Analyzing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen

Analyzing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen

Grade 21 Ā· Music Ā· 45 min

Lesson Preview

Learning Objective

I can analyze Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" to identify its themes and poetic devices.

  • 1

    Leonard Cohen wrote the song "Hallelujah" and considers it a joyous song about life, even when life feels cold and broken.

  • 2

    The word "Hallelujah" is Hebrew for "glory to the Lord", and Cohen believes that both perfect and broken hallelujahs have equal value.

  • 3

    Cohen wrote 80 verses for "Hallelujah", and the song affirms the value of human life through sex, beauty, art, music, and relationships.