The Chord that Pleased the Lord

We’ve all heard the song “Hallelujah” originally by Leanard Cohen, but covered hundreds if not thousands of times by generations of artists. Usually, it’s a song I can only listen to when I’m in a melancholy kind of mood. It’s bittersweet. But recently, while in the shower, it came on my Pandora playlist. I was in a pretty peppy state of mind listening to Christmas music, which I do weekly. It just keeps my spirits up and bright! Anyways, I decided not to skip it and a line jumped out at me that hadn’t before. If you’ve heard the song you’re probably familiar with the following:  “I'd heard there was a secret chord, that David played and it pleased the Lord...” It struck me differently this time. I could hear that chord. I could feel that chord. Since quarantine, I’ve started learning the ukulele.  I tried guitar a couple years ago and my hands were just too tiny even when stretched to fit the frets. But, with the uke, I feel like it was made for me. I strum and I pick and I feel alive. I’ve played instruments in the past, but this one is different. This one just feels like home. The day before I listened to that song, I had learned a chord that gave me that feeling Cohen talked about in the song. A chord that gave me more than just music, it gave me inspiration, it gave me purpose, it brought me to life. That chord was E7, and I was playing it in a David Bowie song, “Space Oddity”. I don’t know if that’s the same chord David played, but it pleased me. Maybe one day I’ll be able to find out. There are ukes in heaven, right?