Heartwood Guitar Instruction

Hallelujah

by Leonard Cohen, as performed by Jeff Buckley

 

Capo 5, in 6/8 time

 

Chord Guide
21  34 G:    320033	12 34 Em7:   022033	32 1 C:    x32010	132 D:    xx0232
12 Em:   022000	213 4 B7:   x21202

 

 

 

Intro:  / G - - - - - / Em7 - - - - - / x2

 

                 G                      Em7                     G                           Em7

Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the Lord,

         C (1½)                       D (½)  G         D      G                         C (½)     D (½)

But you don’t really care for music, do you?   It goes like this: the fourth, the fifth

       Em                   C                  D                      B7            Em7 (2)

The minor fall, the major lift, the baffled king composing Hallelujah!

 

 

        G                                  Em7                      G                      Em7

Your faith was strong but you needed proof. You saw her bathing on the roof;

        C (1½)                          D (½) G         D            G                 C (½)      D (½)

Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you. But she tied you to a kitchen chair

        Em                              C                          D                        B7                Em7 (2)

She broke your throne, she cut your hair, and from your lips she drew the Hallelujah! (Chorus)

 

        G                    Em7                G                      Em7

You say I took the name in vain; But I don’t even know the name.

      C (1½)                       D (½) G       D                G                   C (½)  D (½)

But if I did, well, really, what’s it to you? There’s a blaze of light in every word;

     Em                   C                              D                B7            Em7 (2)

It doesn’t matter which you heard; The holy, or the broken Hallelujah!  (Chorus)

 

 G                     Em7                G                             Em7

Baby, I’ve been here before. I know this room, I’ve walked this floor.

   C (1½)                     D (½) G         D       G                                C (½) D (½)

I used to live alone before I knew you. I’ve seen your flag on the marble   arch,

  Em              C                            D                     B7           Em7 (2)

Love is not a victory march. It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah!  (Chorus)

 

           G                   Em7           G                            Em7

There was a time you let me know What’s really going on below

        C (1½)                     D (½)  G         D      G                       C (½)     D (½)

But now you never show it to me, do you? I remember when I moved in you,

             Em                   C                       D                         B7              Em7 (2)

And the holy dove was moving, too. And every breath we drew was Hallelujah!  (Chorus)

 

          G                    Em7               G             Em7

Now maybe there’s a God above But all I ever learn from love

    C (1½)                                  D (½)  G         D           G                           C (½) D (½)

Is how to shoot at somebody who   outdrew you. And it’s not a cry that you hear at night,

       Em                           C                           D                   B7           Em7 (2)

It’s not somebody who’s seen the light, it’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah!  (Chorus)

 

 

This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.