Hallelujah
U2 · Other Songs - U2
That david played to pleased the lord
But you don't really care for music do you
It goes like this, the fourth the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing, hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and 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
You say I took the name in vain
Well I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you
There's a blaze of light in every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken, hallelujah
Hallelujah...
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel so I learned to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the lord of song
With nothing on my lips, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Well, maybe there's a God above
But all I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
And it's no complaint you hear tonight
It's not some pilgrim who's seen the light
It's a cold and broken hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
U2's rendition of "Hallelujah" stands as a testament to the band's enduring ability to reinterpret classic material with their signature sonic grandeur. While the song is widely recognized as a Leonard Cohen composition, U2's version transforms the intimate original into a sweeping anthem, driven by Bono's emotive vocal delivery and the band's expansive rock instrumentation. This recording captures the group's mastery of atmospheric production, blending spiritual weight with accessible rock energy. The track exemplifies the band's capacity to honor source material while imprinting their distinct identity onto the work. As part of their extensive catalogue of live and studio performances, this version remains a powerful example of how the group elevates established songs through dynamic arrangement and passionate execution.