What the heck does this song mean??

Question

It's called "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley. You can hear it on my Myspace. This question is for people who are already fans of his music, but newcomers can feel free to give their insight.

Thanks!

http://www.myspace.com/jenniferlong89

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

[ chorus ]

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 her kitchen chair

She broke your throne, and she cut your hair

And from your lips she drew the hallelujah

[ chorus ]

Well baby, I’ve been here before

[ Find more Lyrics at www.mp3lyrics.org/S3 ]

I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked this floor

You know, I used to live alone before I knew ya

And I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch

And love is not a victory march

It’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah

[ chorus ]

Well, there was a time when you let me know

What’s really going on below

But now you never show that to me, do ya?

But remember when I moved in you

And the holy dove was moving too

And every breath we drew was hallelujah

[ chorus ]

Maybe there is a God above

But all I’ve ever learned from love

Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya

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

[ chorus ]

Hallelujah ... hallelujah.

Answer 1

Ok, I'm not claiming this is correct but I will give it a shot.

Verse 1:

In the Old Testament, King David (before he was king) used to play the harp for King Saul because it soothed him but King Saul tried to kill David (for other reasons) during this time. King David went on to become king and wrote Psalms in the Bible.

Verse 2:

After becoming king, King David became inflamed with lust after Bethsheba and saw her bathing on the roof top naked from the palace. He ended up sinning with her and killing her husband.

Now as for the second part, I don't recall this with David, but Samson had his hair cut by Delila and it took his strength away and he had his eyes gouged out by his enemy.

Verse 3:

This is where it comes a little hard to follow.

Verse 4:

It sounds as if he is saying that he was following the Lord and was learning about things here on earth but that seemed to stop and there was a time when his relationship with the Lord was strong (the reason for the hallelujah)

Verse 5:

It sounds as if he is wrapping up with the question as to if God exist. He has learned the love is watching out for yourself. He seems to indicate that God doesn't hear the prayers of those who cry out unless they have seen the light.

Overall thought:

I think there are moments he has seen the grace of God and there are moments he feels he has not, and now at this moment he is still unsure. (VS 1) When King David played the harp and wrote music to please Him (God) he was nearly killed. (VS) When King David was taken by lust, he didn't have the strength to resist. He uses the examples to support his thoughts in the end verses (VS 3??). (VS 4) He indicates (Buckley) that there was a time he was familiar with church and was not unfamiliar with the building and they were one (Christ in his life); however, (VS 5) He ends up questioning wondering if God is there, and there may be a chance, but maybe God only hears the prayers of the righteous and he is still uncertain and questioning.

All the hallelujahs represent his persistence in trying to learn and understand but they seem great and at times broken.

There ya go! Not sure exactly.

Answer 2

It's about being able to embrace personal differences in a relationship and love the other person despite whatever the problems you might have.

Rufus Wainwright sings it also. I like his version better

Answer 3

First of all, it's by Leonard Cohen, not Jeff Buckley, but Buckley sings an amazingly good cover of it.

Gotta love that riff on what is traditionally sacred.  But everyone needs something to believe in, no matter how untraditional...