Guest Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 (edited) I'd love to hear from as many people as possible....regarding the song "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen (1985) - sung by Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright. I'd like to get your take on the song - what do you think it means? justjane Edited August 30, 2005 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Any biblical scholars out there? I'm hoping someone can interpret the lyrics to "Hallelujah," a Leonard Cohen song popularized by Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright. Here you go: 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 well it goes like this the fourth, the fifth the minor fall and the major lift the baffled king composing hallelujah Hallelujah... Well 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... Baby I?ve been here before I?ve seen this room and I?ve walked this floor I used to live alone before I knew you I?ve seen your flag on the marble arch but love is not a victory march it's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah Hallelujah... Well there was a time when you let me know what's really going on below but now you never show that to me do you but remember when I moved in you and the holy dove was moving too and every breath we drew was hallelujah Well, 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindy17838 Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 No interpretation, sorry. I thought it was a thread about the Happy Mondays song. My bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earth-Angel Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Carl, I believe the song makes reference to some of the more 'notorious' women in the Bible. Bathsheba (who tempted the king to kill her husband so he could have her) "you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you." Also making reference to Delilah who cut off Sampson's locks that held his superhuman strength: "she tied you to her kitchen chair she broke your throne and she cut your hair" and I believe, it also makes reference to the divine conception and Mary: "but remember when I moved in you and the holy dove was moving too". I shall have a further think about it and listen to it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulGirl Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 sue, i agree whole-heartedly with your interpretation. those are all definitely biblical references as well the reference to king david. the religious imagery is used throughout: "well your faith was strong but you needed proof" "it's not somebody who's seen the light" i also think the song can be applied to contemporary love, with lines such as: "maybe there's a god above, but all i've ever learned from love, was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya" and i think the lines referring to the immaculate conception can also be interpreted as having a sexual connotation: "and every breath we drew was hallelujah" cohen speaks of love which has soured and gone stale. the song is quite bitter and wistful and doesn't exactly paint women in a very complimentary light. however i think the lyrics are very beautiful and have a universal meaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Carl, I believe the song makes reference to some of the more 'notorious' women in the Bible. Bathsheba (who tempted the king to kill her husband so he could have her) "you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you." Also making reference to Delilah who cut off Sampson's locks that held his superhuman strength: "she tied you to her kitchen chair she broke your throne and she cut your hair" and I believe, it also makes reference to the divine conception and Mary: "but remember when I moved in you and the holy dove was moving too". I shall have a further think about it and listen to it again. This is one of my favourite songs, and I absolutely agree with the biblical interpretations. I also think that Leonard Cohen is basicly a poet... so there is few more things to understand. I guess I´d ask him about that... but I don´t have his number!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 This is good stuff. It's such a beautiful song, and the biblical references are making a lot more sense now. I'm still amazed this song ended up in Shrek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danielj Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Muhahaha, I believe I did the Songfacts for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 This link includes what Cohen himself has to say about the meaning: http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/rte.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Wow, listen to both Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright singing this song, Jeff Buckley pours so much more emotion into it... amazing!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulGirl Posted December 16, 2004 Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 mike, you're my new favourite. after jeff of course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted December 16, 2004 Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 This link includes what Cohen himself has to say about the meaning: http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/rte.html Welcome to songfacts, David, and good site about L.Cohen´s "Hallelujah". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaeem Posted December 28, 2004 Report Share Posted December 28, 2004 I think song makes reference to some of the more "Notorious" women in the Bible. Bathsheba, who tempted the king David to kill her husband so he could have her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiggsUK Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Whilst I like the original and the Jeff Buckley versions, my fav. is K D Lang's. Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin35336 Posted January 16, 2005 Report Share Posted January 16, 2005 For me the John Cale version is very pure and beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillianne Posted January 17, 2005 Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 Jeff Buckleys version is just amazing, something about it just makes me wanna cry! :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulGirl Posted January 17, 2005 Report Share Posted January 17, 2005 that's my girl!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian22 Posted January 18, 2005 Report Share Posted January 18, 2005 The Sunday Times (of London) published a lengthy analyses of this Leonard Cohen creation earlier this month. The whole piece is still online @ Hallelujah: the song that outgrew itself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted January 18, 2005 Report Share Posted January 18, 2005 For me the John Cale version is very pure and beautiful. Let me agree with Martin... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulGirl Posted January 18, 2005 Report Share Posted January 18, 2005 interesting article.... but, the jeff version is 'too lush'??! pah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biancaFI Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 theres an italian singer named elisa that covers this song beautifully... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skuff Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 I LOVE to bring back threads! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malakin Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 My wife and I danced to the Rufus Wainwright version at our wedding reception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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