Song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
Hallelujah is a song composed by Leonard Cohen, included in the album Varius Positions 1984. The song was later recorded by Jeff Buckley in 1994, and has prevailed as one of the most beautiful versions.
Many artists have recorded this song and it has been featured in different films and commercials. The first version has four stanzas and Jeff Buckley's has five. Together, the two versions add up to seven stanzas.
Original version by Leonard Cohen
Ow, 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?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah
[Chorus x 2] Hallelujah, hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty de ella and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah
[Chorus x 2] 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
[Chorus x 2] Hallelujah, hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the lord of song
With nothing on my tongue but hallelujah
[Chorus x 18] Hallelujah ...
Translation
Ay, I heard there was a secret melody
That David touched and this pleased the Lord
But you don't really care about music, do you?
So goes the fourth, the fifth
The minor falls, the major rises
The puzzled king composes the hallelujah
Hallelujah (4x)
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
She saw her bathing on the roof
The beauty of her and the moonlight brought you down
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she sketched the hallelujah
Hallelujah (4x)
You say I used his name to no avail
I don't even know the name myself
But if he had, well what is it to you?
There is a ray of light in every word
It doesn't matter which one you've heard
The holy or broken hallelujah
Hallelujah (4x)
I did my best, but it wasn't enough
I couldn't feel so I tried to touch
I had told the truth, I did not come to deceive you
And even though everything went wrong
I will stand before the lord of the lord's song
With nothing on my tongue besides hallelujah
Hallelujah (18x)
Analysis and interpretation
The first stanza refers to the psalms of David and also to the song itself, which is why it is considered metalinguistic. The expression "hallelujah" is a way to begin or end the psalms created by David. The fourth and fifth, the minor and the major, refer to the notes of the musical scale that make up the melody of the Hallelujah line.
Biblical references continue in the second stanza. The bathroom on the ceiling tells about David who, seeing a woman bathing, falls in love with her beauty and commits adultery with her, which angers God.
The following passage is a reference to the case of Samson and Delilah. Samson was a judge of Israel endowed with superhuman strength given by the Holy Spirit to fight the Philistines. He marries Delilah, who is a Philistine. She cuts Samson's hair, which was the source of her strength, and she delivers her husband to her enemies.
In the two references we have in common important men of the Bible who fall from grace on account of their wishes. Psalm 51 is one in which King David shows his repentance for the sin of adultery and asks God for forgiveness. It is known as "the chapter of repentance."
One possible interpretation is that the entire passage refers to David. His greatest strength was his character and his intelligence. When David commits betrayal, he loses part of his strength and his kingdom of justice, therefore, it is the sin that arises in one of the most beautiful songs in the Old Testament in honor of God.
In the third stanza, he refers to the third commandment: You shall not use my name in vain. In the Jewish tradition, it is not allowed to even say the name of God, so it is replaced by other names. Therefore, according to some scholars, God's name is unpronounceable.
In these stanzas the questioning of the use of God's name will coincide with the praise of Hallelujah. The author wonders what is the meaning of God's name. He affirms that every word has a ray of light, which can justify the use of any word, even when it is prohibited.
The expression of praise to God (hallelujah) can also be seen as a lament of pain, as is the case in Psalm 51. Therefore, deep down all praise is valid.
The last stanza is a confession in which the author reveals his faults. The insensitivity that does not let him feel and the need to touch. He claims that his purpose has not been to deceive anyone.
In the end, despite the results, the singer shows his faith because, regardless of the events, he prostrates himself before the music of God.
Interpretation
Hallelujah it is a song about faith and spirituality, with many questions about religiosity. The song has a first-person voice that addresses a recipient and has a chorus that chants the word hallelujah. This narrator sometimes questions the addressee, who seems to be the holder of the religious dogmas, but who does not have much faith.
Ay, I heard there was a secret melody
That David touched and pleased the Lord
But you don't really care about music, do you?
Divine music is of no importance to the recipient, which is why he accuses the singer of using God's name in vain.
You say I used his name to no avail
I don't even know the name myself
But if he had, well what is it to you?
The author tells us about the sins and temptations into which the recipient falls, using biblical passages as references. The addressee finds himself in disgrace because of his desire and, unlike David who repents of sin and elaborates a beautiful psalm, he remains silent. Who sing "hallelujah" (hallelujah) is the woman.
In one of the most beautiful sections of the song, the author talks about the name of God, denounced that it is used in vain. Therefore, he justifies himself by claiming that he does not even know the name of God. It continues with a beautiful image, in which each word has a ray of light and it does not matter if it is desperate or sacred because every word shines in some degree.
In the last stanza, the author assumes his mistakes and repents. His own lack of faith is brought into play when he assumes that he has not been able to feel. That is why in the end he prostrates himself before the music of God.
Leonard Cohen grew up in a Jewish family and, from an early age, showed an interest in theology and the Old Testament. We can observe this interest throughout this song in all its references. As he matured, Cohen became a Buddhist to the point of having lived in the tempo. The Hallelujah chorus that is repeated 18 times thus resembles a Buddhist mantra.
Additional verses
This song has other versions in which we can find three other verses:
But baby 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 ya
And I've seen your flag on the marble arch
And love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
[Chorus x 2] 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 ya
But remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
[Chorus x 2] Hallelujah, hallelujah
Maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
And 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
[Chorus x 2] Hallelujah, hallelujah
Translation
But love, I've been here before
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor
You know it, I used to live alone before you
And I see your flag in the marble frame
And love is not a victory march
It's a cold and broken hallelujah.
Hallelujah (4x)
Then there was a time when you let me know
What really goes on inside
But now you never show me, do you?
Remember when I came to you
And the holy dove came too
And all breathing was a ...
Hallelujah (4x)
Maybe there is a God on high
But everything I've learned about love
It was like shooting someone who destroyed you
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
is not someone who sees the light
It's a cold and broken hallelujah
Interpretation
The additional stanzas seem to differ somewhat from the originals. They maintain the theme of spirituality, and therefore assume a tone of confession and love relationship. The recipient appears as "baby", a sweet name.
In this version, more than spirituality, what is at stake is the love relationship. The author begins by telling how he knew that place before meeting the recipient.
Next, a strong image of a flag appears on a marble arch. The most famous marble arch in the world is the Arc de Triomphe, where the burial mound of the unknown soldier is located.
The stanza continues talking about love. The image is a bit bleak and so too the hallelujah feels bleak and broken.
The second stanza is a memory of when the relationship worked and the couple lived in harmony. The song makes a reference to the sacred dove that can be seen as the Holy Spirit. In that time of understanding, each breath of the couple became a hallelujah.
The last stanza is a questioning of faith. The presence of God is questioned and love is presented as a form of violence and not peace. The last hallelujahes intoned in a sad way by someone who doesn't really know the light.
Meaning of "Hallelujah" (Hallelujah)
Hallelujah is a Hebraic word whose first part means to praise (Hallelu or allelu) and the second part is an abbreviation of the name of God (Yah or ya). In Christianity it is used in the Latin form (Hallelujah) in various moments of praise. In Judaism, hallelujah is used to begin or end the psalms.
The psalms of David
David is known as the greatest king of Israel. Among his many gifts are music and poetry. David's life is very important to the three great monotheistic religions. In the Old Testament he appears as a harp player in the king's court. Later he is noted for having killed the Philistine giant named Goliath, thereby winning the hand of the king's daughter.
David becomes the king of Judah, while Isbonet is the king of Israel. With the death of Isbonet, David was proclaimed king of the twelve tribes of Israel. He thus unified Israel and Judah into a single kingdom and moved the capital to Jerusalem.
The Psalms, or Tehillim, is a book, the largest in the Old Testament, made up of 150 prophetic songs and poems. Most of the psalms are attributed to David and most of them tell of the life of this king.
* Article translated by Andrea Imaginario*
