… Read Full Bio ↴Hallelujah is the Debut single of Alexandra Burke, X-Factor Winner 2008
The song is a cover, original version by Leonard Cohen. Successful in 1994 by Jeff Buckley's version.
According to the Hallelujah Songfacts, this was chosen as the X-Factor winner’s debut single, after Simon Cowell noticed the enthusiastic reaction that American Idol Jason Castro received when he performed this song during one of the heats.
Alexandra Burke was crowned the winner of the fifth series of The X Factor in December 2008 – her debut single 'Hallelujah' shot to the top securing the coveted Christmas number one. The No.2 spot that same week was taken by Jeff Buckley and his classic version of the same song, while the original 1984 version by the writer Leonard Cohen also made the top 40.
Hallelujah
Alexandra Burke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That David played, and it pleased the lord
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
Well it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah
HallelujahHallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not someone who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
The lyrics to Alexandra Burke's song Hallelujah are inspired by the original song written by Leonard Cohen in 1984 and are about the complexity of love and faith. The first verse mentions King David, who is said to have played a secret chord that pleased God, but also acknowledges that the listener may not care for music. The lyrics then describe the melody of the song itself, with the fourth and fifth notes followed by a minor fall and a major lift, and notes how even King David was baffled by composing a song to praise God.
The second verse brings the focus to the idea of love and faith, using the biblical story of Bathsheba and David to illustrate love's power to overcome reason and morality. The line "your faith was strong but you needed proof" suggests that faith can be tested by love and desire, and Bathsheba's beauty and the moonlight that surrounds her are overwhelming to David. The verse concludes with Bathsheba drawing the hallelujah from David's lips, suggesting that love can inspire devotion and faith in ways that reason cannot.
The final verse reflects on the limits of love and faith, acknowledging that they cannot always overcome violence and betrayal. The line "all I've ever learned from love, was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya" suggests that love can lead to hurt, and that it can be a violent emotion. The line "it's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah" suggests that even when faith and love fail, people still try to cling to some hope or meaning, even if it is fragile and incomplete.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard there was a secret chord
I heard that there was a special melody
That David played, and it pleased the lord
The melody was played by David and it pleased God
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
You aren't interested in music, are you?
Well it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
Here is how the melody goes, using the fourth and the fifth notes
The minor fall and the major lift
The song includes a sad part and a happy part
The baffled king composing hallelujah
The king who is confused is making up the song called hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You have a strong faith, but you want evidence
You saw her bathing on the roof
You saw a woman bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
Her beauty and the moonlight made you fall in love
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She tied you to a chair in her kitchen
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
She destroyed your power and cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah
She made you sing the song hallelujah
Maybe there's a God above
There might be a higher power
But all I've ever learned from love
All that I learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
Is how to hurt someone who hurt you first
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
You don't hear crying at night
It's not someone who's seen the light
It's not someone who has found enlightenment
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
It's a sad and ruined hallelujah song
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@doramunteanu8272
I heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the lord
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
Well it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not someone who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
@estefafv9480
LETRAS
I heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the lord
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
Well it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not someone who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
(Hallelujah) hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
@jhanne3895
Aleluya (Version Matrimonio)
Un día nuevo amaneció
En ti fije mi atención
Serías en quien yo confiaría
Lo que empezó en una canción
De pronto un día se convirtió
En la mas bella y dulce melodía
¡Aleluya! ¡Aleluya!
¡Aleluya! ¡Aleluya!
Entre tus manos descubrí
Un mundo nuevo en el que aprendí
Que quien no arriesga, nunca ganaría
Y aunque no fue fácil caminar
Pero nuestro amor pudo mucho más
Que todas la barreras que oprimían
¡Aleluya! ¡Aleluya!
¡Aleluya! ¡Aleluya!
Hoy doy gracias al Señor
Quien mi camino alumbró
Para por siempre unir nuestras vidas
Prometo amarte y serte fiel
Cuidarte por siempre hasta envejecer
Hacerte feliz por el resto de mis días
¡Aleluya! ¡Aleluya!
¡Aleluya! ¡Aleluya!
¡Aleluya! ¡Aleluya!
¡Aleluya! ¡Aleluya!
@melaniemartinez5760
Эдуард Исаков one trip and a nother leagnd dead
R. I. P
Michael jackson
Whitney Houston
Prince
David bowie
Partick swayze
Amy's whinhous
Jimmy's Hendricks
Georges Michael
Cristina grimmie
Kurt cobain
Jeffrey Buckley
Coryton montith
Elvis presley
Marlin Monroe
Paul's walker
R. I. P amen
@madgatsbikes2572
Well I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well it goes like this:
The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah (×4)
Well your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to her kitchen chair
And she broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah (×4)
But baby I've been here before
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor
You know, I used to live alone before I knew ya
And I've seen your flag on the marble arch
And love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah (×4)
Well there was a time when you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show that to me do ya
But remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah (×4)
Maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah (×13)
@kieranbyrne4277
The first time I heard this song was the exact night my dad died. I found out that he passed and Alexandra sang this live on the XFactor. I love this song and I'll always think of him when I hear it.
Sleep tight Dad, you'll always be my hero 💓
@jessicafarrell2100
<3
@chazzynewbs2913
Aw ❤
@jacobjacquin
James Byrne so sorry for your loss ❤️❤️❤️
@cmchez1
James Byrne aww bless u. x
@ZacharyMoonlight
Aww, bless you both. Rest in peace to him x
@SébastienSalmon-z6u
Gloire au Seigneur Jésus Christ! Que ce chant de gloire et de louange résonne sur toute la terre et que toutes la nation célèbre le Seigneur dans la joie et le bonheur!
@DaliaSwaby
These the type a songs that should be getting a billions of views man such a beautiful song ❤
@jeannizerolle230
I don’t care what people say I think no one sings this song as good as this woman she’s absolutely amazing
@biffymackay977
She is definitely my favourite version by a long shot.