Hozier released a new album on August 18 2023 titled Unreal Unearth
The single Damage Gets Done released on the same day, features Brandi Carlile as guest vocalist. It’s the seventh track on the album. Brandi Carlile is credited as a full vocalist in the song (not just “feat.”).
This is what Hozier had to say to LA Times writer Erin Osmon.
LA TimesBrandi Carlile features on “Damage Gets Done.” Why’d you connect with her?
She’s a total hero, somebody who’s driven by such a vision of community and love. She also has an outrageous voice. We were looking at songs from the ’80s and early ’90s where people really sing out. We were channeling some power-ballad type of stuff. It was clear to me that this song was a duet in the vein of Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel’s “Don’t Give Up,” like a “these are hard times but we’re gonna get through them” type of sentiment.
Brandi Carlile and Hozier’s musical relationship goes back a few years, with Hozier being one of the original “Joni Jammers” at Joni Mitchells house pre-pandemic. They have joined each other on stage as recently as May for Brandi Carlile’s Mothership festival, and in 2019 at Newport Folk Festival, where Hozier joined her for a stunning version of The Joke.
(Sidenote: In the below video Mavis Staples is of course revisiting the song that she performed famously during The Band’s The Last Waltz concert. )
As well, Hozier is part of an emerging broader collective of artists being brought together via Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile resulting in cross-recordings, and touring together. (Lucius, Allison Russell, Taylor Goldsmith, Ben Lusher Blake Mills, Marcus Mumford). On Allison Russell’s 2023 album The Returner, both Hozier and Brandi Carlile feature. Harking back to the collectives of the folk scene in the 70’s these artists are starting to create something of a “scene” themselves.
The album has been released in all formats and colored vinyl, as well as a limited edition Cassette. This is one of the few albums that Brandi Carlile (and band) have featured on a Cassette. (find out which other ones via the “cassette” tag below.)
Lyrics to Damage Gets Done
[Verse 1: Hozier, Hozier & Brandi Carlile]
Without shame, two outfits then to my name
You’d end up in one when you’d stay
We had nowhere to go and every desire for going there
I heard once, it’s the comforts that make us feel numb
We’d go out with no way to get home
And we’d sleep on somebody’s floor and wake up feeling like a millionaire
[Pre-Chorus: Hozier & Brandi Carlile]
Wish I had known it was now just turnin’ (We just got by)
Blamed for a world we had no power in (But we tried)
You and I had nothin’ to show (We didn’t know)
But the best of the world in the palm of our hands (Anything darllin’)
[Chorus: Hozier & Brandi Carlile]
And darlin’, I haven’t felt it since then
I don’t know how the feelin’ ended
But I know being reckless and young
Is not how the damage gets done
[Verse 2: Hozier, Brandi Carlile & Both]
One time we would want for nothin’ (One time we had it all, love)
We knew what our love was worth (When we had nothing)
Now we’re always missing something (I miss when)
I miss when we did not need much
