Hallelujah - Rufus Wainwright, 2001

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
in the moonlight
overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne,
she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe I've 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'd let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me do you?
Remember when I moved in you
The holy dark was moving too
And every breath we drew was hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe there's a God above
And all I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
It's not a cry you can 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, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

---

His father is Loudon Wainwright III, and his mother, Kate McGarrigle. Even his sister Martha is an accomplished recording artist, so it's no surprise that Rufus Wainwright has released five successful albums of original music, and appeared on various soundtracks and compilations. He even has two Juno's under his belt. (he has duo Canadian and U.S. citizenships)

Hallelujah was written by Leonard Cohen in 1984. The song is full of obvious biblical references, notably Samson's strength being over-come by the cutting of his hair. Scores of artists have covered the piece; some of the versions having slightly altered lyrics. Besides Rufus Wainwright, there has been U2's Bono, Gordon Downie (of the Tragically Hip), Bon Jovi, K. D. Lang, Simple Plan and even Willie Nelson.

Although it was released in the UK as a single in 2007, Wainwright's version was on the soundtrack for the movie Shrek in 2001. Oddly enough, the movie itself featured yet another version by John Cale - everybody wants to sing this song - it has made it on movies and TV shows too numerous to mention here, but I first heard it on an episode of The West Wing.

Connections: here is a slightly more light-hearted song by father Loudon Wainwright lll.