Recently, watching the West Wing, I heard a song that just totally blew me away.
It was called Halleluja. It was also played in the OC and in Shrek.
I did some research downloaded the Jeff Buckley version (it is orginally a Leonard Cohen song, covered by many) and it really gave me goosebumps.

Lyrics:
I heard there was a secret chord
that David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well it goes like this :
The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah...

Well your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrough 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
Baby I've been here before
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew ya
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
But love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

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

Well, maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
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

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah...

If you haven't heard it, I really recommend this song to you, it's so moving and eerie almost.

For those of you have listened to it, what is your interpretation of this song?
As always with Leonard's songs, one gets lost, even though the lyrics are very simple.....

I know a lot of people really love it, but Buckley's version is a little too hysterical vocally for my tastes. I personally prefer John Cale's and kd Lang's versions. I think Lang's performance of this song at the 2005 Juno awards ought to rank as the definitive version of this song:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...CJzn0rsJdg

damosuzuki said:

I do like Lang's version. She is really awesome.
Do you have any take on the interpretation?

Been in love with this song for such a long time

Big fan of Leonard Cohen's, whenever I seem to play him for others they usuallly get this scared look on their faces, I'm like You just don't 'get it"" lol

Anyways, as far as covers go... check out Rufus Wainwright's while you're at it!

I do love Jeff Buckley's version of this song best. It's incredible.

damosuzuki said:

i really dislike kd lang's version. which is strange becuase i like the rest of that album and the style its done in.

her version for me, though, is a little too loosey-goosey and all over the place. the best approach to this song is "keep it simple stupid." that's what really shines about the Buckley and Wainwright versions.

i don't dislike her version more than Bono's, but it still isn't very good to me.