Hallelujah – English Lyrics

• By: Leonard Cohen

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic and emotional journey with Leonard Cohen's iconic "Hallelujah." This song, renowned for its rich, poetic lyrics and profound themes of love, faith, and human struggle, offers a unique opportunity to delve into the beauty and complexity of English songwriting. Its deep narrative, intricate wordplay, and layers of meaning make it a powerful piece for language learners to explore cultural references, emotional expression, and literary depth within music.

[English]

♪ Now I've heard there was a secret chord ♪

♪ That David played, and it pleased the Lord ♪

♪ But you dont really care for music, do you? ♪

♪ It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth ♪

♪ The minor falls, the major lifts ♪

♪ The baffled king composing Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Your faith was strong but you needed proof ♪

♪ You saw her bathing on the roof ♪

♪ Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya ♪

♪ She tied you to a kitchen chair ♪

♪ She broke your throne, and she cut your hair ♪

♪ And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ 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 ya? ♪

♪ There's a blaze of light in every word ♪

♪ It doesn't matter which you heard ♪

♪ The holy or the broken Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ 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 ya ♪

♪ And even though it all went wrong ♪

♪ I'll stand before the lord of song ♪

♪ With nothing on my tongue but hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Hallelujah ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
secret /ˈsiːkrɪt/ B1	noun - something kept hidden or not known adjective - not openly acknowledged or displayed
chord /kɔːrd/ B2	noun - a group of musical notes played together
pleased /pliːzd/ B1	adjective - feeling happy or satisfied
care /keər/ A2	verb - to have concern or interest
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to perform music or act in a show
note /noʊt/ A2	noun - a short written remark or message verb - to notice or observe
fall /fɔːl/ A2	verb - to move downward intentionally or accidentally
minor /ˈmaɪnər/ B2	adjective - lesser in importance or size
major /ˈmeɪdʒər/ B2	adjective - greater in importance or size
king /kɪŋ/ A2	noun - a male monarch or ruler
compose /kəmˈpoʊz/ B2	verb - to create or write music or poetry
faith /feɪθ/ B1	noun - strong belief or trust in someone or something
proof /pruːf/ B2	noun - evidence that shows something is true
beauty /ˈbjuːti/ B1	noun - a pleasing quality that gives aesthetic enjoyment
throne /θroʊn/ B2	noun - a royal seat for a king or queen
hair /heər/ A2	noun - the hair on a person's head
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - a strong feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection

Key Grammar Structures

• Now I've heard there was a secret chord

  ➔ Present perfect tense

  ➔ The phrase "I've heard" uses the **present perfect tense** to indicate an action that happened at an unspecified time before now.

• That David played, and it pleased the Lord

  ➔ Past simple tense

  ➔ The verb "played" is in the **past simple tense**, referring to a completed action in the past.

• It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth

  ➔ Present tense of 'go' for instructions or descriptions

  ➔ The phrase "It goes like this" uses the **present simple tense** to describe how something functions or is structured.

• The minor falls, the major lifts

  ➔ Simple present tense in poetic parallelism

  ➔ The phrases "The minor falls" and "the major lifts" are in the **present simple tense**, emphasizing a poetic rhythm and parallelism.

• And even though it all went wrong

  ➔ Past perfect tense

  ➔ The phrase "went wrong" is in the **past simple tense**, describing a completed action in the past.

• I'll stand before the lord of song

  ➔ Future simple tense with 'will'

  ➔ The phrase "I'll stand" employs **future simple tense** with 'will' to express a spontaneous or definite future intention.