It is imperfect relationships being called to perfection by accepting eachother and everything about that person. Being broken and mistaken and betrayed is definitely nothing like a victory march or as simple as seeing the light. When I listen to the song, I picture David on his knees before his wife, at his throne composing his psalms with tears running down his face, trying hard to express a grateful and broken hallelujah. Mercy, in turn, is ineffable, and so beautiful. To me it says that everything can be forgiven, that love is ineffable. (I also have to smile when I hear Buckley's rendition, because of the repeated emphasis on the phrase "do yuh?") My favorite part in the song is when Cohen speaks of the ".minor fall, the majorlift, the baffled king composing allelujah.". I love that the sexuality in this song is portrayed as a sacred thing. I get all of these interpretations, and I'm totally broken when I think of King David, who is one of my favorite people in the Bible. General CommentOkay, before I forget to say this, I have to mention that I think Rufus is really hot.I want to send out thanks to Delamarter, Stef, Bitchgodess and ArcherAve. Which is a great image-the lovestruck sing-songwriter writing songs about the woman he can't understand or even hope to understand. He was "a baffled King compsosing Hallelujah". David, although he was a powerful King who slew Goliath, was felled by love(or desire) for Bathsheba. His songs have appeared in Moulan Rouge and Big Daddy as well.ĭelmarter is right on about the lyrics, it's about David, not Samson although it makes a breif reference to Samson. He won a Juno(the canadian equivalent of a grammy-he is from canada, eh) and he was one of Rolling Stones best new artists when his first album came out. You should check out his two albums(a self-titled one and "Poses"). But he is a brilliant songwriter who studied opera. Rufus is doing a lot of covers on soundtracks like Across the Universe(I AM Sam) and He Ain't Heavy, he's my Brother(Zoolander). I know Jeff Buckley sang it, and there is a chance that someone wrote it before him. At times it can be a cold and broken hallelujah – but it’s still a hallelujah.Ĭan we get this straight, RUFUS DID NOT WRITE THIS SONG! It's a cover. Real love is painful, it’s not a cry in the night, nor is it all bright lights. Love is not a victory march it’s filled with agony and heartbreak as well as magic and fulfillment. Wainwright is openly gay and perhaps he’s seen more than his share of heartache. In the third and fourth verse introspection seems to be in the forefront of the lyrics. Through the heartache of these tragedies we gain perspective on life. How all of us are tempted to break the “vows” of relationships. In My opinion this is a song about broken relationships and broken vows. The idea of cutting hair is not so much linked to Sampson as it is a reference to a Nazarite (of which Sampson was one) who take a vow not to cut their hair. So in a sense this event did break the throne by breaking David. This action brought calamity upon the house of David. He sent for her, they slept together, she got pregnant and David secretly had her husband killed during a battle. Later in David's adult life, after he became King, he succumbed to temptation observing Bathsheba (The wife of Uriah, one of David's Generals)) bathing on the roof. Notice how the arpeggios mimic the soft plucking of harp strings. David played his harp and it was soothing to King Saul and pleased the Lord. In fact I think the Rufus is drawing a parallel between himself and King David of the Bible. I think Dundada77 is close when they says it's about Sampson, but I think it more strongly speaks of David. General CommentI think this song is one that comes from a deep place in the artists' soul and has deep meaning both spiritually and personally.
#HALLELUJAH RUFUS WAINWRIGHT HOW TO#
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew youĪnd from your lips she drew the Hallelujah Your faith was strong but you needed proof That David played, and it pleased the Lordīut you don't really care for music, do you?