What Does 'Hallelujah' REALLY Mean? | Lyrics Explained

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"Hallelujah" is a beautiful song by Leonard Cohen, and it means so much to many different people, but in this video I will give the basic idea of what the song means.

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The content of this educational video is covered by fair use. My work is transformative and adds interpretation and analysis to the original work much as happens when I teach poetry in a university classroom. When I explain songs, I rarely use more the lyrics or short clips of the original song or music video and do not hurt the song’s salability or provide a market substitute. All copyright claims will be disputed and appealed. Please see me as your ally as I use a literary perspective to enable fans to understand and enjoy your wonderful and interesting piece of music.

[taylorbritt]

I had a really big obsession with this song a few years ago when I was really really depressed, I'd listen to it on loop and just lay in bed. I don't really know why, it just spoke to me a lot in such a dark dark time.

[scubaguy]

The story of Samson is so much more than the way you tell it. The truth to the Samson story is about being broken, betrayed, failing, and a last ditch redemption. It is powerful. It’s so worth studying.

[richvedepo]

I spent the better part of a 13 hour drive home from Texas working out the harmony to this song and singing it over and over again... It's a song I just cannot get tired of listening to and singing along with. Especially the part, "Remember when I moved in you, the holy God was moving too, and every breath we drew was Hallelujah." I may be in my 70s, but I remember those moments, and they still take my breath away.

[peterdicaprio]

"It goes like this, the 4th, the 5th" - In the 1/4/5 chord progression, the 5th chord is the resolve and is often called the "hallelujah" chord.

[drewthurrott]

Can we agree that this is not a Christmas song although singers cover it on their Christmas albums?

[melanieparedes]

One of the things that I've learned when trying to develop my interpretation of this song is that perception truly is reality. This piece can be about sex, love gone stale, the feelings/sadness that comes with a failed love, the relationship between human faith and God, or the victory's and loses of life in general. Or it can be about all of these or none of these. This piece has given me a new appreciation for the art of poetry/songwriting.

[ConstanceContent]

This song always sends chills through me. It's lyrics speak to me differently, each time I hear it. Hallelujah and thank you, Leonard Cohen.

[alannothnagle]

Great analysis. I've always regarded "Hallelujah" as a bitter reflection on a failed romantic relationship, which the singer links to key Old Testament scenes. The "you don't really care for music, do ya?" line is particularly poignant because it suggests that the lost lover not only doesn't care for music, but also doesn't care about these spiritual references and is instead more interested in "a flag on the Marble Arch" than in the singer's sensitivity. Pragmatism vs. romanticism, which is a more frequent problem than we suspect. Hence, the failure and the bitterness, and yet the singer will forever sing his Hallelujah. One of the greatest songs ever.

[petersmall]

Our need and desire to offer praise arises from our suffering, from the sheer, beautiful, and terrible paradoxes of existence.

[riohenry]

This Hallelujah is going to be listened to for centuries. I would love to see a collection of the 80 verses

[myne]

For me this song is about acceptance, doing with what has been given to you and living, moving with it. Kind of sad but giving strength at the same time. The music bears the lyrics, giving impulse after the brokeness. It allways makes me emotional, one of my favorite songs ever...

[charlesrae]

It's a sign of great art that it is open to so many interpretations; to each their own Hallelujah.

[johnnyb.]

Most songs of Leonard are exactly about what you want and you need them to be in a specific time in your life! That's the magic this extraordinary poet and soul that Leonard was, created with his art! They are about life, love, longing, desperation, despair and hope! They touch your heart and your soul! They are friends when you're happy and they are fiends when you're sad!

[johng.]

Hmmmm. it took almost three-minutes to get to the point but when the Professor finally did, his first set of explanations was spot on. David, Bathsheba and Sampson. Well done.

[deeraredear]

Hallelujah someone finally explained this song

[PR-fkyb]

I went to visit Leonard Cohen's tomb while listening to the song. Was absolutely moved and connected to the universe. Pray for him.

[antonhaq]

The genius of this song is that it has a million meanings, but generally speaking this song to me is a celebration of your own spirit. No matter how bad it gets, there is always a reason to declare Hallelujah.

[noahj]

I’ve always interpreted this song as, Hallelujah is as human as is pain. Somewhere deep inside we are all cold and broken.

[edwinacross]

Most people who sing this song take out my favorite verse. "You say I took the name in vain, I don't even know the name, but really? If I did, then whats it to you? There is a blaze of light in every word, it doesn't matter which you heard to holy or the broken Hallelujah."

[mteberle]

It seems to me the first verse about the 'secret chord that pleased the Lord' refers 1 Samuel 16:23 "And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him."