Reviews for Hallelujah Lyrics

Everything that is beautiful in Buckley's version is incompatible with your argument. We don't think that he is a genius for writing this song, but for how he arranged it and played it. When comparing his version with Cohen's, its obvious that they barely resemble each other. Musicians do this all of the time because it is one of the most creative aspects of creating original music. Also, there might be religious meaning in Cohen's version, and maybe even in Buckley's, but because there is religious meaning in one does not necessarily mean there is in the other. Despite Buckley's slight alterations of the lyrics, his musical choices and performance of this song are based on his own musical interpretations. Also, I don't believe he was religious (I might be wrong). Either way artists make the art of others their own all of the time, and it doesn't make it less meaningful or make it something of lower quality. In fact, there are artists of all kinds that appreciate and sometimes prefer the different version(s) other artists create of their original work. In my own opinion I think Buckley's version is the superior, it really doesn't matter who made it first, music isn't a race or something you call dibs on.

About a year ago our family friend killed her self after her husband told her that he wanted a divorce.
That really hit her hard, but she played that she will push it through.
She didn't, and i still think everything we talked about her situation.
I still think was there anything that i could have said or done to make things better.

For those questions i'll never have answer, but the day after she died i heard this beautiful song from different radio stations several times.

It still brings me sad but also beautiful memories every time i hear it.

WOW, i am so surprised to read some of these interpretations. i see this as the story of the EGO surrendered by love...The Ego being the IDEA we have of ourselves and the IDEA we have of what love is...We think we are so in control..and in our innocent way we expect love to always feel good..and it is not always just romantic love, either...At first we are puzzled(baffled king)...he is so sure he KNEW..but.... it is not what he thought it would or should be..the minor fall the major lift...these are analogies not a literal meaning of the ups and downs of learning loving...growing.. As he writes about his feelings of idealism...she anchored his feelings to her (HER kitchen chair)she broke his throne(he was so sure of himself,and his control) and cut his hair(forced him to grow up, took something from him that changed him and his VIEW of himself)...and brought him to his proverbial knees...as he LEARNED more of who he was...he thinks he has visited these feelings before...he has been seduced by love before...perhaps she did 'play' him...but he played along....but in learning more of himself he sees that it is a broken road we travel alone as we learn about ourselves and what love means to each of us...many types of love, and (perceived)loss deepens our ability to feel.....He realizes that while for a time they were in sync, or he thought, it was not to be a long lasting experience..There is saddness as he realizes he has been put on the defensive(shoot at someone who outdrew you)...perhaps once again...He further realizes that there are imbalances in many relationships and again..perhaps he has loved more,been more open, given more, again...than he was loved in return...They grew apart..It looks to me that it is the eternal struggle to reconcile these types of ends in what turns out to be... temporary relationships and to grow without making the same mistakes..again and again...She was available to him fully for a time..but growing changed them both...he struggles to find meaning in the growth....hey people we all have our views..but i do not see anything biblical...just the holiness sought in any relationship...where we lay ourselves open fully to another..and sometimes ...get hurt...but still grow. Hence the HALLELUJAH! Growing through loss enables us to feel more deeply...and nothing is ever lost....Hallelujah.

I always thought the song was about the abdication of King Edward when he went off with Wallis Simpson. It starts off with how she tempted him with her sexual prowess (aparently she had an extremely strong pelvic muscles!) but then once they settled into the humdrum of married life in exile the initial excitement faded. The bit where it says "she tied you to her kitchen chair, she broke your throne and cut your hair" would tie in with my theory. And the bit about the 'flag on the marble arch' is a royal thing too, as if she had set her sights on him because he was royal. And the 'cold and broken halelluja' indicates their life once the excitement of the abdication wore off.

To those trying to claim that Jeff Buckley did nothing more than cover Leonard Cohen's song.

There are a number of lines in this version that are unique to Jeff's rendition. No he didn't write the whole thing, but he certainly added his own tone, flavour and experience to it.

Leonard's version is a dirge. Jeff brings it to life.

The world lost a very talanted musician and lyricist when Jeff decided to go swimming that fateful night. RIP.

This song is the song of players. Their "I love you" is true to them when they say it but... there is no commitment in it. Even when they get all caught up in a woman, they will ultimately destroy it because, well... they are players. That is how I interpret the song.
This is my brother-in-laws life!, and it is hard to watch.
While there is some Biblical language, (which is best explained in the final verse, not listed here) its intent is to focus on the concept that "God is love" and so is an inherent part of any love relationship.
Hallelujah - Love is a beautiful thing even if it hurts like hell.

Jeff Buckley DID NOT write this song! He wasn't even the first person to sing it! Leonard Cohen wrote this song for one of his albums. Leonard Cohen sang it first. Heck, Jeff Buckley wasn't even the first person to cover it! His cover wasn't the one used in Shrek either. A genius doesn't cover someone else's song, they write their own!
There IS religious meaning in this song, as there is in many of Cohen's songs! There are also references to love, relationships, and sex. Leonard Cohen is the real genius here!

The whole song is love and lust of men. From David, Sampson, and even Jeff himself. There's no reference to Jesus at all in this song, but there is Old Testament references. Just because it refers to the bible doesn't mean it's Christian. It's still a master piece and my all time favorite song, ever. Just enjoy the music<3

This song will hold different meanings for each individual. So, the lyricist may have had a specific idea behind the song, but part of its wonder is the fact it can relate to so many people regardless of religious belief etc. Jeff Buckley was truly magnificent. RIP.

This song, to me, is meaningless. I dont understand what the theme is to it...but when I hear it or when I sing it, I feel...weird. Not a strange kind of weird... the weird where you get a tingly feeling in the pit of your stomach that last about 3 seconds. Gr. I will never understand this song.

Of course there are Judeo-Christian overtones to this song! There are references to both David (and his adulterous affair); to Samson (who traded his God-given gift for sexual passions, while she "cut his throat" by "cutting off his hair." And it speaks obliquely of Jesus -- who's life was the ultimate broken Hallelujah. Hallelujah means praise God; but, a "broken Hallelujah" would not be praise -- it would be praise interrupted by that which breaks it -- "Love is a broken Hallelujah" -- the words just can't be uttered... the words are muttered from a place of incredible suffering and pain (as Jesus suffered in order to provide Grace). A young woman sang this song as a tribute to her grandmother at her grandmother's funeral. I had to change the message in response to the granddaughter's bravery! Only a handful of people are familiar with the inner dynamics of her grandparents' marriage. She sang to these people, proud that her grandmother shared the ultimate love--with her, with her mother and uncle, and with her grandfather who had made her life so very difficult. This blessed woman taught even her grough husband that true love ALWAYS stems from the brokenness of our hearts--of our Gethsemane moments--when we most need comfort, compassion, love, but are left abandoned to face suffering alone. Life is like that. Death is like that too. We face death alone with our broken hallelujahs; however, for those of us who believe in a Higher Power, there is a Someone to carry us through Gethsmane. Blessings to L Cohen; prayers for the sould of J. Buckley, may he be singing songs of true hallelujahs now, and blessings to all for whom this song resonates personal pain and personal triumph. AMEN.

I am sorry to burst everybody's little bubble, but I'd just like everybody to know that Hallelujah, originally written by Leonard Cohen, and later sung by the gratest musician of all times, Jeff Buckley, doesn't refer to any religious meaning,or the Bible.
It is about the pleasure of having sex, of making love with someone. It has nothing to do with Jesus or the Church.
Anyways, the song is amazing, and the only one who deserves to sig and play it was nonother than Jeff Buckley.
RIP Jeff, "YOU're a tear that hangs inside my soul forever..."
Xxxxx

I am writing this because for anyone that feels this song like I do...you will understand.

My mother is slowly dying from brain cancer...Since January 21st my life has disintegrated before my eyes. What's happening to her is beyond the pain I can endure anymore...I fly across the country every week to be with her...sleeping on the floor beside her...she doesn't know who I am, cant speak...is changed 6 times a day...and my heard and soul has been forceful ripped from my body...I have no siblings, cousins...or family. Now I feel alone...

She gave her life to care for others...and was left with nothing...to dye in a nursing home...I swore I wouldn't leave her side till the end and beyond.

I have decided to stand...before the congregation and honor my mother, and her love of music and Jesus and, with every fiber of being...sing this song before the congregation. I will stand in the procession line alone...I feel it is appropriate to end the journey by doing this last thing for her. Standing next to her casket.

PLEASE,please keep me in your thoughts. I am not a professional singer...and I cry all day long for the past 6 months...I am spiritually, emotionally, and physically destroyed. I have never in my life asked for help, but please PLEASE think of me...It could happen today or a month or more...I am scared to death....but I won't cowardly back out of my final opportunity to honor my mother...pray for me.

With sincerity, gratitude, and appreciation for taking the time to allow me to share my most painful tragedy. thank you....

I don't know why, but this song means a lot to me.

I admit the first time I heard it was when I watched Shrek, but that doesn't really matter.

The fact is... It touches the deep of my soul. Jeff's voice, the lyrics, the meaning it has for each one...

It's beautiful and, when I hear it, I wanna cry.

And, somehow, it takes me back to old days, when Daddy was still alive.

Just Love It.

we often think of love with an impure and selfish mind. And we also forget our first real love. Romantic love is good, don't get me wrong. But real love is what we feel for our mother, father or siblings and closest friends...when they love us back. This love is also found in romance and makes it(relationship) last a life time.
my mother tied me to the kitchen chair to cut my hair
she broke my throne when i thought i was king
she remembers when i and the holly dove moved in her
i do too. it was better than anything in this world
but dread the moment i'll see her flag on the marble arch (tombstone) i will know the pain that comes from loosing a loved one, it is no victory march. On that day i might doubt that God is there...but for NOW i know he IS.