that no other soul could, she could leave. 

Orpheus was delighted He thanked Hades took the hand of his wife and made his way back to the entrance of the Underworld.Orpheus was a few steps ahead of Eurydice upon making it through the exit, Orpheus not being able to hear Eurydice's foot steps behind him turned to make sure she was still coming to the light, and in doing so broke the vow he had made with Hades and Eurydice was pulled back into the underworld never to be seen again Even though Orpheus had turned and broken the vow he had made with Hades resulting in his wife being lost to the underworld, Eurydice immediately forgave Orpheus for she knew he was only looking, out of love .

Hozier - Talk 

Lyrics