Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen
Various Positions (1984)
Leonard Cohen
Listen to the Song
At a glance
- Key
- C major
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Main progression
- I–vi–I–vi–IV–V–I–V–I–IV–V–vi–IV–V–III7–vi
- Chords used
- F · Am · C · G · E7
Summary
Originally released in 1984, this folk-pop masterpiece evolved from an overlooked album track into a global cultural phenomenon. Blending biblical imagery with raw human emotion, it stands as one of the most covered and emotionally resonant songs in the history of popular music.
Chord Sheet
Chords Used
Progression by Section
Chorus
Verse
Chord Diagrams
Musical Analysis
The song's harmony is iconic for its self-referential nature, mapping the emotional journey of the lyrics directly to the functional roles of the chords. While it primarily uses diatonic chords in C major, the inclusion of the III7 (E7) chord is a sophisticate…
History
Leonard Cohen spent approximately five years writing 'Hallelujah.' He famously wrote around 80 draft verses at the Royalton Hotel in New York, at one point banging his head against the floor in frustration. The song went through several lyrical evolutions, shi…
“Columbia Records president Walter Yetnikoff refused to release the album in the US, telling Cohen, 'Leonard, we know you're great, but we don't know if you're any good.'”
Full musical analysis
The song's harmony is iconic for its self-referential nature, mapping the emotional journey of the lyrics directly to the functional roles of the chords. While it primarily uses diatonic chords in C major, the inclusion of the III7 (E7) chord is a sophisticated touch that provides a chromatic leading tone (G#) to the Am, heightening the 'baffled' or mournful quality of the composition. Its 6/8 (or 12/8) feel creates a gospel-inflected lilt that supports the liturgical theme.
Leonard Cohen spent approximately five years writing 'Hallelujah.' He famously wrote around 80 draft verses at the Royalton Hotel in New York, at one point banging his head against the floor in frustration. The song went through several lyrical evolutions, shifting from a more religious tone to a more secular, 'broken' exploration of love and loss.
Originally released in 1984, this folk-pop masterpiece evolved from an overlooked album track into a global cultural phenomenon. Blending biblical imagery with raw human emotion, it stands as one of the most covered and emotionally resonant songs in the history of popular music.
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Song DNA
Genre
Folk
Era
80s
Mood
Melancholic
Tempo
Ballad
Key
Major
Texture
Sparse
Sound
Vocal-focused
Feel
Waltz
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Statistics
2.9M
Plays
545K
Listeners
5.9M
Genius Views
33
Annotations
100%
Popularity
5:14
Duration
4/4
Time
Credits
Written by
Produced by
From the album Various Positions