If you’ve been looking for Leonard Cohen Hallelujah lyrics as well as the Christmas Hallelujah lyrics, especially if you’d like to print them out, then you’re on the right page!
On this page you’ll find the lyrics of the original recording of the song followed by the extended version sung by Cohen in his live performances. Following is the Christmas version with lyrics by Cloverton. You can also download a printable PDF file with lyrics for free and watch four music videos: the first two are by Leonard Cohen, the third is a beautiful cover by the One Voice Children’s Choir and the fourth is the Christmas Hallelujah version. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
- Leonard Cohen’s Original Version of Hallelujah
- Hallelujah Live in London
- Christmas Version of Hallelujah
- Song Information
Leonard Cohen’s Original Version of Hallelujah
Hallelujah was released in 1984 in Leonard Cohen’s album Various Positions. The album was the only Cohen album rejected by his record company.
The song itself was only released as a single in Spain and in the Netherlands by an independent record company and it made very little success.
Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, creators of the 2022 documentary film Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song, said that Cohen took about five years to write the song.
Printable Hallelujah Lyrics PDF (Original 1984 Studio Version)
Click on the button to download a PDF file with lyrics to this song for free.
Hallelujah Lyrics (Original 1984 Studio Version)
- Now 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 and the moonlight overthrew ya
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
- 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 ya?
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 ya
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
Sing-along Video (1984 recording)
Hallelujah Live in London
Although initially not particularly successful, Hallelujah was recorded by John Cale in 1991, which inspired a recording of Cale’s version by Jeff Buckley in 1994. When the song was featured in the 2001 animated film Shrek, its popularity increased even more.
As Cohen is said to have written about 80 to 150 draft verses to Hallelujah, he reconfigured its lyrics for his live performance at London’s O2 Arena in July 2008, which was released as an album in 2009.
Printable Hallelujah Live in London Lyrics PDF
Click on the button to download a PDF file with lyrics to this song for free.
Hallelujah Live in London Lyrics
This is the version that Cohen used to play in various performances, which inspired John Cale’s 1991 version from the Leonard Cohen tribute album I’m You Fan, Jeff Buckley’s 1994 studio version from Grace, and the version that the a capella group Pentatonix released in their 2016, year of Cohen’s death.
Based on the structure of the following version, the above artists rearranged its lyrics as follows:
John Cale: 1, 2, 4, 5, 3
Jeff Buckley: 1, 2, 4, 5, 3
Pentatonix: 1, 2, 4, 3 – omitting verse 5.
The fact that verse 5 of this live version includes sexual innuendo (although no profanity) has dissuaded some educators from using the song in classes of minors.
- 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 you?
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 and 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
- Now, maybe there’s a God above
As for me and all, all I ever learnt from love
Is how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
But it’s not a cry that you hear tonight
No, it’s not some pilgrim who claims to have seen the light
No, it’s a cold and it’s a very broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
- Oh people, I’ve been here before
I know this room, I’ve walked this floor
You see, I used to live alone before I knew you
And I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch
But listen love, love is not some kind of victory march
No, it’s a cold and it’s a very lonely Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
- There was a time you let me know
What’s really going on below
But now, now you never even show it to me, do you?
I remember, when I moved in you
And the Holy Dove, she was moving too
Every single breath that we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
- I’ve done my best, I know it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I learned to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come here to London just to fool ya
And even though it all went wrong
I’ll stand right here, before the lord of song
With nothing on my tongue but “Hallelujah”
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Sing-along Video (Live in London)
Sing-along Video with Lyrics by One Voice Children’s Choir
Christmas Version of Hallelujah
Although the original Hallelujah was clearly a love song, its spirituality and reference to God led some artists to considering it a Christmas song.
Printable Christmas Hallelujah Lyrics PDF
Click on the button to download a PDF file with lyrics to this song for free.
Christmas Hallelujah Lyrics
- I’ve heard about this baby boy
Who’s come to Earth to bring us joy
And I just want to sing this song to you
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
With every breath I’m singing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
- A couple came to Bethlehem
Expecting child, they searched the inn
To find a place for You were coming soon
There was no room for them to stay
So in a manger filled with hay
God’s only Son was born, oh Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah - The shepherds left their flocks by night
To see this baby wrapped in light
A host of angels led them all to You
It was just as the angels said
You’ll find Him in a manger bed
Emmanuel and Savior, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah - A star shown bright up in the East
To Bethlehem, the wisemen three
Came many miles and journeyed long for You
And to the place at which You were
Their frankincense and gold and myrrh
They gave to You and cried out Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah - I know You came to rescue me
This baby boy would grow to be
A man and one day would die for me and you
My sins would drive the nails in You
That rugged cross was my cross, too
Still every breath You drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Christmas Hallelujah Sing-along Video
Song Information
“Hallelujah” is a 1984 song by Leonard Cohen, inspired by gospel music and synagogue rituals. It’s not only the haunting melody, but also the inspirational lyrics that appeal so much to everyone who has ever heard this song. Cohen wrote around 80 verses of it, using a different section in his live performances. Many other versions change the lyrics, especially Christian ones.
The song became very popular with John Cale’s recording in 1991 and has since been covered by many artists, including Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Alexandra Burke, The Pentatonix, Il Divo, just to name a few.
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