“Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Brandon Lake is a powerful and vulnerable song that explores the enduring nature of faith amidst life’s trials. The lyrics candidly express the struggles and doubts that accompany a genuine spiritual journey, highlighting the idea that true faith is often forged in adversity.
The song’s chorus declares a “hard-fought heartfelt” hallelujah, symbolizing a profound and resilient praise born from hardship. Through its themes of perseverance and trust, “Hard Fought Hallelujah” offers a deeply personal and inspiring message of faithfulness and surrender.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
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“Hard Fought Hallelujah” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
Yeah, I don’t always feel it
But that’s when I need it the most
So I’ma keep on singing
‘Til my soul catches up with my song
There’s times when my hands go up freely
And times that it costs
There’s days when a praise comes out easy
And days when it takes all the strength I’ve got
The song begins with an honest admission of the fluctuating nature of faith. The lyrics “Yeah, I don’t always feel it / But that’s when I need it the most” highlight that faith is often needed most during times of doubt or struggle. The commitment to persevere is evident in “So I’ma keep on singing / ‘Til my soul catches up with my song,” indicating that outward expressions of praise can lead to genuine inner feelings. The verse concludes by acknowledging that faith can be both effortless and costly: “There’s times when my hands go up freely / And times that it costs”.
[Chorus]
I’ll bring my hard-fought heartfelt
Been-through-hell hallelujah
I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail
Story to tell hallelujah
God, You’ve been patient
God, You’ve been gracious
Faithful whatever I’m feeling or facing
So I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt
It is well hallelujah
Woah-oh-oh-oh
Hallelujah, hallelujah
The chorus is a powerful declaration of a “hard-fought heartfelt” and “been-through-hell hallelujah.” This is not a naive or easy praise but one earned through hardship and pain. The imagery of a “storm-tossed, torn-sail” hallelujah contrasts with the “it-is-well” hallelujah, symbolizing resilience and faithfulness. The singer acknowledges God’s patience and grace, declaring faith and surrender even in difficulty: “God, You’ve been patient / God, You’ve been gracious / Faithful whatever I’m feeling or facing”.
[Verse 2]
I’ve wrestled with the darkness
But I’m trying to reach for the light
Yeah, the struggle keeps me honest
And it breaks down the walls of my pride
‘Cause faith isn’t proven like gold
‘Til it’s been through the fire
Yeah, yeah
My head, heart and hands are feeling heavy
And that’s when I lift them just a little higher
This verse delves into internal struggles. “I’ve wrestled with the darkness / But I’m trying to reach for the light” describes the ongoing effort to choose hope and trust in God. The struggle is refining, keeping the singer honest and breaking down pride: “Yeah, the struggle keeps me honest / And it breaks down the walls of my pride.” True faith is tested and strengthened through trials: “‘Cause faith isn’t proven like gold / ‘Til it’s been through the fire.” The verse concludes with a powerful image of worship despite burden: “My head, heart and hands are feeling heavy / And that’s when I lift them just a little higher”.
[Chorus]
I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, been-through-hell hallelujah
I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn sail, story-to-tell hallelujah
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh
God, You’ve been patient
God, You’ve been gracious
Faithful whatever I’m feeling or facing
I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, it-is-well hallelujah
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh
Hallelujah, hallelujah
The repetition of the chorus reinforces the theme of a hard-earned hallelujah, emphasizing God’s faithfulness and the singer’s commitment to praise despite challenges.
[Bridge]
Mmmm, yeah
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-woah
Woah-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh-woah
Oh-oh-oh-woah
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh
The bridge features wordless vocalizations, heightening emotional intensity and creating anticipation. It represents a wordless expression of yearning and surrender, underscoring the depth of the singer’s emotions.
[Chorus]
I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, been-through-hell hallelujah
I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn sail, story-to-tell hallelujah
Oh-oh-oh-oh-woah
God, You’ve been patient
God, You’ve been gracious
Faithful whatever I’m feeling or facing
So I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, it-is-well hallelujah
Oh, hallelujah
The final chorus reiterates the message of perseverance and faith, concluding with a declaration of praise and surrender.
[Outro]
Mmmm, yeah, hallelujah
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Hallelujah, hallelujah, halle—, halle—
Hallelujah
The outro’s repetition of “hallelujah” emphasizes the theme of praise and reinforces the message of the song, echoing throughout the fading moments. It’s a final declaration of faith and surrender to God.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Hard Fought Hallelujah”
“Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Brandon Lake is a deeply personal and powerful exploration of faith, resilience, and the transformative power of worship. The song delves into the complexities of spiritual journeys, acknowledging the struggles, doubts, and perseverance that accompany genuine faith. It begins with an honest admission: “Yeah, I don’t always feel it / But that’s when I need it the most.” This sets the stage for a narrative about the reality of faith, where it’s not always about feeling good or having a constant spiritual high, but rather about choosing to express praise and trust in God even when the inner feeling isn’t quite there yet.
The song’s chorus erupts with a powerful declaration: “I’ll bring my hard-fought heartfelt / Been-through-hell hallelujah.” This “hallelujah” is not one of naive joy but one that has been earned through hardship and pain. It’s a testament to God’s faithfulness through life’s storms, symbolized by the “storm-tossed, torn-sail / Story to tell hallelujah.” The singer acknowledges God’s constant presence and patience, leading to a declaration of faith and surrender, even in the midst of difficulty: “So I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt / It is well hallelujah”. This message underscores the idea that true faith is often forged in adversity, and that a “hallelujah” born from such experiences holds profound depth and meaning.
The song also explores the human experience of wrestling with darkness while reaching for the light. It highlights how struggles keep one honest and break down the walls of pride, emphasizing that faith isn’t proven until it’s been through trials. The lyrics convey a sense of resilience and determination, as the protagonist chooses to lift their hands in praise even when feeling heavy, symbolizing the act of choosing faith over despair. “Hard Fought Hallelujah” serves as an anthem to find strength in worship during life’s hardest battles, reminding listeners that praising God in the midst of challenges is a powerful act of faith and surrender.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.