Hallelujah Lyrics

[Verse 1]
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 ya?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing "Hallelujah"

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

[Verse 2]
Your faith was strong, but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty in 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

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

[Verse 3]
Baby, 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
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

[Verse 4]
There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do ya?
I remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

[Verse 5]
Now, maybe there's a God above
But all I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
And it's not the cry that you hear tonight
And it's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

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About

Genius Annotation

Although not as popular as some later covers of Leonard Cohen’s original, John Cale’s cover is still quite impactful, and its shortening of Cohen’s original sprawling lyrics has been reproduced by other versions.

According to Cale, after receiving 15 pages of lyrics (after asking Cohen to fax them over), he “went through and just picked out the cheeky verses” to include in his cover.

Cale’s version was featured in the 1996 film Basquiat, where it was subsequently heard by the musical directors of the 2001 film Shrek, who decided to include it in their film as well.

Perhaps supplanted a bit by the fact that the Shrek soundtrack featured Rufus Wainwright’s version of the song, Cale’s version has nonetheless made its contribution to the history of the Cohen classic, and in many ways created the form in which most people are aquainted with it.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Credits
Release Date
1991
Songs That Sample Hallelujah
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