The sisters grew up in a musical family, and began playing instruments from an early age in the cover band Rockinhaim, fronted by their parents, Moti and Donna. The two elder sisters, Este and Danielle, began performing with the pop group "Valli Girls" in 2005. They released a few songs on soundtrack and compilation albums under that name, but left the group shortly after an appearance at the 2005 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. They formed Haim with younger sister Alana in 2007, but did not seriously consider it a professional career for some years. After Danielle became a successful touring guitarist, first with Jenny Lewis and later with Julian Casablancas, Haim reformed as a full-time operation in 2012.
The group's first release, Forever (an EP released as a limited-time download), combined with positive reception at the South by Southwest festival, led to a deal with Polydor Records and a management deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation group in mid-2012. The band began recording material for their first album, Days Are Gone, in sessions between touring dates, including appearances at the Glastonbury Festival. The album charted in the top ten in several countries, including the number-one spot in the UK, and the group had won several "best of" awards by the end of 2013. The group was nominated for Best New Artist at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Their second album, Something to Tell You, was released in July 2017. Their third album, titled Women in Music Pt. III, was released on June 26, 2020. The group received nominations at the 63rd Grammy awards for Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance (for "The Steps").
Hallelujah
HAIM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Took one look to realize
Tell 'em anything and they will sympathize
These arms hold me tight
Old fears, helped to ease them in my mind
New tears say that they will dry in time
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Laughing together like our thoughts are harmonized
Been that way since '95
Give me direction when it is hard to fight
Three roads, one light
Now and then I can lean my back to yours
Travelin' like our feet don't touch the floor
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
I had a best friend but she has come to pass
One I wish I could see now
You always remind me that memories will last
These arms reach out
You were there to protect me like a shield
Long hair running with me through the field
Everywhere you've been with me all along
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Hallelujah
In HAIM's song "Hallelujah," the lyrics explore the idea of having supportive, angelic figures in our lives who help us through difficult times. The opening lines, "I met two angels but they were in disguise / Took one look to realize," suggest that these angels may be friends or loved ones who offer comfort and guidance when we need it most. The following lines, "Tell 'em anything and they will sympathize / These arms hold me tight," highlight the importance of having people who can be relied upon to offer emotional support in times of stress or uncertainty. The chorus, "Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah? / Hallelujah," speaks to the gratitude the singer feels for having these individuals in their life, and the sense that they are blessed to have such dependable sources of support.
The verse that follows continues with this theme, describing the bond between the singer and their friend or loved one: "Laughing together like our thoughts are harmonized / Been that way since '95 / Give me direction when it is hard to fight / Three roads, one light." These lines reiterate that the relationship between the singer and their support system is fundamentally positive and enriching, as they are able to share joy and provide guidance during moments of uncertainty. The final verse speaks to the strength of this bond even in the face of loss: "I had a best friend but she has come to pass / One I wish I could see now / You always remind me that memories will last / These arms reach out." The image of the arms reaching out suggests that the singer is able to draw comfort from memories of their loved one, and that the bond they shared continues to offer comfort and support even in the absence of physical presence.
Overall, "Hallelujah" is a touching exploration of the importance of relationships that offer support and comfort during difficult times. The metaphor of angels helps to emphasize the sense of gratitude and blessing that accompanies these relationships, while the specific details of the lyrics - from the shared memories to the laughter and support - help to create a rich, evocative portrait of the singer's experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I met two angels but they were in disguise
I encountered two people who appeared as regular humans but their actions convinced me that they were angels.
Took one look to realize
I quickly came to the realization that these two individuals were special beings.
Tell 'em anything and they will sympathize
These angels had a unique ability to empathize with any situation and provide comfort.
These arms hold me tight
The embrace of these angels provided a strong sense of security and safety.
Old fears, helped to ease them in my mind
The presence of these angels helped to alleviate my longstanding fears and anxieties.
New tears say that they will dry in time
Although I may be crying now, these angels have instilled a sense of hope that things will get better with time.
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief that I've been blessed with such amazing individuals in my life.
Laughing together like our thoughts are harmonized
The bond formed with these angels is so strong that we seem to be in sync, even in our thoughts and emotions.
Been that way since '95
This deep connection and friendship has been going strong for years.
Give me direction when it is hard to fight
These angels serve as my guides and mentors, helping me find my way when the going gets tough.
Three roads, one light
Despite the different paths we may take in life, we all share the same moral compass and values.
Now and then I can lean my back to yours
On occasion, I can physically and emotionally rely on these angels for support and comfort.
Travelin' like our feet don't touch the floor
Our bond is so strong that we feel light and carefree, as if we're floating through life together.
I had a best friend but she has come to pass
I lost a dear friend, but the memories and impact she had on my life still remain.
One I wish I could see now
Although she's no longer physically present, I still long for her company and guidance.
You always remind me that memories will last
These angels serve as a constant reminder that the cherished memories we make together will live on forever.
These arms reach out
In moments of loneliness or despair, these angels are always there to provide comfort and support.
You were there to protect me like a shield
These angels have always been there to defend me and keep me safe from harm.
Long hair running with me through the field
This line is likely a reference to a specific memory shared with the friend who has passed.
Everywhere you've been with me all along
Although my best friend is no longer physically present, I still feel her influence and love in my life.
Hallelujah
This repeated phrase is likely an expression of deep gratitude and praise for the many blessings and joys in life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alana Mychal Haim, Danielle Sari Haim, Este Arielle Haim, Tobias Macdonald Jesso
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@issy7023
Heard this on "This Is Us" last night and had to listen again and then find the lyrics, so here they are. So beautiful!
I met two angels but they were in disguise
Took one look to realize
Tell 'em anything and they will sympathize
These arms hold me tight
Old fears, helped to ease them in my mind
New tears say that they will dry in time
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Hallelujah
Laughing together like our thoughts are harmonized
Been that way since '95
Give me direction when it is hard to fight
Three roads, one light
Now and then I can lean my back to yours
Travelin' like our feet don't touch the floor
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
I had a best friend but she has come to pass
One I wish I could see now
You always remind me that memories will last
These arms reach out
You were there to protect me like a shield
Long hair running with me through the field
Everywhere you've been with me all along
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Hallelujah
@GeekySweetie
I just watched yesterday’s episode of This Is Us (don’t worry no spoilers here) The song that plays at the end is so beautiful that I asked Siri to name that tune. It is “Hallelujah” by Haim.
It is performed by a band of three sisters and is dedicated to love, loss, family, and chronic illness. Fitting of the series indeed.
But for me, especially after YouTubing it and listening to it in full, it has a different meaning. I cried during the episode, but then cried again as I emotionally connected to the song in a different way.
I’ve always been a shy reclusive girl, probably dealing with some undiagnosed cognitive issues such as adhd or Asperger’s most likely. Awkward and uncomfortable. I’ve been alone most of my life.
Unlike the big three, I was an only child. I don’t remember my birth father. I thought my stepdad was my real father until I was about thirteen and saw a picture of my real father with me as a baby and asked who that was and my grandma blurted out “come on you know him that’s your dad” uhm nope. Nice going grandma lol 😂. I never cared and never reached out to him, although since then she has shown me pics on Facebook of him and other family members. I’m 40 now so have little desire to connect with a family of “strangers”.
My mom was a teen when she had me and she gave up her hopes and dreams and did her best, but we are not close. I had a tumor removed about four years ago massive like the size of a soccer ball and they all thought it would be cancer. Thankfully it was a hibernoma and not cancerous. But my mother was not there that day at the hospital. My mother was not “there” a lot in my life. I think she just did not know how to deal with me.
I was bullied relentlessly in high school and because of some cognitive issues I probably amplified those experiences in my head. I had a few acquaintances but I only really had one “friend” my best friend. I thought we would be best friends all my life.
And we were until recently. There’s a three year age gap so I was about 8 and she was maybe 5. We spent literally every single weekend together all our life from that age until our 20s. I moved out of state for awhile a few times but we kept in touch. Eventually moved back and we even got to go to college together since I’d taken some time off from school.
I honestly don’t know when things changed. Maybe life gets busy maybe we are two different people than we were 40 years ago. She does live hours away. She did attend my wedding last year but I wonder if it was out of obligation.
The last year or two she never once reaches out by phone email or text. After the wedding I became more cognizant of this fact, and honestly finally as a 40 year old woman I’ve left my shell and made a lot of new friends or acquaintances. Of course my husband is very much my best friend now as any husband should be and I started a club and began hosting events and made new friends. But it’s still not the same as someone I had a 40 year history with.
I have written to her a few times, Christmas New Years congratulations on a new job sympathetic of her struggles or just to say hi…
But I cut my communication way down because I began to feel like a burden (part of it may be some cognitive issues in my head I’m always afraid I’m bothering people).
But it’s different now… I’ve lost my best friend or that’s how I feel.
The line in Haim’s hallelujah rang true and struck a nerve, I cried and trembled and listened to it twice. I thought about reaching out and simply sharing the link and telling her it reminded me of her and especially the line about “I’ve had a best friend but she has come to pass. One I wish I could see again. Long hair running with me in the fields. You were with me all along. You protected me like a shield and taught me memories will remain” (that’s not exact lol going off memory. Something like that in the final verse of the song).
We would always walk the neighborhood and playgrounds and even a golf course and play in rivers and lakes and puddles and forests and trails. We were always together and she is still in my heart and always will be even though we may have grown apart.
I just wanted to share how this song really touched me. Thanks for listening :)
@leahmw28
LYRICS:
I met two angels but they were in disguise
Took one look to realize
Tell 'em anything and they will sympathize
These arms hold me tight
Old fears, helped to ease them in my mind
New tears say that they will dry in time
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Hallelujah
Laughing together like our thoughts are harmonized
Been that way since '95
Give me direction when it is hard to fight
Three roads, one light
Now and then I can lean my back to yours
Travelin' like our feet don't touch the floor
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
I had a best friend but she has come to pass
One I wish I could see now
You always remind me that memories will last
These arms reach out
You were there to protect me like a shield
Long hair running with me through the field
Everywhere you've been with me all along
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Why me? How'd I get this hallelujah?
Hallelujah
@JayPalfrey
ANYONE ELSE SO EXCITED?!!!
@scottbocanegra9258
What a touching song and tribute Stevie Nicks gave by quoteing one of the verses of Hallelujah regarding the loss of her friend and bandmate Christine McVie. “I had a best friend but she has come to pass / One I wish I could see now / You always remind me that memories will last / These arms reach out / You were there to protect me like a shield / Long hair, running with me through the field / Everywhere, you’ve been with me all along / Why me? How’d I get this hallelujah?”
@willpross6706
Thats how I found out about this. totally agree.
@sheische6017
Yes, came here to check out the song. Touching tribute to a long time friend. Two very talented people.
@Charlie-hv3dh
Amazing song :'(
@Herbaljules
Absolutely beautiful❤
@davidbryce7607
Touching song
So glad Stevie has introduced it to so many of us ❤️
@starjun010
This is like the modern “Landslide” instant favorite, instant classic
@Whisper0ak
Nowhere near the vocal ability. And the song title will forever make this song unpopular with the mainstream.
@aaronsosnoski1017
I legit thought that's who this was when I heard it.