While running years ago, I listened to the podcast Revisionist History episode #7 (http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/07-hallelujah). I learned that Bob Dylan (one of my favorite favorite favorites) and Leonard Cohen had a revealing conversation years ago about Leonard's most famous song, Hallelujah. It's a great podcast and I've shared it multiple times with friends. I hope you take the time to enjoy it.
The song was first published in 1984 on the album Various Positions. It's been covered many times and you can line up hours of versions using YouTube to play until your ears bleed. If you've not heard of it, you may want to check your pulse. Wiki can help you find a few notable versions, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallelujah_(Leonard_Cohen_song).
Here, you'll find the lyrics and the citations for the bible verses he drew from to write it. In all fairness to Leonard, the New Testament references may or not be what he was pulling from as a Cohen, however... they do fit. In addition, there are many versions of the lyrics. And, as said elsewhere, there are many Hallelujahs. Which, I think is a perfect description for both this song and for all the hallelujahs ever expressed.
My own praise has been largely influenced on the seasons and circumstances of my life. Some were sung with empty hands and vacant eyes, my heart and mind numbed by loss, when God seemed the farthest away from me. Others I sang while wiping away tears of joy... because He felt so close and I felt so blessed.
It's strange though. The moments I remember most clearly were those where I felt like my world was collapsing in on me, where all that I could lay in the offering plate were my tears. Looking back I see that He was there, in the middle of my storms - and those are the moments when I can see now that I was sitting in His lap trying hard not to fall apart.
These differences in seasons just might explain why it took Lenny so long to write his. What a gorgeous song. I can't wait to see Leonard giving it everything he's got in the choir.
Now, I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord1
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 Hallelujah2
Hallelujah x 4
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof3
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to a kitchen chair4
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair5
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah x 4
You say I took the name in vain6
I don't even know the name7
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light in every word8
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah9
Hallelujah x 4
I did my best, it wasn't much10
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 Song11
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah12
Hallelujah x 18
Source: LyricFind
Songwriter: Leonard Cohen
1 - 1 Samuel 16:14-23
2 - Psalm 22
3 - 2 Samuel 11-12
4 - Judges 16:10-13
5 - Judges 16:16-20
6 - Exodus 20:7
7 - 1 Kings 8:29 (Hashem)
8 - Psalm 119:105
9 - Revelation 19:3 and Psalm 51
10 - Romans 3:23
11 - Psalm 40:3
12 - Revelation 19:6-9
There are a ton of interpretations of this song. For me, it describes all the things that get in the way of us having an authentic experience with our Creator. This world is full of distraction.
Stream of consciousness/Randomness:
#1 - Leonard Nimoy and Leonard Cohen look a lot alike
#2 - There's an interesting clip of of Nimoy: https://www.nytimes.com/video/obituaries/100000003536154/nimoy-explains-origin-of-vulcan-greeting.html
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