Born in Cleveland, Ohio,U.S., Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She received a scholarship through A Better Chance that allowed her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
Tracy Chapman helped restore songwriters to the spotlight in the '80s. The multi-platinum success of Chapman's eponymous 1988 debut was unexpected, and it had lasting impact. Although Chapman was working from the same confessional songwriter foundation that had been popularized in the '70s, her songs were fresh and powerful, driven by simple melodies and affecting lyrics. At the time of her first album, there were only a handful of artists performing such a style successfully, and her success ushered in a new era of songwriters that lasted well into the '90s. Along with 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M., Chapman's liberal politics proved enormously influential on American college campuses in the late '80s.
Official Website: http://www.tracychapman.com
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Say Hallelujah
Tracy Chapman Lyrics
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Throw up your hands
The bucket is kicked
The body is gone
Close your eyes
And bow your head
To rest your soul
And to praise the dead
Say Hallelujah
Throw up your hands
The bucket is kicked
The body is gone
Dry your eyes
And stand upright
Put a smile on your face
He wouldn't want us to cry
The sun will rise
The stars will shine
Turning day to dusk
And night to dawn
We'll pass on
But until that time
Say Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Say Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Say Hallelujah
Throw up your hands
The bucket is kicked
The body is gone
Have mercy
It's a wonderful life
Eternal rest for the weary
Mourners party tonight
Say Hallelujah
Throw up your hands
The bucket is kicked
The body is gone
Wave your hands
But don't say goodbye
We're all gonna meet you
On the other side
Tracy Chapman's "Say Hallelujah" is a song about death and mourning, but it is not a somber or depressing song. It encourages people to celebrate the life of the deceased rather than focus on the sadness of their passing. The opening lines tell us that the bucket is kicked and the body is gone, meaning that the person has died and their physical form is no longer with us. However, the chorus, which repeats the phrase "Say Hallelujah" several times, encourages us to celebrate their life instead of focusing on their death. The act of throwing up our hands and saying Hallelujah is a joyful one, and signifies that we are all connected in life and death.
The verses of the song encourage mourners to close their eyes, bow their heads, and rest their souls, indicating that grieving is an important and necessary process. However, the song also reminds us that life goes on, and that we should try to put a smile on our faces, because the deceased would not want us to be sad. The final lines of the song affirm that death is not the end, and that we will all meet again on the other side.
Overall, "Say Hallelujah" is a song that deals with the difficult topic of death in a positive and uplifting manner. It encourages people to celebrate the life of the deceased and to find comfort in the idea that death is not an end but a transition.
Line by Line Meaning
Say Hallelujah
Praise the Lord
Throw up your hands
Raise your hands in worship
The bucket is kicked
The person has passed away
The body is gone
The physical body is no more
Close your eyes
Take a moment of silence
And bow your head
Show respect for the departed soul
To rest your soul
Find peace within yourself
And to praise the dead
Celebrate the life of the person who passed
Dry your eyes
Stop crying
And stand upright
Be strong and resilient
Put a smile on your face
Remember the person with happiness and positivity
He wouldn't want us to cry
The person would want us to be happy
The sun will rise
Life goes on
The stars will shine
Life is beautiful
Turning day to dusk
Transitioning from one thing to another
And night to dawn
Finding new beginnings
We'll pass on
We will all die someday
But until that time
Until then
Have mercy
Be kind and compassionate
It's a wonderful life
Life is a beautiful thing
Eternal rest for the weary
Perpetual peace for the tired soul
Mourners party tonight
Celebrate the life of the person who passed
Wave your hands
Show your love and respect
But don't say goodbye
We will meet again
We're all gonna meet you
We will reunite with the departed soul
On the other side
In the afterlife
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TRACY CHAPMAN, TRACY L CHAPMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind