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Hallelujah

by Leonard Cohen, as performed by Jeff Buckley

 

Here's my lesson showing you how to strum and sing this great tune. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more lessons like this one.

 

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                    C (½)     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            Em (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                       C (½)   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                Em (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                    C (½)   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            Em (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                   C (½)    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           Em (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                    C (½)  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              Em (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                              C (½)   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           Em (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.