John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
John Cale
Although not as popular as some later covers of Leonard Cohen’s original, John Cale’s cover is still quite impactful, and its shortening of Cohen’s original sprawling lyrics has been reproduced by other versions.
According to Cale, after receiving 15 pages of lyrics (after asking Cohen to fax them...
[Verse 1]
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 ya?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing "Hallelujah"
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
[Verse 2]
Your faith was strong, but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
[Verse 3]
Baby, I've been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
[Verse 4]
There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do ya?
I remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
[Verse 5]
Now, maybe there's a God above
But all I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
And it's not the cry that you hear tonight
And it's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah was written by Leonard Cohen.
Hallelujah was produced by Jean-Michel Reusser & John Cale.