I was just going through my music files, and found one of k.d. Lang's awesome renditions of Leonard Cohen's classic Hallelujah that I'd saved.

So incredible.. I listened to it again, and then a second time.
There's many covers of this hauntingly beautiful piece,. but hers is my personal favouite. Never fails to move me intensely with the power and emotion of her incredible voice.
A link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvIORzoLzrY

The thing is, though I appreciate it's beauty..I've never understood it's meaning - what this song is really about.
I was blown away by kd Lang's performance at the 2010 Olympic openening ceremonies.. but also found it an unusual choice, since to me.. it's very melancholy and bittersweet.
I've sort of loosely considered it to be about the struggles and conflicts in love and life.. and reconciling with them, though the religious references are unmistakably there too.

Hearing this again.. thinking of it.. I'd say mine is likely a very over-simplifed analysis to a deeper meaning.
I've never been good at this kind of artistic interpretion.

There woudnt be any one answer.. all a matter of personal evaluation of the writer's lyrics.
Such a song would mean different things to different people, and I'm sure was intended that way.

A pretty complex question to answer maybe.. but for those of you who are familiar with it, would you care to offer your own take on the meaning of the lyrics of Hallelujah?

I love how KD sings that song!!
Sends chills up and down my spine..
I've never really given much thought to the meaning of
the words...I will have to look up the lyrics and read/study
them to see what it could mean to me..

Whatever the meaning, it is a beautiful piece and kd lang does
it masterfully!!

Purrs,
Joan

The Words:

I heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
You don't really care for music, do ya?
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 ya
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Baby iv'e been here before,
Iv'e seen this room and ive walked the floor,
I used to live alone before i knew ya
But ive seen your flag on the marble arch,
Our love is not a victory march,
It's a cold and its a broken hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe there's a God above,
But all iv'e ever learnt from love,
Is how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya,
It's not a cry that u hear at night,
It's not someone whos seen the light,
It's a cold and broken hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Send "Hallelujah" Ringtone to Cell

Joannie, thanks for posting the lyrics.
I should have thought to do this - it's a lot easier looking at a song's lyrics if trying to intrepet them.

I LOVE that song. I love to sing that song...love to sing while driving in the car...its just such a pretty song. Been trying to learn how to play it on the guitar so I can sing and play it together lol. First time I ever really heard it was Shreck 1....its in that movie. And yes when KD sang it, it was really amazing. Hint - if you ever want to hear that song just watch American Idol LOL somebody ALWAYS sings it!

Hmmmm I have never listened to the lyrics, now that I read them I don't have a clue what it is about either. Love the song but now I a bit confused

I posted this link a loooooong time back. This is the best version in my opinion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4

That is one of my favorites as well, good really loud in the car.

Susan

I adore this song esp. Rufus Wainwright's version.
To me this song is about the difficulties that can come from being in love, remembering when it was good and aching when it is going wrong. Mostly the ache is expressed in this song. Mixed with a struggle of faith & understanding Gods love. Leonard Cohen obviously has read the bible and knows the stories of David and Bathsheba as well as Sampson and Delilah & in his version(not Wainwrights version) he says at the end
"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"

That sounds to me like a struggle with his faith and what the world thinks of it. Which may lead him to question his salvation,but in the end when he stands before the Lord he knows he has done his best even though he may have nothing to show from it he will still have praise for God.

I love Jeff Buckley's version and was so sad when I found out he died. So young, such a tragedy.

I love the song and think k.d. Lang has a wonderful voice.