It's the Same Old Song Week: Cohen IV

This song has become the anthem of sad contemplation. Hell, they even used it in "Shrek," (which is where I first heard it), then it appeared on "The West Wing." Then I heard Jeff Buckley's version...and Allison Crowe's. Who knows? Maybe it'll show up in McDonald's next campaign ("I'm conflicted about it!").

But it's hard not to like a song that is so full of biblical references (whether Rufus Wainwright uses them or not), and sexual tension, and derives great satisfaction from going over its chord structure in the lyrics and finding slang rhymes for "Hallelujah." ("Do ya," "to ya" "Outdrew ya") whether Allison uses them or not.

Lots of versions. My favorite? kd lang's. Sure, maybe she turns it into a big production number, but nobody can make the transition from so intimate to shaking the rafters quite like she can.

Hallelujah

Well I heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
Well it goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah

Well Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
And she tied you to her kitchen chair
And She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah

Well baby I've been here before
I’ve seen this room and I've walked this floor
(You Know)I used to live alone before I knew ya
And I've seen your flag on the marble arch
And Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah

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
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah

Well maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who'd out-drew ya
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
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah

Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah (held for a long time)
Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
But I don't even know the name
And if I did, well, really
What's it to ya?
There's a blaze of light
in every word
It doesn't matter what you heard
The horror of the broken hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah

I did my best but it wasn't much
I couldn't feel so I tried to touch
I told the truth, I didn't come here
to fool ya.
And even though it all went wrong,
I stand before the lords of song
with nothing on my tongue
but Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah