Ray Charles – Hallelujah I Love Her So

“Hallelujah I Love Her So” is another classic hit from Ray Charles, first recorded in 1956. This song is one of his early masterpieces and perfectly captures his unique ability to blend gospel, blues, and jazz with a deeply soulful twist.

In this song, Charles delivers a joyful and exuberant declaration of love, singing about a woman who brings him so much happiness that he can’t help but shout, “Hallelujah!” His vocals are full of emotion, with the perfect balance of reverence and playful excitement. The upbeat tempo and lively arrangement, featuring a strong rhythm section, brass, and piano, give the song an infectious energy that makes it feel like a celebration.

The lyrics are simple but effective, expressing the depth of the narrator’s affection for his sweetheart, with lines like:

“Hallelujah, I love her so / I love her like a schoolboy loves his pie.”

The song is a mix of gospel influence (especially in the “hallelujah” refrain), bluesy undertones, and the smooth, upbeat style of early R&B. It’s full of warmth and enthusiasm, as Ray Charles conveys both the joy and the purity of love in a way only he could.

“Hallelujah I Love Her So” became a major hit and solidified Charles’ reputation as one of the most innovative and influential artists of his time. His version of the song is often considered a foundational track in the development of soul music.

The song has also been covered by many artists over the years, but Ray Charles’ version remains the definitive one, full of energy, spirit, and that unique Ray Charles touch.

Lyrics

 

Let me tell you ’bout a girl I know
She is my baby and she lives next door
Every mornin’ ‘fore the sun comes up
She brings me coffee in my favorite cup
That’s why I know, yes, I know
Hallelujah, I just love her so

When I’m in trouble and I have no friend
I know she’ll go with me until the end
Everybody asks me how I know
I smile at them and say, “She told me so”
That’s why I know, oh, I know
Hallelujah, I just love her so

Now, if I call her on the telephone
And tell her that I’m all alone
By the time I count from one to four
I hear her (KNOCK) on my door
In the evening when the sun goes down
When there is nobody else around
She kisses me and she holds me tight

And tells me, “Ray Charles everything’s all right”
That’s why I know, whoa, I know
Hallelujah, I just love her so

Now, if I call her on the telephone
And tell her that I’m all alone
By the time I count from one to four
I hear her (KNOCK) on my door

In the evening when the sun goes down
When there is nobody else around
She kisses me and she holds me tight
And tells me, “Daddy, everything’s all right”
That’s why I know, yes, I know
Hallelujah, I just love her so
Oh, hallelujah
Don’t you know, I just love her so
She’s my little woman, waitin’ all this time
Babe, I’m a little fool for you, little girl…