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Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics 10 years ago
I have been thinking about this song a lot recently. I think it's right to say he is using both references from the King David story AND the Samson story. But where I differ is I really think he's talking about the fact that someone can have faith and it IS strong but if you don't act within the ideal believer confines (ex: the way you look(they didn't like "your" hair so they "cut your hair")and not watching your tongue(You say I took the name in vain) or they will break you down (broke your thrown) saying that you are weak and not right in faith even if you are a good person (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) then show you how it should be done(She broke your throne, and she cut your hair and from your lips she drew the hallelujah).

Then throughout the the song he's referencing "hallelujah" to something sad and broken (hence the reason you feel a little sad when you listen to the song AND lyrics). He sees this sadness and he is seeing it's wrong to have this mindset of being closed minded. It doesn't matter if you use words that might offend because "They just don't like it" and if anything it should be a way to shed light on great and true no matter what the word ( 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)

The last verse touches on how he thinks it's sad that he could be a good and honest person and STILL people are telling him he's wrong and and he isn't "A man of faith" but he doesn't care because when he faces his faith and where his heart is in the end, he will still feel like he is as "holy" as any other person

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

and last but not least The first verse. I chose this last because this is what set the scene and emotion that makes the foundation of this song, which makes it the strongest part. He is saying that he has something to say to people in the only way he knows through song. And he believes it is a strong message but, he let's the audience know that they might not care for it.

Now 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

I think the only reason he pulled the bible into it was to set his audience to those who relate themselves to the bible BUT, I think this song is FAR from religious in fact I think he was making a statement AGAINST the church, if anything.

submissions
Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics 10 years ago
I have been thinking about this song a lot recently. I think it's right to say he is using both references from the King David story AND the Samson story. But where I differ is I really think he's talking about the fact that someone can have faith and it IS strong but if you don't act within the ideal believer confines (ex: the way you look(they didn't like "your" hair so they "cut your hair")and not watching your tongue(You say I took the name in vain) or they will break you down (broke your thrown) saying that you are weak and not right in faith even if you are a good person (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) then show you how it should be done(She broke your throne, and she cut your hair and from your lips she drew the hallelujah).

Then throughout the the song he's referencing "hallelujah" to something sad and broken (hence the reason you feel a little sad when you listen to the song AND lyrics). He sees this sadness and he is seeing it's wrong to have this mindset of being closed minded. It doesn't matter if you use words that might offend because "They just don't like it" and if anything it should be a way to shed light on great and true no matter what the word ( 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)

The last verse touches on how he thinks it's sad that he could be a good and honest person and STILL people are telling him he's wrong and and he isn't "A man of faith" but he doesn't care because when he faces his faith and where his heart is in the end, he will still feel like he is as "holy" as any other person

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

and last but not least The first verse. I chose this last because this is what set the scene and emotion that makes the foundation of this song, which makes it the strongest part. He is saying that he has something to say to people in the only way he knows through song. And he believes it is a strong message but, he let's the audience know that they might not care for it.

Now 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

I think the only reason he pulled the bible into it was to set his audience to those who relate themselves to the bible BUT, I think this song is FAR from religious in fact I think he was making a statement AGAINST the church, if anything.

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