"Hallelujah" is a classic song originally written by Canadian singer Leonard Cohen that was used in Shrek, covered by John Cale and Rufus Wainwright for the film and soundtrack respectively.
The song plays during the montage between Shrek and Fiona, as Shrek angrily abandons Donkey and returns to the privacy of his now-vacated swamp. Fiona meanwhile prepares for her wedding to Lord Farquaad. However, the montage shows how miserable Shrek and Fiona are and both can't stop being reminded of one another.
Lyrics[]
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 4th, the 5th
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah (4x)
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
Hallelujah (4x)
Baby, I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew ya
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah (4x)
There was a time you let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me, do ya?
And remember when I moved in you?
The holy dark was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah (4x)
Maybe there's a god above
And all I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew ya
And it's not a cry you can hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah (8x)
Trivia[]
- There are two separate stories that might be potential reasons as to why two different versions of the song are present in the film and soundtrack.
- Rufus Wainwright himself has suggested that the executives didn't use his cover in the film due to news breaking out about his sexuality.
- Another story hints that because John Cale wasn't an artist working for DreamWorks records, they used an in-house artist to cover their own version for the soundtrack.
