He is holy and sensitive
On his wall a picture of the Lord
He smears the spots of the Bible
The evening meal - he loves to spread

He loves the boys of the choir
They hold their spirits in
But worry makes him the tenor
So he must be next to him
On his night table still and mute
A picture of the Lord
He turns so slowly

If the church clock strikes twice
Hallelujah
He will fold his hands in prayer
Hallelujah
He will remain without a wife
Hallelujah
So he will have to love his next
Hallelujah


The young man may stay with him
The sin nestles over the bone
So he helps to drive it out
With music and candlelight

If the church clock strikes twice
Hallelujah
He will fold his hands in prayer
Hallelujah
He will be without a wife
Hallelujah
So he will have to love his next

If the church clock strikes twice
Hallelujah
He takes his young to pray
Hallelujah
He is the true Christian
Hallelujah
And he knows, what charity is
Hallelujah

Turn around slowly
Turn around


Lyrics submitted by John M

Hallelujah (English) song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

39 Comments

sort form View by:
  • -1
    General Comment

    Seems pretty obvious that the last few lines are challenging typical Christian assumptions. In this case, the one of "love thy neighbor". It seems the narrative voice in the song is arguing that what the priest is doing is actually not wrong. And, there are no nonconsentual sexual acts being described in the song. Look closer at the lyrics.

    freakishfaeon March 23, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.