Baby i ve been here before i know this room i ve walked this floor i used to live alone before i knew you i ve seen your flag on the marble arch but love is not some victory march it s a cold and broken hallelujah he s felt lonely like this before.
Marble arch hallelujah meaning.
Washington square arch in greenwich village manhattan nyc the city cohen was in when he wrote hallelujah.
It sounds to me more like a reference to the arc de triomphe in paris or perhaps monumental triumphal arches in general.
Nonetheless leonard honours the relationship for what it once was and instead of cursing god continues to praise him.
Soldiers marched under this arch at the new york city victory parade of 1946 but i can t find any reference to a flag on this arch.
Her flag he s seen on the arch is the happiness and.
What was once a triumphant victory flag flying from the marble arch becomes a cold and broken hallelujah.
Hallelujah is hebrew meaning glory to the lord however the.
If so cohen is comparing his lover to the roman victors and himself to the devastated jews who had just lost their temple.
The first verse combines these two meanings beginning with a biblical reference to david being gods favored man on earth before a lyric with two meanings it goes like this the fourth the fifth the minor fall and the major lift the first cleverly refers to the musical structure of the song but it also refers to the rollercoaster of love.
Love is not a victory march is a humble admission of his fault.
In line 6 he s left with nothing.
When the lovers were united in passion the spirit moved amongst them but this presence is no longer felt.
He has seen the glorious side of love the flag on the marble arch but the love is not lasting and his hart is broken therefore the hallelujah is cold and broken.
Hallelujah by jeff buckley song meaning lyric interpretation video and chart position.
The marble arch may allude to titus victory arch in rome a monument celebrating the roman final victory over the jews.
It is like it was when he was alone.
And 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 additional lyrics there was a time you let me know what s really going on below.
Marble arch symbolizing the pedestal that should have been reserved for god but was instead used for this woman.
The arc de triomphe was built in honor of the soldiers in the french revolutionary and napoleonic wars in the tradition of ancient roman triumphs which often commemorated major military victories with a marble arch.
While i agree that the arch of titus makes the most sense three other candidates jump out at me.
He was lonely before they became lovers.
And i ve seen your flag on the marble arch and love is not a vict ry march it s a cold and it s a broken hallelujah.