A friend posted this song on their Facebook profile a few days ago. I can't stop listening to it. It's like Leonard Cohen crawled inside my head and just started writing. I've listened to several versions, and I've added the Leonard Cohen live from London version to my "Kickass Songs" playlist. Point of fact, I've made a new playlist called simply "Hallelujahs."
Weirdly enough, even though this song resonates so strongly with me, I think I'm putting my own spin on its meaning just because of where I'm at right now. Every version seems to emphasize a slightly different point, and not one of them is an exact match for my interpretation, though the original by Leonard Cohen is closest. I'm considering slightly tweaking the lyrics and recording it for myself.
<voice over> Blessed be You, Oh L-rd our G-d in Whom we live, and move, and have our being.
I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the L-rd
But You don't really care for music, do You?
It goes like this:
The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall then the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
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
And she broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Now maybe there's a G-d above
But all I've ever learned from Love
Is how to shoot at Someone who outdrew you
And it's not a cry that you hear tonight
It's not some pilgrim who claims to have seen the light
It's a cold and it's a very broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Oh yes, I've been here before
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor
You know, I used to live alone before I knew You
And I've seen Your flag on the marble arch
But listen, love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Well there was a time when You let me know
What was really going on below
But now You never even show it to me, do You
I remember when I moved in You
And the Holy Ghost was moving too
And every single breath I drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
I’ve done my best I know it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel so I learned to touch
I’ve told the truth
I didn’t come here just to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I will stand right here before the empty Throne
With nothing, nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
If you imagine that this rendition sounds raw, angry, and conveys a sense of betrayal, you're right.
And if you imagine that "hallelujah" is bitter, tastes like ashes, and is roughly equivalent to "fuck you", well, you're not wrong.
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