A reworking of Leonard Cohen's classic song by the same name, Karsh's version is about the pain and glory of love. For this version, he enlists guitarist Warren Mendonsa's songwriting skills and incorporates the instrumental portion of Warren's 'Ode to a Sunny Day' which seemed to thematically match the mood of 'Halleluiah'.
Shilpa Rao comes in on the Hindusthani bits with echoes of 'Jhoola', a song she grew up on. The beautiful song is marked by an epic guitar solo by Warren.
Credits:
Composed & Produced by: Karsh Kale and Warren Mendonsa
Language: Hindi and English
Lyrics: Leonard Cohen, Karsh Kale & Traditional Lyrics
Vocals: Karsh Kale & Shilpa Rao
Backing Vocals: Shruti Pathak, Apeksha Dandekar, Monali Thakur, Benny Dayal
Drums: Jai Row Kavi
Electric Guitar: Warren Mendonsa
Acoustic Guitar: Gaurav Gupta
Bass: Johan Pais
Keys: Karsh Kale
Flute: Ajay Prassanna
Recorded by: Steve Fitzmaurice, Ashish Manchanda (Flying Carpet Productions, Mumbai), assisted by Thorsten Muller
Mixed by Steve Fitzmaurice at the Pierce Rooms, London and Warren Mendonsa
Mastered by Bunt Stafford Clark at the Pierce Rooms, London
Lyrics:
I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah !
jhoola kinne daara re amariya
jhoola kinne daara re amariya
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah !
jhoola kinne daara re amariya
jhoola kinne daara re amariya
jhoole mora saiyan lun main balaiya
jhoole mora saiyan lun main balaiya..
dar mohe laage jiya mora larje
dar mohe laage jiya mora larje
haule haule jhoolna jhoolave more saiyan.. re amaraiya
This is the world that I live in
These are the hands that I've been given
These are the sounds of forgiving
This is the place that I've been sitting
This is the rain I'm standing under
All the lightning and the thunder
These are the lives that are blown assunder
but I remain in wonder
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Jhoola, jhoola
Jhoola, jhoola
This is the world that I live in
These are the hands that I've been given
These are the sounds of forgiving
This is the place that I've been sitting
This is the rain I'm standing under
All the lightning and the thunder !
Meaning:
The Song is a marriage of two different thought streams, both of which are expressions of love and helplessness that one experiences through the journey of life.
The Song starts with the lines from the famous Poem "Hallelujah", written by Leonard Cohen. Originally the poem deals with the dilemma every seeking soul goes through, the dilemma of choices and sacrifices. As, on one hand there is a true calling of every soul ; that is the love of the unknown, while on the other hand there is this enchanting and mesmerizing earthly love. Thus the dilemma! While the soul wants to be free and be ONE with its light source; the strong bonds of life and earthly love, make it tough for seeker to break free.
The poet binds the original poem with intermittent rows of thoughts that innocently wrap up the feelings of a heart madly in love; enjoying its bliss...hoping that the beautiful journey of love never ends, but at the same time scared of its end.
Towards the end The Poet states the fact that, living on earth has its purpose and that is the purpose he is fulfilling. He faces all the challenges that come with being a human and yet hopes for redemption...and the love of The Almighty.