Does anyone agree that Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah is a pretentious piece of shit?

Cart Horse · 03-10-2009, 07:18 AM

The melody is terrific. But the lyrics are vague and up themselves in the extreme. I hate this song.

One version of the lyrics is below

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 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

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was 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 you?
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 you
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
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

A bullshit discussion is here. LEONARD COHEN LYRICS - Hallelujah

Calypso · 03-10-2009, 07:22 AM

It just reminds me of Shrek. And now Watchmen.

Cart Horse · 03-10-2009, 07:27 AM

Just saw Watchmen and heard Hallelujah. squirmed again.

We had bad bush fires in Australia recently 200 dead. They sang it in the Cathedral at the memorial service!!!!!!!!! Bllahhhh

Lots of people love this damn song. It makes my skin writhe.

Rock 'n' Rye · 03-10-2009, 08:05 AM

It's pretty sick when Jeff Buckley did it, Cohen... not so much.

John Galt · 03-10-2009, 09:12 AM

It's an S&M song, an anguissette.

Calypso · 03-10-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Galt

anguissette.

Oooo! That's a fancy word there. I shall use it in conversation today!

*dreams of a time where she can converse with people older than 12*

Alexandra · 03-10-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Galt

It's an S&M song, an anguissette.

Yep. Which pretty much means it's not pretentious.

iheartnihilism · 03-10-2009, 12:50 PM

I don't think it's pretentious at all. I fucking love it and it always makes me think of my friend who does an awesome cover of it. Funny, I wonder if he knows it's about s&m cause he's into that. hmm..

Blitzgal · 03-10-2009, 01:02 PM

I don't think the lyrics are vague at all. Lots of Biblical shit in there -- Samson and Delilah, David seeing Bathsheba bathing and then stealing her from her husband, etc.

Spencer to Adventure · 03-10-2009, 05:33 PM

The Shrek version was done by Rufus Wainright.

03-10-2009, 07:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cart Horse Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 786	Does anyone agree that Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah is a pretentious piece of shit? The melody is terrific. But the lyrics are vague and up themselves in the extreme. I hate this song. One version of the lyrics is below 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 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 Baby I have been here before I know this room, I've walked this floor I used to live alone before I knew you. I've seen your flag on the marble arch Love is not a victory march It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah There was a time you let me know What's really going on below But now you never show it to me, do you? And remember when I moved in you The holy dove was moving too And every breath we drew was 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 you? 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 you 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 Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah A bullshit discussion is here. LEONARD COHEN LYRICS - Hallelujah __________________ "Be-the-fuck-have!" Keith Malley Twitter
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03-10-2009, 07:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Calypso Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Covington, Louisiana Posts: 220	It just reminds me of Shrek. And now Watchmen.
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03-10-2009, 07:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
Cart Horse Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 786	Just saw Watchmen and heard Hallelujah. squirmed again. We had bad bush fires in Australia recently 200 dead. They sang it in the Cathedral at the memorial service!!!!!!!!! Bllahhhh Lots of people love this damn song. It makes my skin writhe.
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03-10-2009, 08:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
Rock 'n' Rye Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 0	It's pretty sick when Jeff Buckley did it, Cohen... not so much.
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03-10-2009, 09:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
John Galt Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Nude Hampster Posts: 1,971	It's an S&M song, an anguissette.
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03-10-2009, 12:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
iheartnihilism Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Jersey City Posts: 1,571	I don't think it's pretentious at all. I fucking love it and it always makes me think of my friend who does an awesome cover of it. Funny, I wonder if he knows it's about s&m cause he's into that. hmm..
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03-10-2009, 01:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
Blitzgal Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 3,294	I don't think the lyrics are vague at all. Lots of Biblical shit in there -- Samson and Delilah, David seeing Bathsheba bathing and then stealing her from her husband, etc.
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03-10-2009, 05:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
Spencer to Adventure Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 0	The Shrek version was done by Rufus Wainright.
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