Anatomy of a Song: "Hallelujah" Quiz

Answer: David

"I heard there was a secret chord
that David played and it pleased the Lord"

Although 'Hallelujah' was written by Leonard Cohen, I have chosen to put this quiz in the Jeff Buckley sub-category, even though the version in 'Shrek' was by Rufus Wainwright, because my version is by Jeff Buckley. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Bono, Bon Jovi and Bob Dylan - and that's just the Bs.

Answer: Baffled

"The baffled king composing Hallelujah"

There are many, many websites out there discussing the meaning of these lyrics. Please look them up if you'd like to see lots of incoherent ramblings about God, love and the Bible. I am not going to be presumptuous enough to attempt to do so, especially as the original Leonard Cohen version apparently had 15 verses. All I will say on the first verse is that in the Bible, David's harp playing soothed King Saul (1 Sam. 16:23).

Answer: Bathing

"Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof"

Once again I shall merely note from the Bible (2 Sam. 11:2) "And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon." (KJV) This relates David's first sight of Bathsheba, who was married to Uriah at the time. The passage has inspired many artists, including Raphael, Rubens, Jacopo Zucchi, Rembrandt and William Blake. Or maybe they just liked painting woman in their baths?

Answer: All the answers are correct

"She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah"

As far as I know, none of these antics were performed by Bathsheba, but the hair-cutting may refer to Samson and Delilah. Or it may not.
Jeff Buckley was born in California in 1966 and released his first EP, the four-song 'Live At Sin-é' in 1993.

Answer: Yes

"Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor,
I used to live alone before I knew you."

There are possibly people out there speculating on the meaning of this, but I refuse to join them. Jeff Buckley recorded 'Hallelujah' on his first album 'Grace', with Mick Grondahl (bass), Michael Tighe (guitar) and Matt Johnson (drummer). 'Grace' was produced by Andy Wallace and released on 23 August, 1994 in the US.

Answer: On the marble arch

"I've seen your flag on the marble arch"

Marble Arch is a famous London landmark. At the western end of Oxford Street (a famous shopping thoroughfare), it was designed by John Nash and built of Carrera marble. A marble arch was also built by Mussolini between Benghazi, Tunisia and Tripoli, Libya. I'm sure the arch in the song refers to neither of these!

Answer: No

"But love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah"

Frantic Googling suggests that no one (from the Bible or anywhere else) has ever suggested that love is a victory march, so I shall content myself with observing that the fight song for the University of Notre Dame is titled the "Notre Dame Victory March". No doubt it is a fine, rousing ditty.

Answer: Dove

"Well there was a time when you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show that to me, do you?
But remember when I moved in you
And the Holy Dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah?"

This suggests to me that the song is about a relationship that was once wonderful, but is now not going so well. But that's just my theory. In 1995 Jeff Buckley and his band were played gigs in Dublin, Bristol, and London before doing an extensive tour from 29 January until 5 March of Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. I wish I'd seen him.

Answer: Maybe

"Well, maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you"

An interesting thing to learn! Jeff and the band toured extensively during 1995, including Australia, but Jeff also slipped in solo, unannounced gigs at his favourite venue Sin-é in New York.

Answer: Cold and broken

"It's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah"

Jeff Buckley's father, Tim, also a singer/songwriter, had died of an accidental drug overdose in 1975, when Jeff was only 10 years old. Tragically, Jeff Buckley was in Memphis, on the way to record an album with his band, when on a whim he decided to take a swim, fully-clothed, in the Mississippi. A passing boat caught him in the wake and he was drowned. RIP, and thanks for a wonderful song. I hope you enjoyed the quiz.