Hallelujah’ the ‘Most Perfect Song in the World.’”Ii
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The Most Perfect Song by Elise Aleman It’s intriguing how an obviously religious song gained so much wide-spread acceptance in a secular market. A book has even been written about the song’s success—The Holy or the Broken (Light).i “Bono, Calls ‘Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ the ‘most Perfect Song in the World.’”ii. Has the power of mass media, such as television and movies, been responsible for the recent popularity or does it go deeper, perhaps, a yearning for something bigger than ourselves. Leonard Cohen, a Canadian born singer-songwriter, is an esteemed member of the music community. He has won many prestigious awardsiii and in 2008 was inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museumiv. Ironically, though, his “perfect song” had an imperfect start. Leonard struggled with the lyrics for almost five years revising the verses 80 times before its final cut. His long- time publisher rejected it calling it “a disaster.”v Perhaps this song’s quick climb from zero to hero began when it was heard in the popular animated movie Shrek.vi From there it has shown up in unexpected placed such as VH1’s official tribute video for the 9/11 disaster and the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver (Light). It is a favored selection of singers in American Idol and X-Factor. The song’s haunting lyrics helped many Idol contestants climbed to the top, including Jason Castro and Lee DeWyze. In 2012 Brittany Spears called it the “Five million song” after Carly Rose Sonenclar’s renditionvii. The word hallelujah is defined by the songwriter in The Holy or the Broken, this way, Hallelujah is a Hebrew word which means “Glory to the Lord.” The song explains that many kinds of hallelujahs do exist. I say all the perfect and broken hallelujahs have an equal value. It’s a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way, but with enthusiasm, with emotion. — Leonard Cohen From the beginning the hypnotic melody intrigues the listener with antithesis. “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?” What is this secret chord and who doesn’t care for music? Is it the Lord, David, the person he is playing for or the listener? There are many biblical references in the song, some obvious but some hidden to the secular listener. The secret chord is a reference to 1 Samuel 16:23viii “Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.” The young shepherd boy, David, was also a poet and songwriter, his soothing music was heard regularly in the palace. The whimsical and rhetorical question, “But you don't really care for music, do ya?” is followed by in interesting explanation of the musical structure the song, “It goes like this, The fourth, the fifth, The minor fall, the major lift, The baffled king composing Hallelujah” this is a metaphor for the rise of David from least in his family to Israel’s throne, from his spiritual embarrassing failure to one of the Bible’s more significant role models. The song’s second verse gets personal, the mighty King’s faith was tested by the temptation of a beautiful womanix “You saw her bathing on the roof, Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you.” Bathsheba, the woman whom he gazed at, was the wife of David’s commander who was out at war. David had become complacent and had stay back from battle, unable to contain his lust, David invited her into his bed. To justify her ensuing pregnancy David called Uriah, her husband, back from battle and urged him to “visit” with his wife, but Uriah refused, as this would be dishonoring to his men still at war. David’s plan B was to have Uriah “accidentally” killed in battle in order to marry Bathsheba and avoid a scandal. Reverend Scott said it is well in a sermonx “only God can redeem and reconcile this complicated personality. That is why the baffled and wounded David lifts up to God a painful hallelujah (Light).” 2 The second half of the same verse introduces a second biblical character, Samson, whose famed physical strength was no match for the beautiful and cynical Delilah. Samson was a judge in Israel for 40 years, he was a Nazarite from birth, which meant that he had a special anointing and purpose from God. One of the stipulations was that he could not cut his hair, if he did his incredible strength would leave him. Samson’s love for Delilah was not reciprocated, her persistent nagging for him to reveal the secret of his strength caved “and she cut your hair.” She sold his love for money, Samson was captured and his eyes were gouged out. It’s been said that “behind every great man is a great woman” but the choice of woman these great men of the Bible made led them to their fall. However, it’s after their failure that the ultimate “major lift” reached the “broken Hallelujah.” The recent popularity of this song in the secular world doesn’t come from these biblical allegories but rather from the ambiguous sexual references, the lust, the love and loss and the emotions it carries. The fourth verse is written with an curious reminiscent flare to the most sensual book in the Bible, Song of Solomon, written by David’s and Bathsheba’s second son and Israel’s succeeding king. “There was a time when you let me know, What's really going on below, But now you never show it to me, do you? And remember when I moved in you, The holy dove was moving too, And every breath we drew was Hallelujah” The ecstasy of first love gives way when the reality of their consequences unfolds. The lust is forgotten and all that’s left is the longing for what was once had. This song grips the listener and evokes a response. It transcends age, religion and culture. For anyone who has ever been in love this song cannot be ignored. Ultimately the song is about love, David and Samson’s earthly love failures brought them spiritual broken hallelujahs. It’s through this brokenness that their faiths is strengthened and learn about the Lord’s unconditional love. And even though it all went wrong I'll stand before the Lord of Song With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah 3 “Hallelujah” Lyrics by LEONARD COHEN 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 Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah 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, and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Baby I have 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 Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah There was a time when you let me know What's really going on below But now you never show it to me, do you? And remember when I moved in you The holy dove was moving too And every breath we drew was Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah 4 Maybe there’s a God above But all I’ve ever learned from love Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you It’s not a cry you can hear at night It’s not somebody who has seen the light It’s a cold and it’s a broken 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 you? 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 you 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 Hallelujah Leonard Cohen,. Hallelujah. Rec. June 1984. Columbia, 1984. Vinyl i Light, Alan. The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, and the Unlikely Ascent of "Hallelujah" New York: Atria, 2012. Print. ii "Bono Calls Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' the 'most Perfect Song in the World'" NME.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2013. iii MEDIA RELEASE, ctvmedia.ca, twitter.com/CTV_PR, twitter.com/theJUNOAwards <http://junoawards.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/JUNO-BROADCAST-FINAL.pdf >. iv "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum." Leonard Cohen: Inducted in 2008. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept.