Lyrics
Verse 1
I don't see anything wrong with the lights or stages
I even love it when the crowd gets loud singing out God's praises
But every now and then, it can get a little complicated
So I remember when I was in that old church basement, singing
Chorus
Hallelujah is all I need
When I think of Your goodness and Your love for me
Oh, the joy of my salvation, is coming back to me
It's just an old hallelujah with a new melody
Post-Chorus
And I'm singing
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Yeah
Verse 2
We got together every Wednesday night, about thirty teenagers
My friend Josh bought a cheap guitar and barely knew how to play it
He wasn't putting on a show, wasn't well known, wasn't trying to be famous
But we sure touched Heaven in that old church basement
Chorus
Hallelujah is all I need
When I think of Your goodness and Your love for me
Oh, the joy of my salvation, is coming back to me
It's just an old hallelujah with a new melody
Post-Chorus
And I'm singing
Oh-oh, (Yeah, yeah) oh-oh
Find me singing
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Bridge
Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me
It's just an old hallelujah with a new melody
And I once was blind but now I can see
It's just an old hallelujah with a new melody
Oh, over the mountains and the sea, Your river runs with love for me
An old hallelujah with a new melody
Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing
It's just an old hallelujah with a new melody
Chorus
(Say hallelujah)
Hallelujah is all I need
When I think of Your goodness and Your love for me
Oh, the joy of my salvation, is coming back to me
It's just an old hallelujah with a new melody
It's just an old hallelujah with a new melody
Post-Chorus
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh
New melody
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Halle to Yahweh
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Refrain
Halle to Yahweh (Sing it your way)
Halle to Yahweh (Sing His glory)
Halle to Yahweh
(It's what the Heavens are declaring)
(It's what the Heavens are declaring)
Halle to Yahweh
(So we will respond, we will respond)
(Say Halle) Halle to Yahweh
(Worthy, worthy, worthy)
(Worthy, worthy, worthy)
Halle to Yahweh
(No greater name, no greater name, no greater name)
(Sing Halle) Halle to Yahweh
(Sing it your way, sing it your way)
Halle to Yahweh
(Sing it your way, sing it your way, sing it your way)
(Sing halle Yahweh) Halle to Yahweh
(Something happens when we praise) Halle to Yahweh
(Something happens when we praise) Halle to Yahweh
(Something happens when we praise) Halle to Yahweh
Halle to Yahweh
(Worthy is the Lamb) Halle to Yahweh
(To receive glory) Halle to Yahweh
(Power, dominion) Halle to Yahweh
(Power)
Interlude
Oh glory hallelujah (Oh-oh, oh-oh)
Worthy to receive glory, dominion and power (Oh-oh, oh-oh)
Chorus
And hallelujah is all I need
When I think of Your goodness and Your love for me
Oh, the joy of my salvation, is coming back to me
It's just an old hallelujah with a new melody
It's the same hallelujah that the elders sing
And it's the only hallelujah I will ever need
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Old Church Basement looks back to simple worship and the lasting joy of an old hallelujah. The first verse says there is nothing wrong with lights and stages, and the singer even loves loud crowds singing praises, but remembers the old church basement. The chorus says the singer needs only hallelujah when thinking of God's goodness and love, as the joy of salvation returns, an old hallelujah with a new melody.
The second verse recalls Wednesday night with thirty teenagers and a friend with a cheap guitar who was not trying to be famous, yet touched Heaven. The bridge weaves lines from hymns and songs such as Great is Thy Faithfulness and Shout to the Lord, and a long refrain says Halle to Yahweh, with calls to sing it in one's own way. The themes fit Psalm 51:12, Lamentations 3:23, Psalm 98:4 and Revelation 5:12. The playful, communal style invites a congregation to join.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 51:12 The psalmist asks to have the joy of God's salvation restored.
- Lamentations 3:23 God's mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is great.
- Revelation 5:12 The Lamb is worthy to receive power, riches and honor and glory.