what is the song hallelujah about

"Hallelujah" is a song written by Leonard Cohen that has become a classic and has been covered by many artists. The song is about the human condition, love, sadness, remorse, and hope. The song includes several obvious Biblical references and utilizes the single word, “Hallelujah,” as its chorus. The word "hallelujah" has slightly different implications in the Old and New Testaments. In the Hebrew Bible, it is a compound word, from hallelu, meaning “to praise joyously,” and yah, a shortened form of the unspoken name of God. In the Christian tradition, “hallelujah” is a word of praise rather than a direction to offer praise. The song tells a story of broken love, true love remembered and mourned, guilt, penance, and of finding peace in the vicissitudes of brokenness. Although the song has religious imagery and depicts a woman who was considered to be notorious, the song isn’t about religion. Cohen wanted people to be able to interpret the song in a way that made sense to them.