Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah Chords

“Hallelujah” is one of those compositions that rank among the all-time classics of music in general. Written by late great Leonard Cohen and released on his 1984 album “Various Positions,” the song was initially met with next to zero praise.

However, it ultimately found greater popularity when it was covered by John Cale in 1991 for Leonard Cohen tribute album “I’m Your Fan”. Further on up the road, Cale’s version inspired Jeff Buckley to make a recording of his own in 1994, which went on and became a legend in its own right. There were many other interpretations by various singers, both recorded and in concert. Over 300 versions are known to exist.

It has been used in television and film soundtracks, as well as televised talent contests. “Hallelujah” got back into the spotlight after Leonard Cohen’s death in November 2016, appearing on various international singles charts, including the American Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. The song became increasingly popular after being featured in 2001 movie Shrek.

Lyrics and chords:

[Intro]

C Am C Am

[Verse 1]

C Am
I heard there was a secret chord
C Am
That David played and it pleased the lord
F G C G
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
C F G
Well it goes like this the fourth, the fifth
Am F
The minor fall and the major lift
G E7 Am
The baffled king composing hallelujah

[Chorus]

F Am F C G C
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu-u-u-u-jah ….

[Verse 2]

C Am
Well your faith was h3 but you needed proof
C Am
You saw her bathing on the roof
F G C G
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
C F G
She tied you to her kitchen chair
Am F
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
G E7 Am
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah

[Chorus]

F Am F C G C
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu-u-u-u-jah ….

[Verse 3]

C Am
Baby I’ve been here before
C Am
I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked this floor
F G C G
I used to live alone before I knew you
C F G
I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch
Am F
But love is not a victory march
G E7 Am
It’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah

[Chorus]

F Am F C G C
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu-u-u-u-jah ….

[Verse 4]

C Am
Well there was a time when you let me know
C Am
What’s really going on below
F G C G
But now you never show that to me do you
C F G
But remember when I moved in you
Am F
And the holy dove was moving too
G E7 Am
And every breath we drew was hallelujah

[Verse 5]

C Am
Well, maybe there’s a god above
C Am
But all I’ve ever learned from love
F G C G
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
C F G
It’s not a cry that you hear at night
Am F
It’s not somebody who’s seen the light
G E7 Am
It’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah