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Holy Moly, What a Great Song! Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' Lyrics, History, Cover Versions and More
Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is one of the most enduring songs ever—and it almost was never released.
Columbia Records initially refused to release "Hallelujah," and it received minimal promotion when it finally came out on his album Various Positions. It was through cover songs from the likes of John Cale and Jeff Buckley that made "Hallelujah" Cohen's magnum opus.
The documentary Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song, now on video, examines the history of the iconic track and how it entered ubiquity after being way ahead of its time.
Learn the basics of "Hallelujah" and its ageless allure.
Related: Remembering Leonard Cohen: 12 of Cohen’s Most Fascinating Quotes
Was Leonard Cohen religious?
Cohen was ordained as a Zen Buddhist monk in 1996 and spent years at the Mt. Baldy Zen Center in seclusion. All the while, he remained observant to his Jewish faith. He explained to The New York Times, “Allen Ginsberg asked me the same question many years ago. Well, for one thing, in the tradition of Zen that I’ve practiced, there is no prayerful worship and there is no affirmation of a deity. So theologically there is no challenge to any Jewish belief.”
What are the words to "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen?
The full lyrics to "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen are:
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 HallelujahHallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, HallelujahYour 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 HallelujahHallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, HallelujahYou 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 HallelujahHallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, HallelujahI 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 HallelujahHallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, HallelujahHallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, HallelujahHallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, HallelujahHallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, HallelujahHallelujah
Related: 150 Music Quotes That Celebrate the Inspirational and Magical Power of Song
How can I play "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen?
"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen is available on most streaming services. If you want to play it yourself, there is an assortment of sheet music available online for various instruments and arrangements of the iconic song.
When did Leonard Cohen write "Hallelujah?"
Cohen wrote "Hallelujah" in 1983, reportedly using "an old Casio keyboard." Cohen said in an interview, "To find that song, that urgent song, takes a lot of versions and a lot of work and a lot of sweat." He recalled being in his underwear banging his head on the floor of New York City's Royalton Hotel until he finally thought the song was up to snuff.
Who wrote "Hallelujah?"
Leonard Cohen wrote "Hallelujah."
Did Leonard Cohen change the lyrics to "Hallelujah?"
Cohen changed the lyrics to "Hallelujah" after its original release. Cohen changed up the verses and made the song longer and, some would argue, significantly darker than its original version from Various Positions.
Producer John Lissauer explained in Alan Light's book The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, and the Unlikely Ascent of ‘Hallelujah‘ (via Rolling Stone) that Cohen had settled on what was, at the time, the lyrics to the 1983 version before he entered the studio to record the track.
“I think it was as it was. There was no ‘Should we do this verse?’—I don’t think there was even a question of the order of verses, any ‘Which should come first?’ And had he had a question about it, I think he would’ve resolved it himself," Lissauer recalled. “He’s not one to share his struggles. If he wasn’t up to recording, if he was still working on something, then we just wouldn’t go in. But he’d never go in and act out the tormented, struggling artist.”
You can see an evolution of Cohen's versions of "Hallelujah" here.
Related: The 20 Best Joni Mitchell Songs Written About Her Famous Friends and Ex-Lovers
Who has the biggest hit with the song "Hallelujah?"
There are a slew of covers of "Hallelujah" in almost every imaginable genre, and picking the best version would feel like Sophie's Choice for most music lovers. That said, Jeff Buckley's rendition is likely the best known and most widely referenced (especially in other covers). Buckley's version was released on his only full-length album, Grace, in 1994 and as a single in 2007. Buckley's rendition of "Hallelujah" was entered into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.
In terms of use in other media, John Cale of The Velvet Underground has a popular version of the song, released in 1991. His version is the one you've likely heard used in Shrek and Scrubs.
How many different versions of the song "Hallelujah" are there?
Aside from the original and renditions by Buckley and Cale, there are several other popular versions of "Hallelujah," and hundreds of recorded versions of the song overall.
Bob Dylan was one of the first artists to ever cover the song, playing it live in 1988.
Rufus Wainwright is featured on the Shrek soundtrack performing "Hallelujah," even though Cale's version is used in the actual movie.
Singer k.d. lang has a popular cover of the tune.
American Idol contestant Jason Castro sent Buckley's version soaring to No. 1 on the digital charts after performing the song on the show in 2008. He later placed in fourth in the competition.
Alexandra Burke had a hit with "Hallelujah" during the 2008 holiday season after performing the song on The X Factor in the U.K.
Willie Nelson recorded a "Hallelujah" cover for his album Songbird.
Brandi Carlile delivers a powerful rendition of the song.
Regina Spektorcovers the song during some live performances.
Next, check out the most notable "Hallelujah" performances ever.
