Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen

[Steve]

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
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 her
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

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

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, 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 fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

[camus]

Thumbs up for Leonard.

There have been some great covers of this Classic.

I actually prefer John Cale's version to LC's.

Steve if you don't already know - there is a great Tribute album to LC called I'm your Fan, some cracking covers from the likes of the Pixies and Nick Cave.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000 ... nce&n=5174

[Steve]

Thanks for the link

I just love the song lyrics, they're something like the poetry I'd like to write, if I was able to.

[camus]

I agree, his lyrics are superior to his poetry.

Amazing Guy.

[Bombadil]

Och. I had me a Shrek flashback...


me likey.

[pseud]

Me too!

[camus]

"I was born like this I had no choice,
I was born with the gift of a golden voice"

Sings Cohen on Tower of song.

Until recently I didn't realise he was perhaps being Ironic.

For me he's much like Dylan, his voice and songster skills are perfect for what he does. Based on that theory he's a better singer than the 3 tenors, and Johnny Mathis put together.

[barrie]

Donald Duck's a better singer than the Three Tenors and Johny Mathis put together!

He deserves more credit than that.

[cameron]

Well, I was watching Shrek 1 yesterday on DVD with the girls when suddenly a beautiful haunting song featured in the sound track. I must check this out, I thought - so, at the end of the film, I patiently ploughed through a million and one animators and pre-production assistants until I got to the song list. Hallelujah - written by Leonard Cohen and performed by John Cale. I then thought this sounded familiar and so here I am. Moral of the story: I should pay more attention first time around.

The sound track on Shrek 2 is pretty good too: Bowie Changes, Eels, Tom Waites and a version of Ever Fallen in Love by the Buzzcocks.

C

[camus]

Ha Ha,

Nice discovery Cam.

[benjywenjy]

[quote="camus"]There have been some great covers of this Classic

I prefer the Jeff Buckley version myself, He's got such an amazing voice. Oh why oh why did you have to go swimming in that river?

benjy

[kozmikdave]

Jeff Buckley version is my favourite too. Strangely though the lyrics are different:

I heard there was a secret chord
That david played and it pleased the lord
But you don't really care for music, do you
Well it goes like this the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah ....

Well 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 her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah .... .

Baby i've been here before
I've seen this room and i've walked this floor
I used to live alone before i knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
But love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah ....

Well there was a time when you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show that to me do you
But remember when i moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was hallelujah

Well, maybe there's a god above
But all i've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
It's not a cry that you 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 ....


Cheers
Dave