Chords for Leonard Cohen on "Hallelujah"
Tempo:
130 bpm
Chords used:
C
Eb
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
Let me ask you about Hallelujah for a moment.
Sure.
Because it's been an interesting year for Hallelujah.
If it hadn't been a song that Canadians and people
around the world have been singing versions by Jeff
Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Katie Lang,
took on a whole new energy, the song
that you wrote in 1984 this past Christmas, where it appeared
number one and number two on the UK bestseller charts.
And your version, these were cover versions,
and your version was also in the top 40 from 1984.
What did you make of that?
Well, there was a certain sense of, well,
I was happy that the song was being used.
Of course, there were certain ironic and amusing sidebars.
Because the record that it came from,
which was called Various Positions, that record,
Sony wouldn't put out.
They didn't think it was good enough.
It had songs like Dancing to the End of Love, Hallelujah,
If It Be Your Will.
But it wasn't considered good enough for the American market.
It wasn't put out.
So there was a certain sense of, a mild sense of revenge
that arose in my heart.
[C] But I was happy about it.
But I was just reading a review of a movie called Watchmen
that uses it.
And the reviewer said, can we please
have a moratorium on Hallelujah in movies and television shows?
[Eb] I kind of feel the same way.
I was going to say, too, when she placed a stern phone call,
said, no, let's keep it going.
But it's an interesting, the song kind of
transcends musical genres.
It's not a typical pop song.
But not only does it not seem to go away,
it seems to grow in its popularity with each year.
I know it's one of your favorite songs.
You've said so.
I like the song.
I think it's a good song.
But I think too many people are singing.
I think people ought to stop singing for a little while.
What is the magic of Hallelujah?
I don't know.
One is always trying to write a good song.
And like everything else, you put in your best effort,
but you can't command the consequences.
So it took a long time.
The song was written, I think the song came out in 83 or 84.
And then the only person who seemed to recognize the song was Dylan.
And he was doing it.
And because nobody else recognized the song,
it took quite a long time later, I think.
When was Jeff Buckley's?
In 92.
92, so it's almost 10 years later.
I knew his father very well, Jeff Buckley.
I was in the room when KD Lang sang it
at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
That really touched me.
Do the songs ever, do they feel like possessions in the sense
that, is there ever a version of somebody
working with your writing that you don't appreciate?
Very rarely does that [N] happen.
I'm not sure it has ever happened.
You know, I had a very modest career for most of my life.
And I was always happy when someone did one of my songs.
So that overrode most of the critical concerns
I might have had.
In fact, my critical faculties went into suspended animation
when someone would do one of my songs.
And I generally was just delighted when anybody,
and I still feel that way.
Leonard, in 2001, you told a story of your affection
for going and watching in New York,
watching 82-year-old Alberta Hunter sing love songs.
So it's great.
And you said at the time, I'd love to hear an old singer lay
it out, and I'd like to be one of them.
That's right.
You still aspire to that?
Yes, I would like to be.
She was around 82, I think.
Yes, I would love to hear me at 82.
You say you hope to hear yourself at 82.
What do you hope to sound like at 82?
Alberta Hunter.
You've got your model.
Leonard Cohen, it's a great pleasure
to get to sit here with you.
Thank you again for inviting us into your home.
You're most welcome.
Did we get anything that was interesting?
Oh, hell yes.
Yeah?
Yeah, great.
Because if we didn't, let's go on.
We'll happily go on.
You'll go on.
I mean, we might get something
Sure.
Because it's been an interesting year for Hallelujah.
If it hadn't been a song that Canadians and people
around the world have been singing versions by Jeff
Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Katie Lang,
took on a whole new energy, the song
that you wrote in 1984 this past Christmas, where it appeared
number one and number two on the UK bestseller charts.
And your version, these were cover versions,
and your version was also in the top 40 from 1984.
What did you make of that?
Well, there was a certain sense of, well,
I was happy that the song was being used.
Of course, there were certain ironic and amusing sidebars.
Because the record that it came from,
which was called Various Positions, that record,
Sony wouldn't put out.
They didn't think it was good enough.
It had songs like Dancing to the End of Love, Hallelujah,
If It Be Your Will.
But it wasn't considered good enough for the American market.
It wasn't put out.
So there was a certain sense of, a mild sense of revenge
that arose in my heart.
[C] But I was happy about it.
But I was just reading a review of a movie called Watchmen
that uses it.
And the reviewer said, can we please
have a moratorium on Hallelujah in movies and television shows?
[Eb] I kind of feel the same way.
I was going to say, too, when she placed a stern phone call,
said, no, let's keep it going.
But it's an interesting, the song kind of
transcends musical genres.
It's not a typical pop song.
But not only does it not seem to go away,
it seems to grow in its popularity with each year.
I know it's one of your favorite songs.
You've said so.
I like the song.
I think it's a good song.
But I think too many people are singing.
I think people ought to stop singing for a little while.
What is the magic of Hallelujah?
I don't know.
One is always trying to write a good song.
And like everything else, you put in your best effort,
but you can't command the consequences.
So it took a long time.
The song was written, I think the song came out in 83 or 84.
And then the only person who seemed to recognize the song was Dylan.
And he was doing it.
And because nobody else recognized the song,
it took quite a long time later, I think.
When was Jeff Buckley's?
In 92.
92, so it's almost 10 years later.
I knew his father very well, Jeff Buckley.
I was in the room when KD Lang sang it
at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
That really touched me.
Do the songs ever, do they feel like possessions in the sense
that, is there ever a version of somebody
working with your writing that you don't appreciate?
Very rarely does that [N] happen.
I'm not sure it has ever happened.
You know, I had a very modest career for most of my life.
And I was always happy when someone did one of my songs.
So that overrode most of the critical concerns
I might have had.
In fact, my critical faculties went into suspended animation
when someone would do one of my songs.
And I generally was just delighted when anybody,
and I still feel that way.
Leonard, in 2001, you told a story of your affection
for going and watching in New York,
watching 82-year-old Alberta Hunter sing love songs.
So it's great.
And you said at the time, I'd love to hear an old singer lay
it out, and I'd like to be one of them.
That's right.
You still aspire to that?
Yes, I would like to be.
She was around 82, I think.
Yes, I would love to hear me at 82.
You say you hope to hear yourself at 82.
What do you hope to sound like at 82?
Alberta Hunter.
You've got your model.
Leonard Cohen, it's a great pleasure
to get to sit here with you.
Thank you again for inviting us into your home.
You're most welcome.
Did we get anything that was interesting?
Oh, hell yes.
Yeah?
Yeah, great.
Because if we didn't, let's go on.
We'll happily go on.
You'll go on.
I mean, we might get something
Key:
C
Eb
C
Eb
C
Eb
C
Eb
Let me ask you about Hallelujah for a moment.
Sure.
Because it's been an interesting year for Hallelujah.
If it hadn't been a song that _ Canadians and people
around the world have been singing versions by Jeff
Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Katie Lang,
took on a whole new energy, the song
that you wrote in 1984 this past Christmas, where it appeared
number one and number two on the UK _ _ bestseller charts.
And your version, these were cover versions,
and your version was also in the top 40 from 1984.
What did you make of that? _
_ Well, there was a certain sense of, well,
I was happy that the song _ was _ being used.
_ Of course, _ _ there were certain ironic and amusing _ _ sidebars.
Because the record that it came from,
which was called _ Various Positions, _ that record,
Sony wouldn't put out.
They didn't think it was good enough.
It had songs like _ Dancing to the End of Love, Hallelujah,
If It Be Your Will.
_ But it wasn't considered good enough for the American market.
It wasn't put out.
So there was a certain sense of, a mild sense of revenge _
that _ arose in my heart. _ _
_ _ _ [C] _ _ But I was happy about it.
But _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ was just reading a review of a movie called Watchmen
that uses it.
And the reviewer said, can we please
have a moratorium on Hallelujah _ in _ movies and television shows?
_ [Eb] I kind of feel the same way.
I was going to say, too, when she placed a stern phone call,
said, no, let's keep it going.
_ _ But it's an interesting, _ the song kind of
transcends musical genres.
It's not a typical pop song.
But not only does it not seem to go away,
it seems to grow in its popularity with each year.
I know it's one of your favorite songs.
You've said so.
I like the song.
I think it's a good song.
But I think too many people are singing.
I think people ought to stop singing for a little while.
_ _ What is the magic of Hallelujah?
I don't know. _ _ _
_ _ One is always trying to write a good song.
And _ like everything else, you put in your best effort,
but you can't command the consequences.
So _ it took a long time.
The song was written, _ I think the song came out in 83 or 84.
_ And _ then the only person who seemed to recognize the song was Dylan. _
And he was doing it.
And because nobody else _ _ recognized the song,
it took quite a long time later, I think.
When was Jeff Buckley's?
In 92.
92, so it's almost 10 years _ later. _ _ _ _ _ _
I knew his father very well, _ _ Jeff Buckley.
I was in the room when KD Lang sang it
at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
That _ really _ _ _ _ _ touched me.
Do the songs ever, do they feel like possessions in the sense
that, is there ever a version of somebody
working with your writing that you don't appreciate? _ _
Very rarely does that [N] happen.
_ I'm not sure it has ever happened.
_ _ You know, I had a very modest career for most of my life.
And I was always happy when someone did one of my songs.
So that _ overrode most of the critical _ _ concerns
I might have had.
In fact, my critical faculties went into _ suspended animation
when someone would do one of my songs.
And I generally was just delighted when anybody,
and I still feel that way.
_ Leonard, in 2001, you told a story of your affection
for going and watching in New York,
watching 82-year-old Alberta Hunter _ sing love songs.
So it's great.
And you said at the time, I'd love to hear an old singer lay
it out, and I'd like to be one of them.
That's right.
You still aspire to that?
_ Yes, I would like to be.
She was around 82, I think. _
Yes, I would love to hear me at 82. _ _ _
You say you hope to hear yourself at 82.
What do you hope to sound like at 82?
_ _ Alberta Hunter.
_ _ You've got your model.
Leonard Cohen, it's a _ great pleasure
to get to sit here with you.
Thank you again for inviting us into your home.
You're most welcome.
Did we get anything that was _ interesting?
_ Oh, hell yes.
Yeah?
Yeah, great.
_ Because if we didn't, let's go on.
We'll happily go on.
You'll go on.
I mean, we might get something
Sure.
Because it's been an interesting year for Hallelujah.
If it hadn't been a song that _ Canadians and people
around the world have been singing versions by Jeff
Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Katie Lang,
took on a whole new energy, the song
that you wrote in 1984 this past Christmas, where it appeared
number one and number two on the UK _ _ bestseller charts.
And your version, these were cover versions,
and your version was also in the top 40 from 1984.
What did you make of that? _
_ Well, there was a certain sense of, well,
I was happy that the song _ was _ being used.
_ Of course, _ _ there were certain ironic and amusing _ _ sidebars.
Because the record that it came from,
which was called _ Various Positions, _ that record,
Sony wouldn't put out.
They didn't think it was good enough.
It had songs like _ Dancing to the End of Love, Hallelujah,
If It Be Your Will.
_ But it wasn't considered good enough for the American market.
It wasn't put out.
So there was a certain sense of, a mild sense of revenge _
that _ arose in my heart. _ _
_ _ _ [C] _ _ But I was happy about it.
But _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ was just reading a review of a movie called Watchmen
that uses it.
And the reviewer said, can we please
have a moratorium on Hallelujah _ in _ movies and television shows?
_ [Eb] I kind of feel the same way.
I was going to say, too, when she placed a stern phone call,
said, no, let's keep it going.
_ _ But it's an interesting, _ the song kind of
transcends musical genres.
It's not a typical pop song.
But not only does it not seem to go away,
it seems to grow in its popularity with each year.
I know it's one of your favorite songs.
You've said so.
I like the song.
I think it's a good song.
But I think too many people are singing.
I think people ought to stop singing for a little while.
_ _ What is the magic of Hallelujah?
I don't know. _ _ _
_ _ One is always trying to write a good song.
And _ like everything else, you put in your best effort,
but you can't command the consequences.
So _ it took a long time.
The song was written, _ I think the song came out in 83 or 84.
_ And _ then the only person who seemed to recognize the song was Dylan. _
And he was doing it.
And because nobody else _ _ recognized the song,
it took quite a long time later, I think.
When was Jeff Buckley's?
In 92.
92, so it's almost 10 years _ later. _ _ _ _ _ _
I knew his father very well, _ _ Jeff Buckley.
I was in the room when KD Lang sang it
at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
That _ really _ _ _ _ _ touched me.
Do the songs ever, do they feel like possessions in the sense
that, is there ever a version of somebody
working with your writing that you don't appreciate? _ _
Very rarely does that [N] happen.
_ I'm not sure it has ever happened.
_ _ You know, I had a very modest career for most of my life.
And I was always happy when someone did one of my songs.
So that _ overrode most of the critical _ _ concerns
I might have had.
In fact, my critical faculties went into _ suspended animation
when someone would do one of my songs.
And I generally was just delighted when anybody,
and I still feel that way.
_ Leonard, in 2001, you told a story of your affection
for going and watching in New York,
watching 82-year-old Alberta Hunter _ sing love songs.
So it's great.
And you said at the time, I'd love to hear an old singer lay
it out, and I'd like to be one of them.
That's right.
You still aspire to that?
_ Yes, I would like to be.
She was around 82, I think. _
Yes, I would love to hear me at 82. _ _ _
You say you hope to hear yourself at 82.
What do you hope to sound like at 82?
_ _ Alberta Hunter.
_ _ You've got your model.
Leonard Cohen, it's a _ great pleasure
to get to sit here with you.
Thank you again for inviting us into your home.
You're most welcome.
Did we get anything that was _ interesting?
_ Oh, hell yes.
Yeah?
Yeah, great.
_ Because if we didn't, let's go on.
We'll happily go on.
You'll go on.
I mean, we might get something