It has been two months since fans were shocked and devastated by the death of Peter Krause’s character, Bobby Nash, on 9-1-1. I still find it hard to listen to Hozier without feeling a surge of emotions that range from anger to sadness to nausea.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Bobby contracted a lethal virus during a biolab emergency inspired by the movie Contagion in Episode 815, “Lab Rats.” In his final moments, Bobby, the brave fire captain, expressed his love for his colleague Buck, shared a tender goodbye with his wife Athena, and prayed before passing away. The episode also depicted the reactions of his team upon learning of his demise, and to make the scene even more heart-wrenching, the soundtrack featured Hozier’s “Work Song.” While Bobby was the only character to leave the lab in a body bag, the song also suffered a tragic fate in the episode.

Following Bobby’s death, the poignant song from 2014 quickly climbed to the top of the Billboard’s Top TV Songs chart, likely due to viewers using it to grieve the loss of the show’s patriarch. In the weeks following, “Work Song” seemed to play on a loop in my mind, appearing on my TikTok feed and serving as a constant reminder of the impactful decision made by Tim Minear. Just like “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol evokes deep emotions in Grey’s Anatomy enthusiasts, once you associate “Work Song” with 9-1-1, it becomes ingrained in your memory.

Searching “Work Song Bobby Nash” and related show and song hashtags on TikTok reveals a digital graveyard comprised of heartbreaking fan edits, tearful live reactions to the episode, and even tributes to the fire captain at Hozier concerts. Some Bobby tributes set to “Work Song” are genuinely funny explorations of the fandom’s collective grief. But even in lighthearted references, hearing any part of the song is now triggering.

Lyrically and thematically, the Hozier hit was a thoughtful, top-notch (and likely a financially ambitious) choice for the major Bobby (and Athena) scene. But now, in one of Season 8’s many sins, that very good song is ruined for fans! It’s like Pavlovian conditioning, but instead of dogs salivating at the sound of a bell, Bobby Nash’s many children now tear up at the sound of “Work Song.”

In tandem with that infamous April Fool’s Day script, the song’s inclusion also fueled fans’ hope that Bobby would somehow be buried alive and rescued. After hearing the “Work Song” lyrics, “No grave can hold my body (Bobby!) down, I’ll crawl home to her,” fans had renewed hope that Krause would eventually return to the series, only to end the season without a resurrection and even greater sorrow.

Hozier, we still love you and your beautiful music. But I’ll never be able to listen to “Work Song” again without thinking of the late, great Bobby Nash. May he (and “Work Song”) rest in peace — or, you know, return from the dead at any time! That would be preferred!

9-1-1 Season 8 is now streaming on Hulu with Season 9 set to premiere on ABC in fall 2025.