Hallelujah
I've been listening to this quite a lot over the past few days, so much so that I've been humming it continuously. The references for the first two verses are pretty obvious, but what are the next three about? I've been trying to figure it out. Maybe there arn't any. Perhaps its just the writers personal experiences, but if anyone knows if they do reference some text or event I appreciate a commecnt with the explaination.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
Hallelujah
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 have 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 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
And it's not a cry you can hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
If you are wondering why I have been listening to it so often (apart from it being a great song) its because it is used on the Soundtrack of two movies I've seen recently, 'Shrek' and 'Lord of War'. The 'Lord of War' version seems to have a full orchestral backing, but a quick check on amazon suggests that it isn't on the soundtrack.
The soundtrack to 'Lord of War' was composed by Antonio Pinto and if you are a fan of acoustic guitar music inspired by a range of European cultures then by all means grab yourself a copy. I personally quite like the subtle variation between the first and last tracks.
If anyone knows the actual recording used in 'Lord of War' please feel free to point me in the right direction. I know that there is a Leonard Cohen version and a Jeff Buckley version but it isn't either of those.
posted by Jon at 11:00 PM
10 Comments:
"The references for the first two verses are pretty obvious, but what are the next three about?"
There was a time you 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
well... this verse is obviously about shagging.
- Fang
Yes I realise that, but is it a reference to a well known (or perhaps not so well known) text?
And what about
"Maybe I have 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"
Enquiring minds need to know.
The version in Lord of War is the Jeff Buckley version. They may have added some orchestral accompaniment but the singer and cadence of the song is definitely the Jeff Buckley version.
Sorry for the double post, but I just checked the credits on the DVD. Says it performed by Jeff Buckley with accompaniment by Sony BMG Music Entertainment. So, I think you'll be hard pressed to find a recording you can purchase that matches the rendition from the movie.
Thanks Jeremy,
I'll have to see about finding a copy of that version. I got the 'Official Soundtrack' without paying attention to what it was; turned out to be just the original scores.
It is quite good though so I wasn't dissapointed with it, just wish they had added the version of hallelujah.
The quote should actually be attributed to Leonard Cohen. He wrote the lyrics. Here is a good history of versions of the song: http://www.allisoncrowe.com/press/04092101.html
Corrected - Thanks!
I saw someone on my msn with lyrics from this song (not at that point knowing it was this song), googled them and this was one of the sites that came up. Firstly, thanks for being useful and letting me know which song it was I recognised the lyrics from. Secondly, this then caused me to go and find my dad's Leonard Cohen CD's and find a recording of the song. In doing so, I've noticed that the words he sings on this recording and the ones you have here are different!
The first and second verses are the same, but the rest don't exist. Instead he sings the following:
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
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 foll you.
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tounge but Hallelujah
I'm not sure where the other words that you have came from, but I do recognise them, so I assume they are either the Jeff Buckley version (which I may recognise) or the Shrek version (which I would definatly recognise). Admitedly, these 2 versions may be the same, I don't know.
I just thought you might like to know the original Leonard Cohen words, or at least the words he sings on the album Various Positions.
Thanks Vicky,
Glad you found my blog useful!
I've heard the odd Leonard Cohen song played on the radio now and again but have never sat down and listened to a complete album.
Might have to try Various Positions one of these days.
this song... thank you...
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