| Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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I find this entire song to be so rich with meaning. I just want to refer to one stanza that I see as particularly meaningful and that isn't included in the other covers I've heard: "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 love this stanza because I see it as pointing to the true meaning behind the song. While Jeff Buckley's lyrics only include stanzas that refer to the pain and failure of human loving, I believe this song is actually a celebration of love, even the "broken" love. Yes, the song includes the pain, longing, and confusion that is mixed into immature romantic love. And, yes, it describes the pain that occurs when we approach romantic love as an escape of our own sense of incompleteness, rather than as an opportunity to let the self-love we've discovered spread to others. But when he says "there's a blaze of light in every word... the holy or the broken hallelujah," I believe he's pointing to his vague sense that there is a beauty and purpose to the illusion of separation and that there is only love underneath it all. Said another way, I think he's saying that even our misguided actions in the name of love (our broken hallelujahs, such as shooting someone who outdrew you) are still beautiful songs of worship to the one source from which we come (have a blaze of light). And I don't think it's coincidence that the word hallelujah "is used to express praise, joy, or thanks" (Merriam-Webster). I see it as a song of a spiritual nature, and not a religious nature, in that he's talking about the light that is contained in everything. Said another way, I think he's pointing to the oneness or wholeness that underlies everything, even the illusion of brokenness. |
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| Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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I find this entire song to be so rich with meaning. I just want to refer to one stanza that I see as particularly meaningful and that isn't included in the other covers I've heard: "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 love this stanza because I see it as pointing to the true meaning behind the song. While Jeff Buckley's lyrics only include stanzas that refer to the pain and failure of human loving, I believe this song is actually a celebration of love, even the "broken" love. Yes, the song includes the pain, longing, and confusion that is mixed into immature romantic love. And, yes, it describes the pain that occurs when we approach romantic love as an escape of our own sense of incompleteness, rather than as an opportunity to let the self-love we've discovered spread to others. But when he says "there's a blaze of light in every word... the holy or the broken hallelujah," I believe he's pointing to his vague sense that there is a beauty and purpose to the illusion of separation and that there is only love underneath it all. Said another way, I think he's saying that even our misguided actions in the name of love (our broken hallelujahs, such as shooting someone who outdrew you) are still beautiful songs of worship to the one source from which we come (have a blaze of light). And I don't think it's coincidence that the word hallelujah "is used to express praise, joy, or thanks" (Merriam-Webster). I see it as a song of a spiritual nature, and not a religious nature, in that he's talking about the light that is contained in everything. Said another way, I think he's pointing to the oneness or wholeness that underlies everything, even the illusion of brokenness. |
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| Bob Seger – Rock and Roll Never Forgets Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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To me the song is highlighting the weight of aging and responsibility and offering a temporary way out of the pain. The offering is to dance, get into your body, and away from all those heavy thoughts. It quintessential heartbreaking nostalgic Americana. Like other songs in that genre, I'm left with the sense that the weight of life will crush all, but that there still potentially the chance for a few more moments of nostalgic joy. |
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