Midnight. Hallelujah. (2020)

Song Meaning

The lyrics open on a Sunday church service, but the narrator is clearly disengaged. They're "losing all of my conviction" in a "suffocating room." Instead of spiritual reflection, their thoughts drift to a lover, "dreaming of your body as I'm kneeling down to pray." This immediate tension establishes a profound internal conflict. The narrator expresses disillusionment with the church's "rules, no reason" and "hypocrisy," questioning "where the hell is grace?" This spiritual void is filled by an intense longing for a specific person, who they desperately pray will "stay." The most striking craft element is the repurposing of religious language to describe this desired human connection. The lover is not just a partner, but a "midnight hallelujah," a "2 am amen," and a "sweet, sweet revelation." This elevates the romantic relationship to a sacred status, suggesting a new form of spiritual fulfillment found outside traditional institutions. The narrator even declares, "I'm a tongue-tied black belt sinner / And I'm running with the saints," a vivid image of defiant, practiced rebellion. Ultimately, the lyrics are effective because they articulate a powerful, almost rebellious, redefinition of faith. The repeated plea to "make amends" hints at a past rift, adding urgency to the desire for this person to be their new spiritual anchor. The bridge's question, "If love is our religion / Could it be a sin?" encapsulates the core message: a passionate argument for love as the ultimate, unburdened truth.