Saturday, April 9, 2016

H is for Hallelujah

Hallelujah is a song written by Canadian recording artist Leonard Cohen.  It was originally released in 1984 and received very little initial success.  It's been said that Cohen spent years working on Hallelujah and at one point and may have had 80 verses before finally trimming the song to its current length.

Well I've heard there was a secret chord

That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well it goes like this:
The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Well your faith was strong but you needed proof

You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to her kitchen chair
And she broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

But baby I've been here before

I've seen this room and I've walked this floor
You know, I used to live alone before I knew ya
And I've seen your flag on the marble arch
And love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Well there was a time when you let me know

What's really going on below
But now you never show that to me do ya
But remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Maybe there's a God above

But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah



Hallelujah has over 300 cover versions and has been sung in numerous languages.  Some of the more notable versions include: Jeff Buckley's 1994 version;


k.d lang's version from her 2004 album Hymns of the 49th Parallel, which she performed during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada;


and probably the most famous of all versions by Rufus Wainwright, which was featured in the animated movie, Shrek.


My personal favorite, however, is Bon Jovi's cover.  To my knowledge, the band has never recorded it, but they have performed it live in concert and during televised performances.


Do you have a favorite Hallelujah version?  What is it?  Feel free to share.  As always, thanks for stopping by!


This is the eighth of twenty-six alphabetized blog entries that I am publishing this month as a part of the 2016 Blogging A to Z Challenge.  Many bloggers who participate in this challenge, select a theme.  My theme is - "Whatever I Think Of."  


For more information on the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

21 comments:

  1. I've never heard the Bon Jovi version before. Nicely done. I think k. d. lang's is mine favorite.

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    1. I forgot to add that I'm a bit partial to Bon Jovi... LOL! Jon is the love of my life after all! Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Ericka, The first time I heard this song was sung by Michael Bolton and perhaps it's his cover I like the most, but every time I hear this song it gives me goosies. The lyrics and music are awesome together regardless of the artist, usually. Great "H" prompt choice. Thanks for visiting.

    ~Curious as a Cathy
    All Things Vintage: Hershey chocolate #AprilA2Z

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    1. Not sure I've ever heard that version. Will have to look it up on YouTube. Thank you and thanks for stopping by and commenting!

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  3. I'll vote for k.d. lang's version. It's also rumored to be Cohen's favorite version. Not necessarily the Olympics version. But her singing it.

    Katey Sagal does a good job with this song, despite being mostly known as an actress.

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    1. I think k.d. lang's version would be my runner up. I'm kind of partial to Bon Jovi, so that's why I like it the best. I'll have to look up the Katey Sagal version. She is a wonderful singer. I had no idea until I started watching Sons of Anarchy and learned that many of the songs featured in the show were sung by her. Thanks for stopping by, E Man!

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  4. Thanks for the Bon Jovi version of this song, which I hadn't heard before. Leonard Cohen is a talented man, both as a poet and a musician.

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  5. I used this song a while back in Battle of the Bands (takes place on the 1st and 15th of the month). I think my favorite version is by Jeff Buckley. This is a great song.

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    1. Will have to check out your Battle of the Bands. Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. Thanks for sharing the different versions. I like KD Lang and Bon Jovi's versions quite a bit.

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  7. Good evening! !
    Japan time is 10 pm.
    I am impressed by the always wonderful blog.
    Bon Jovi has been praised by many people in Japan.
    Of course, it is my favorite also.
    Thanks! ! ! ! ! ! !
    Ryoma.

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    1. Thank you! Have a good day (well, in your case given the time difference - night!)

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    2. This is one of my favorites. I really enjoyed reading this.

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  8. What a beautiful song! I am partial to both the k.d. lang and Bon Jovi versions. I listened to them all.
    @deb_atwood from
    Pen In Her Hand

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  9. k.d. Lang's version is my favorite. I adore this song. So beautiful and haunting.

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    1. k.d's version is my runner up. I agree with you, her version definitely has a haunting quality that the others do not.

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  10. You know the version I prefer. :) My runner-up is Jeff Buckley.

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