Hallelujah
Maygen Lacey Lyrics
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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
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 you
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, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Maygen Lacey's rendition of "Hallelujah" is a somber and emotional version of the legendary song written by Leonard Cohen. The opening lines, "Well, I heard there was a secret chord / That David played and it pleased the Lord / But you don't really care for music, do you?" evoke a sense of detachment from music and all the emotions it may bring with it. The third line implies that not everyone may appreciate music like David does.
The verses that follow discuss the power of the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, and the major lift in music. It then mentions "the baffled king composing Hallelujah," perhaps indicating that even a king may find solace in music.
The second verse is where the story takes a turn toward heartbreak. The lines "Your faith was strong but you needed proof / You saw her bathing on the roof / Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you" illustrate one's faith in someone or something but the realization that the object of their faith was not as perfect as expected. This is further emphasized in the line "From your lips, she drew the Hallelujah," where "Hallelujah" can signify a lament or a sigh of disappointment.
In the final verse, the lyrics turn to a reflection on love and its consequences. They state, "Maybe there's a God above / But all I've ever learned from love / Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you." The final line, "It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah," suggests a sense of loss and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I heard there was a secret chord
I’ve heard that there’s a musical chord that is unique and rare
That David played and it pleased the Lord
David once played this chord and it pleased God
But you don't really care for music, do you?
You're not someone who particularly enjoys or appreciates music
Well, it goes like this the fourth, the fifth
The chord sequence is based on the fourth and the fifth notes of the musical scale
Minor fall and the major lift
The chord structure includes both minor and major notes
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
The king is trying to write a song (Hallelujah) using this unique chord sequence but is finding it difficult
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You were a person of strong faith but you needed evidence to believe
You saw her bathing on the roof
You saw a woman bathing on the roof of a building
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
Her beauty and the setting of the scene (moonlight) overwhelmed you
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She physically restrained you with a chair in her kitchen
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
She broke your power and stripped you of your pride
And from your lips, she drew the Hallelujah
Despite your situation, you still praised the woman (or God) with the word ‘Hallelujah’
Maybe there's a God above
Perhaps there is a higher power (God)
But all I've ever learned from love
But love has only taught me one thing
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
That is, how to hurt others before they hurt you first
It's not a cry that you hear at night
The sound you hear at night isn't necessarily someone crying
It's not somebody who's seen the light
Nor is it someone who's had an epiphany
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
It is a sad and hopeless praise, a broken ‘Hallelujah’
Writer(s): Leonard Cohen
Contributed by Nora J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.