Hallelujah Praise

CeCe Winans' “Hallelujah Praise” is an upbeat gospel number that celebrates praise itself. It begins with the word hallelujah repeated, and the claim that it is the highest praise. The chorus then uses the language of the Psalms: “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Come on and sing, be joyful unto the Lord.”

The verses give reasons. The sun, the moon and all the stars of light were created when God commanded, trumpets sound through the earth, and the Lord is good and greatly to be praised. The song asks that the high praise be in the mouth, that his holy name be blessed forever, and that young and old, all God's children, praise him alone. The bridge lists what to praise him for, his mighty acts, his goodness and his holy name, and adds praising with timbrel and dance. The final vamp is physical and joyful, as the singer throws up her hands, raises her voice, moves her feet and says she can't help but praise him. The call to raise hands and give up the praise ends with the line that God should arise. Because the lyric is nearly all drawn from the book of Psalms, it is easy for a choir and congregation to sing together. It suits opening praise, a Sunday celebration, and any moment when a group wants to move from sitting to standing.

Everything that has breath praising the Lord is Psalm 150:6. Creation made at his command is Psalm 148:5, and high praises in the mouth are in Psalm 149:6.