There are all kinds of things I could ask you if I choose
But I don't do I dear good intentions don't survive here
No instead my requests tend to be dumb as hell
Move in close, closer still, I hear the songs of Georgie Gershwin
I swear at you 'cause I believe that sweet talk like candy rots teeth

No Hallelujahs, or gifted voices
To sing your praises I'd be walking on wheels
No whoops or war cry's or caramias
All translations will read Marry me now
Well I sing to express my belief that sweet talk like candy rots teeth

With his hand on his heart, it's a posing place
While draining the mystery from your face
He admits all he's chasing is the chase
But you won't let him run
You make him suffer for all he's gone done
He'll still be hurting when the kingdom comes

Move in close till you see, he only wants what he can't have
So when he gets it he's good as bad
Move in close, closer still, I hear the songs of Georgie Gershwin
Oh Hallelujah, how I'm walking on wheels

Overall Meaning

In Prefab Sprout's song Hallelujah, the singer laments the futility of good intentions in his pursuit of love. He acknowledges that his requests may seem foolish and misguided, and acknowledges his habit of resorting to bitter insults instead of sweet-talking. He expresses a distaste for overt displays of affection, such as singing praises or shouting cries of joy. Instead, he opts for a simple and direct request: "marry me now." The song also explores the idea of chasing after what one cannot have, and the emotional toll it takes on the pursuer. The singer observes that the object of his affections enjoys tormenting him, and that this cycle will likely continue even after death ("he'll still be hurting when the kingdom comes").

The song is characterized by its eclectic musical style, blending elements of pop, rock, jazz, and orchestral music. It features a prominent guitar riff, intricate vocal harmonies, and a driving beat. The lyrics are filled with literary and cultural references, including nods to George Gershwin and the Bible. The song's chorus, "oh Hallelujah, how I'm walking on wheels," has been interpreted in various ways, ranging from a sarcastic commentary on the singer's delusional state to a genuine expression of joy and gratitude.

Line by Line Meaning

There are all kinds of things I could ask you if I choose
I have many questions to ask you, but I am choosing not to ask any of them.

But I don't do I dear good intentions don't survive here
I am not going to ask any questions because I don't think it will be useful, and it might even make things worse.

No instead my requests tend to be dumb as hell
If I did ask any questions, they would probably be stupid and pointless.

Move in close, closer still, I hear the songs of Georgie Gershwin
I am getting closer to you and can hear the beautiful music of Georgie Gershwin.

I swear at you 'cause I believe that sweet talk like candy rots teeth
I sometimes use harsh language with you because I think that too much sweetness can be bad for you like candy that rots teeth.

No Hallelujahs, or gifted voices
There are no praises or beautiful songs to be sung about you.

To sing your praises I'd be walking on wheels
Praising you would be impossible, like walking on wheels.

No whoops or war cry's or caramias
There are no cheers or celebrations for you.

All translations will read Marry me now
Every message and request from me will always be asking you to marry me right now.

Well I sing to express my belief that sweet talk like candy rots teeth
I sing to express my belief that too much sweetness can be harmful, like candy that rots teeth.

With his hand on his heart, it's a posing place
He poses with his hand on his heart, but it is not genuine.

While draining the mystery from your face
He is trying to remove the mystery and allure from your face.

He admits all he's chasing is the chase
He confesses that he is only interested in the pursuit, not the actual object of his pursuit.

But you won't let him run
You are not going to let him escape the consequences of his actions.

You make him suffer for all he's gone done
You make him pay for the things he has done wrong in the past.

He'll still be hurting when the kingdom comes
He will continue to suffer even into the future.

Move in close till you see, he only wants what he can't have
If you look closely, you will see that he only desires things that are out of his reach.

So when he gets it he's good as bad
When he does get what he wants, he no longer desires it and sees it as worthless.

Move in close, closer still, I hear the songs of Georgie Gershwin
As I get even closer to you, I can hear the beautiful music of Georgie Gershwin even more clearly.

Oh Hallelujah, how I'm walking on wheels
I am filled with joy and happiness, and it feels like I am walking on wheels.

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