I heard this song three times a week ago by different buskers at different locations. This is a great song, the way he sings it makes it really sad too. I have always experienced deep love in such sad ways. I think this is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. I do prefer the John Cale Version myself. 

The song talks about the King David’s only sin, making wrong his queen because he had seen a beautiful lady and made love with her, and then asked forgiveness to God. I think it’s about being able to embrace personal differences in a relationship and love the other person despite whatever the problems you’d might have, no matter what the stuggle is.

So many thoughts run through my head when I listen to this. Especially lately.

Relationships, love, betrayals. Artist who have covered this song say the line “Hallelujah” refers to sex, or more explicitly, an orgasm.

Some of us when in the snare of this woman, become broken and weakened.

The feelings I have felt in the past when it hurts to love someone and know they love you back, but you can’t be with them.

Being broken by someone intentionally for pleasure and then emotionally being broken and the pain.

I think the goal of this song is a personal definition to “hallelujah” the word, the essence and purpose it has. Not only with God, but within your personal world.

It’s a love song, most definitely.

Love is not always sweet and fluffy – often it’s damn painful. Being truly in love, you leave yourself wide open to hurt. But also, anyone who has loved someone so much that they feel physical pain will recognize themselves here… love is not some noble gesture, it just happens sometimes, to anyone, and its rarely as great and simple as it is often made out to be.

 

Favorite versus:

…Well, your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah…

I can visualize this, I have been there…

 

…Maybe there is a god above
But all I’ve ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
And it’s not a cry that you hear at night
It’s not somebody who’s seen the light
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah…