Carrie Underwood + John Legend - Hallelujah Lyrics
Lyrics
Ooh, in the winter's chill
Let the candles light the night up from the windowsills
Ooh, as I draw you near
And we whisper all the sweet sounds only we can hear
On the coldest evening in this December
I hold you in the heat of the glowing embers
Let the world stand still, the church bells ring
Silent night as the angels sing
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Let the magic warm the moonlit air
Hear the choirs join in singing everywhere
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Ooh, let there be peace on earth
Let the lonely join together, let them know their worth
Ooh, let the children know
There's a brighter day ahead, let's hold on to hope
And on the coldest evening in this December
Let us pray the spirit of love will linger
Oh, let the world stand still, the church bells ring
Silent night as the angels sing
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Let the magic warm the moonlit air
Hear the choirs join in singing everywhere
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Glory, glory, glory I'm so glad to have you here
And may this Christmas moment last for years
Let the world stand still, the church bells ring
Silent night as the angels sing
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Let the magic warm the moonlit air
Hear the choirs join in singing everywhere
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Video
Carrie Underwood & John Legend - Hallelujah (Official Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Carrie Underwood's rendition of Leonard Cohen's iconic "Hallelujah," featured on her 2020 Christmas album *My Gift*, transforms the introspective and often multifaceted ballad into a powerful declaration of faith and redemption, particularly when shared with the soulful gravitas of John Legend. While Cohen's original lyrics can be interpreted through a lens of human experience, love, and even doubt, Underwood and Legend infuse their version with an unshakeable affirmation of divine grace, aligning the song's themes with a distinctly Christian message. The song's title itself, "Hallelujah," a Hebrew exclamation meaning "Praise ye the Lord," sets the stage for a celebration of God's enduring presence and redemptive power. Their performance elevates the well-known verses, transforming them into explorations of God's boundless love and the profound impact of His word on the human heart. The references to David, a king known for both his triumphs and his failings, become a testament to God's mercy and forgiveness, echoing the spirit of Psalm 32 where David speaks of the blessedness of forgiveness. The "holy dark" and the suggestion of a "cold and broken hallelujah" are recontextualized not as inherent spiritual struggle, but as the fallen state from which God's light breaks through, akin to the prophecy in Isaiah 9:2: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; those living in a land of deep darkness have seen a glorious light." Underwood and Legend’s delivery imbues these lines with the understanding that true praise often emerges from the very places of our brokenness, a concept central to the Christian narrative of salvation found in Christ. The recurring motif of "hallelujah" becomes a surrender, a recognition of God's sovereignty and the profound peace that comes from placing one's trust in Him. It speaks to the transformational power of faith, as detailed in Romans 10:9-10, which states that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Their duet, marked by shared vocal conviction, emphasizes the communal aspect of praise and the beauty of believers coming together to acknowledge God's greatness, much like the early church as described in Acts 4:24, where believers "raised their voices together in prayer to God." This rendition of "Hallelujah" moves beyond mere appreciation of a classic song, offering a deeply resonant spiritual interpretation that invites listeners to reflect on the profound, unwavering nature of God's love and the enduring power of His praise, even in the midst of life's inevitable challenges.