It's been largely debated what all the lines mean, but there are definitely sexual undertones.
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"You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you"
'
Refers to the story of Bathsheba, in which David sees Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, bathing herself, lusts after her, and summons her. This leads to various treachery and betrayal on his part and, eventually, the death of their son.
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"She tied you to the kitchen chair
She broke your throne, she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah"
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Likely refers to Samson and Delilah. Samson loved and lusted after Delilah, and eventually fell victim to her. She betrayed him, cutting his hair, and causing him to fall out of God's favour.
"There was a time you let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
But remember when I moved in you?
The holy dark/dove was moving, too
And every breath we drew was hallelujah"
'
Is probably the most blatantly sexual set of lines imo. It paints the picture (to me) of a lover who is no longer open and receptive to the person addressing them. They keep them at a distance, don't let them know what they actually want or feel, despite their history together
'
I don't think the song is meant to be entirely sexual. I think it's just a look at love and sex and faith and being human
The fourth
The fifth
The minor fall
The major lift
'
"You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you"
'
Refers to the story of Bathsheba, in which David sees Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, bathing herself, lusts after her, and summons her. This leads to various treachery and betrayal on his part and, eventually, the death of their son.
'
"She tied you to the kitchen chair
She broke your throne, she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah"
'
Likely refers to Samson and Delilah. Samson loved and lusted after Delilah, and eventually fell victim to her. She betrayed him, cutting his hair, and causing him to fall out of God's favour.
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
But remember when I moved in you?
The holy dark/dove was moving, too
And every breath we drew was hallelujah"
'
Is probably the most blatantly sexual set of lines imo. It paints the picture (to me) of a lover who is no longer open and receptive to the person addressing them. They keep them at a distance, don't let them know what they actually want or feel, despite their history together
'
I don't think the song is meant to be entirely sexual. I think it's just a look at love and sex and faith and being human