Glory Hallelujah Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Brothers and sisters, have you heard the news?
The storm has lifted and there's nothing to lose
So swap your confirmation for your dancing shoes
Because there never was no God
[Verse 2]
Step out of the darkness and onto the streets
Forget about the fast, let's have a carnival feast
Raise up your lowered head and hear the liberation beat
Because there never was no God
[Chorus]
There is no God
So clap your hands together
There is no God
No heaven and no hell
There is no God
We're all in this together
There is no God
So ring that victory bell
[Verse 3]
No cowering in the dark before some overbearing priest
No waiting until we die until we restitute the meek
No blaming all our failings on imaginary beasts
Because there never was no God
No fighting for a land your distant fathers told you of
No spilling blood for those who never spread a drop of love
No finger pointing justified by phantoms up above
Because there never was no God
[Chorus]
There is no God
So clap your hands together
There is no God
No heaven and no hell
There is no God
We're all in this together
There is no God
So ring that victory bell
[Bridge]
And I know you're scared of dying, man, and I am, too
But just pretending it's not happening isn't gonna see us through
If we accept that there's an end game and we haven't got much time
Then in the here and now then we can try and do things right
We'll be our own salvation army, and together we believe
In all the wondrous things that mere mortals can achieve
Well, I've known beauty in the stillness of cathedrals in the day
I've sung, "Glory Hallelujah! Won't you wash my sins away?"
But now I'm singing my refrain, and this is what I say
I say there never was no God
There is no God
So clap your hands together
There is no God
No heaven and no hell
There is no God
We're all in this together
There is no God
So ring that victory bell
One more time
[Chorus]
There is no God
So clap your hands together
There is no God
No heaven and no hell
There is no God
We're all in this together
There is no God
So ring that victory bell
About
The closing song on England Keep My Bones, a staple of Frank’s live shows, deals with religion and atheism, specifically, if there is no God, can we still find meaning in life? Is that maybe something we could be happy about? Frank is an atheist (as the song makes abundantly clear) and advocates a moral way of life that isn’t based in religion.
To be clear, the song can be an uncomfortable first listen for Frank’s religious fans, but he isn’t trying to put them down. He acknowledges that faith has some positive aspects but in any case, it’s not for him. He told Drankin' and Smokin':
I think the important thing is that it’s not supposed to be mean or vicious in any way… I don’t want to be jamming my finger into the chest of anybody who is religious in any way. That’s not the idea. Hopefully that comes across in the song. It’s supposed to be a joyous song and a celebration… if I’d written something and then didn’t play it that would be a little cowardly.
The introduction to the song makes heavy use of organs, which are associated with churches. The outro is the tune of “Eulogy” played faintly on a piano.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Eulogy
- 4.Rivers
- 9.Wessex Boy
- 11.Redemption
- 12.Glory Hallelujah
- 13.Song for Eva Mae
- 14.Wanderlust
- 16.Sailor’s Boots