The Afters - Broken Hallelujah Lyrics
Lyrics
I can barely stand right now.
Everything is crashing down,
And I wonder where you are.
I try to find the words to pray.
I don't always know what to say,
But you're the one that can hear my heart.
Even though I don't know what your plan is,
I know you make beauty from these ashes.
I've seen joy and I've seen pain.
On my knees, I call your name.
Here's my broken hallelujah.
With nothing left to hold onto,
I raise these empty hands to you.
Here's my broken, here's my broken,
Hallelujah [x3]
(Here's my broken)
Hallelujah
You know the things that have brought me here.
You know the story of every tear.
'Cause you've been here from the very start.
Even though I don't know what your plan is,
I know you make beauty from these ashes.
I've seen joy and I've seen pain.
On my knees, I call your name.
Here's my broken Hallelujah.
With nothing left to hold onto,
I raise these empty hands to you.
Here's my broken, here's my broken,
Hallelujah [x3]
(Here's my broken)
Hallelujah
When all is taken away, don't let my heart be changed.
Let me always sing Hallelujah
And when I feel afraid, don't let my hope be erased
Let me always sing (let me always sing),
Let my always sing,
Hallelujah [x3]
(Let my always sing)
Hallelujah
(Let my always sing)
Hallelujah
Here's my broken,
Here's my broken,
Hallelujah [x3]
Here's my broken,
Here's my broken,
Hallelujah [x4]
This acoustic performance of Broken Hallelujah was filmed inside
of the Mamertine Prison in Rome, where the apostles Peter and Paul
were once imprisoned. God was with them then and He is with us now!
Video
The Afters - Broken Hallelujah (Official Lyric video)
Meaning & Inspiration
The Afters' song "Broken Hallelujah," released in 2008 as part of their album *The Beginning & Everything After*, offers a profound exploration of faith in the face of overwhelming difficulty. Filmed in the historically significant Mamertine Prison in Rome, a place that once held the apostles Peter and Paul, the setting itself underscores the song's central theme: God's enduring presence even in the most desolate circumstances. The message resonates deeply, moving beyond a simple expression of sorrow to a powerful testament of unwavering hope and trust.
At its core, "Broken Hallelujah" speaks to the human experience of life's inevitable storms. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of despair, where everything seems to be collapsing and the singer grapples with finding the right words in prayer. This vulnerability is relatable, reflecting the times when our own prayers feel inadequate, yet the song immediately offers solace by affirming that God hears the heart. This echoes the promise found in Psalm 139:2, which states, "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar." The lyrics acknowledge the confusion and uncertainty that arise when plans falter, but pivot to an unwavering belief in divine power. The assertion that God "make[s] beauty from these ashes" is a powerful reminder of His redemptive work, reminiscent of Isaiah 61:3, where the Lord promises to bestow beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. The song acknowledges the full spectrum of human experience, the "joy and... pain," and it is from this raw, unvarnished reality that the singer offers their "broken hallelujah." This isn't a praise sung from a place of comfort or victory, but one offered from a position of complete surrender and dependence. As the lyrics express, with "nothing left to hold onto," the offering is one of "empty hands," a profound image that speaks to the relinquishing of self-sufficiency and the complete reliance on God's strength, much like Paul's declaration in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
The song further emphasizes God's intimate knowledge of our journey. The assurance that God "know[s] the things that have brought me here" and the "story of every tear" is a comforting thought, aligning with the biblical truth that God is intimately involved in our lives, as seen in Matthew 10:30, which states that even the hairs on our head are numbered. The recurring refrain, "Even though I don't know what your plan is, I know you make beauty from these ashes," serves as the song's anchor. It’s a declaration of faith that transcends understanding, a willingness to trust in a divine orchestration even when the immediate circumstances are bleak. This unwavering commitment to praise, even when "all is taken away" and fear arises, is the ultimate message. The plea to not let hope be erased and to always sing "Hallelujah" is a call to maintain a posture of worship regardless of external conditions. This is beautifully mirrored in the words of Habakkuk 3:17-18: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." "Broken Hallelujah" is more than just a song; it's an anthem for those navigating life's darkest valleys, a powerful reminder that our praise, even when imperfect and offered from a place of deep struggle, is a testament to a God who remains faithful and is capable of transforming even the most broken circumstances into something beautiful.