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]

 





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