Hallelujah
Words & Music:
Leonard Cohen
This is transcribed in its
original key of G, although most people know the John Cale version in C. (You can capo 5 to get there.) There is a terrific transcription of
the Jeff Buckley version in the December 2007 issue of Acoustic Guitar. Another is in the July/August 2009
issue of Guitar Edge. It is
worth learning.
Em7 G
Em7
G
Em7
Well, I heard there was a
secret chord that David played, and it pleased the Lord.
C
D G
But you don't really care for
music, do you?
G
C
D Em
C
It goes like this, the fourth,
the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift
D
B7 Em
The baffled king composing
"Hallelujah".
CHORUS:
D C
Em C G D
G
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelu----jah.
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 a kitchen
chair, she broke your throne, and she cut your hair.
And from your lips she drew
the "Hallelujah".
CHORUS:
Well, baby, I've been here
before; IÕve seen this room and I've walked this floor.
You know, I used to live alone
before I knew you.
And 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".
CHORUS:
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".
CHORUS:
Well, maybe there's a God
above; but all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who
outdrew you.
And 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".
CHORUS:
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".
CHORUS:
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".
CHORUS: [2x]