Hozier fans in disbelief as they learn hidden meaning behind hit song Too Sweet

Fans of musician Hozier have only recently discovered the true meaning behind his chart-topping anthem Too Sweet. The track boasts an unexpected source of inspiration, which Hozier, real name Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, revealed during a live performance. Supporters posted the song's backstory on Reddit, branding the extraordinary tale hilarious.

Detailing how a rough evening of boozing and a last-minute flight inspired the track, Hozier revealed that his fellow passenger proved crucial to Too Sweet's creation. Oscar-winning performer Cillian Murphy had been seated beside the 35-year-old on the aircraft, and this surprising encounter shaped the Unreal Unearth number.

Hozier disclosed the track's beginnings to audiences during a concert at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota in the US, with the musician "trembling" from a severe hangover when he encountered the Oppenheimer legend.

READ MORE: Chappell Roan adopted iconic stage name for heartwarming reason

READ MORE: Reading and Leeds Festival 2025 – set times, banned items and weather forecast

He shared: "I'm like rattled. You know, that type of hangover where you're shaking. And then I look over to the left of me on this plane and I see a famous Irish actor.

"I'm also subject to celebrity shock where you see somebody you've seen on screen a thousand times and you're like, 'Oh my God, that's a famous person'. And when I see Cillian Murphy is to my left.

"I'm like, 'Oh my God, that's wet'. So I'm on the plane looking at my fingers, like I'm bleeding a little bit.

"And I turn to my left and Cillian Murphy's hunkered by my seat and is like, 'How's it going?' I'm trying to play it cool. He was so sweet and so kind."

He went on to explain the experience had inspired some of the lyrics in the song Too Sweet, something Hozier hasn't had the chance to tell Murphy as the pair have not met since.

Hozier continued: "It's the line, 'I aim low, I aim true and the ground's where I go'. I've never told Cillian Murphy that, I've never met him since," he revealed to the crowd, "I didn't have the guts to tell him at the time the shape that I was in."

Supporters were delighted by this connection and expressed their admiration for the backstory behind Too Sweet on the r/Hozier Reddit forum.

One fan applauded the performer, commenting: "Loved the show, saw it live and this was so funny, he tells stories like my friends and I tell each other. It felt so intimate in an awesome crowd of thousands."

Someone else remarked: "Same. It's wild how he managed to make a fully sold out arena (like we could only see a handful of empty seats in the entire place) feel like sitting in his living shooting the shit while he told this story."

A third person commented: "That's hilarious, I love him, thank you so much." Hozier is set to top the bill at Leeds Festival alongside Chappell Roan.