Hallelujah
Wainwright Lyrics
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That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing 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 a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Maybe I've been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
There was a time you'd let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me do you?
And remember when I moved in you?
The holy dark was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Maybe there's a God above
And all I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
It's not a cry you can hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and its a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Wainwright's song Hallelujah is a complex exploration of love, faith, and loss. The first verse, "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?" is an allusion to the biblical King David, who played the harp and sang hymns to please God. The message here is that music can have a divine power, but the person listening may not be able to understand or appreciate it.
The second verse introduces the character of the singer, who is in a romantic relationship with someone who has shaken their faith. The line "your faith was strong but you needed proof" suggests that the other person was struggling with doubts about their relationship, or perhaps about their faith in general. The image of the woman bathing on the roof recalls the biblical story of Bathsheba, who was seen bathing by King David and became his lover, leading to a series of tragic events. In this case, the woman's beauty "overthrew" the singer, suggesting that their feelings for her were so powerful that they lost all control over themselves.
In the final verse, the singer reflects on the meaning of love and how it can both lift us up and bring us down. The lines "Maybe there's a God above, and all I ever learned from love was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you" convey a sense of vulnerability and pain, as if the singer has been through more than they can handle. Ultimately, the repeated use of the word "Hallelujah" suggests that even in the midst of despair, there is still a glimmer of hope and a desire to find meaning in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I've heard there was a secret chord
I have been informed that there is a unique musical note
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
David performed this note, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
You do not have genuine interest in music, correct?
It goes like this
This note progression goes as follows
The fourth, the fifth
The fourth and fifth notes of the progression
The minor fall, the major lift
The minor fall and major lift within the progression
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
The perplexed king writing a melody of praise
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
Your beliefs were strong but you required validation
You saw her bathing on the roof
You saw her cleansing on the rooftop
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
Her attractiveness and the lunar radiance overwhelmed you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She bound you to a chair in the kitchen
She broke your throne, she cut your hair
She destroyed your power, she clipped your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
And she elicited a chant of praise from your lips
Maybe I've been here before
Perhaps I have already experienced this
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I am familiar with this space, I have traversed this surface
I used to live alone before I knew you
I used to dwell in solitude before becoming acquainted with you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
I have seen your emblem on the stone arch
Love is not a victory march
Love is not a triumphant procession
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
It is a bleak and imperfect expression of praise
There was a time you'd let me know
There was a period during which you shared everything with me
What's real and going on below
What is truth and occurring beneath the surface
But now you never show it to me do you?
But currently, you do not display it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you?
And do you recall when I entered into you?
The holy dark was moving too
The divine obscurity was also in motion
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
And every breath we took was an expression of praise
Maybe there's a God above
It is possible that a higher power exists
And all I ever learned from love
And all I have ever gained from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
Was how to attack someone who surpassed you
It's not a cry you can hear at night
It is not an audible lament at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It is not someone who has had a spiritual revelation
It's a cold and its a broken Hallelujah
It is a frigid and flawed expression of praise
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Praise to the Lord, praise to the Lord
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Praise to the Lord, praise to the Lord
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Praise to the Lord, praise to the Lord
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Praise to the Lord, praise to the Lord
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nett
I don't care what anybody says, Rufus' version is the best. It has the most emotion and it just is 😂
Oswald M
Facts
YerinDubs
You said it right xDD
Thomas walenciej
Id have to give it a tie with tori kelly
Luke Williams
while I agree with what you said at first, you used the wrong emoji.
Erik Finkel
Autotune isn't emotions
Molly T
With the greatest respect to both Leonard Cohen who wrote this song and also Jeff Buckley who created an amazing cover of this beautiful song, I have to admit that for me personally, something about Rufus Wainwright's version just really resonates with me above the rest.. Well done.
Ashlynn Kae
Agreed. I’ve always felt the same
oldcougar65
As much as I admire Rufus Wainwright, who does this song very well, Jeff Buckley's version was transcendental.
B. Shireen
Molly Turner something about his dark chocolatey voice...