(Painting No4 in my ongoing series of Leonard Cohen inspired pieces)
Another one finished in my Leonard Cohen Series – HALLELUJAH – Artist Jeff Quigley.
‘Hallelujah’ is a large piece, framed acrylic on canvas, 580mm x 880mm. Will be entering this one in the December Exhibition at the local gallery.
This is my fourth piece in my ongoing series of Leonard Cohen inspired works. I’ve linked the Cohen song below. (Scroll down)
My first piece in my Cohen series was “I told you when I came I was a Stranger” followed by “Bird on a Wire”. Next came “Dance Me To The End Of Love” You can view my Cohen Series here. https://www.studioquigs.com.au/category/leonard-cohen-series-artworks-by-jeff-quigley/
From my early youth I have always loved the music of Leonard Cohen. Years spent sitting around the record player listening to Cohen on vinyl LPs rotating at 33rpm. Thinking back that was only 55 plus years ago.
My Cohen Series is a work in progress and I know there will be more pieces added in the future
Some interesting info on Cohen’s Hallelujah.
Cohen originally wrote around 80 verses of the song, and used a different selection of the verses in the original recording and in a 1988 live performance.
Since then, the song was covered over 300 times. It is today emblematic and figures among a multitude of film soundtracks and television shows. It became a contemporary standard. Many versions change the lyrics, especially Christian versions that tone down all the ambiguities of the song. (Bastards)
If you have not visited the Local Emu Park Gallery and Gift Shop then I highly recommend that you do so. Admission is FREE and the Gallery is open from Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm
Listen to Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah Song. Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah (Official Audio) (Over 24 million views)
Hear magical version by Choir! Choir! Choir! / Rufus Wainwright + 1500 singers sing HALLELUJAH! (over 14 million views)
Hallelujah lyrics
[Verse 1]
Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do ya?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing “Hallelujah”
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
[Verse 2]
Your faith was strong, but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
[Verse 3]
You say I took the name in vain
I don’t even know the name
But if I did, well, really, what’s it to ya?
There’s a blaze of light in every word
It doesn’t matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
[Verse 4]
I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool ya
And even though it all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of song
With nothing on my tongue but hallelujah
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
[Additional Lyrics]
Maybe there’s a God above
But all I’ve ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew ya
And 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
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah