"Everybody should have and play a uke, it’s so simple to carry with you and it is one instrument you can’t play and not laugh" ~ George Harrison

Friday, May 31, 2013

Hallelujah

~ Hallelujah ~

Leonard Cohen  (Singer/Song Writer) / Jeff Buckley (1994)



A haunting song covered by many over the years, "Hallelujah" has found its way into numerous films and TV episodes. While Cohen wrote the song, it was John Cale's and later Jeff Buckley's version that most have listened to and downloaded and then listened to on repeat.

On TV it has made appearances in The West Wing, Scrubs, Crossing Jordan, The O.C., Ugly Betty, House, ER, The Shield, and many other shows as well as in Shrek in one of my favorite scenes from the movie. The chords on the uke are very straight forward and the music slow enough that with a little practice the song should be a fun addition to your song book.

Brett McQueen of UkuleleTricks has a great version he performs on the uke with a free video lesson and chords and is the version I'm learning from.


C Am C Am
 
 
 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            Em             Am
The baffled king composing hallelujah
 
 
Chorus:

     F           Am          F           C    G   C
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

 
     C                        Am
Well your faith was strong 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                  Em            Am
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah


     F           Am          F           C    G   C
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

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               Em          Am
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah

     F           Am          F           C    G   C
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

 
 

Click here, or here, or here for the rest of the lyrics and the video lesson


See how easy it is? Now get strumming!!