Leonard Cohen Singing His Own “Hallelujah”

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1. mtomas3 says:

   December 25, 2014 at 12:10 pm

   Better

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   • chemtchr says:

     December 25, 2014 at 12:26 pm

     Well, they’re all authentic to the music itself, as long as the “hallelujah” rises above unbearable pain. It works fine for atheists and believers, for people who have lost a child or for a secular city grieving the fall of the twin towers. So, as humanists, let’s hear all of them. Salvation is in the minor fall and the major lift of the chord itself, heard through human ears, with the hallelujah sung in a human voice.

     “So, even though it all went wrong, I’ll stand before the Lord of song with nothing on my lips but hallelujah.”

     The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

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2. sharsand2013 says:

   December 25, 2014 at 12:19 pm

   One of my all time favorites. Leonard Cohen playing and singing Hallelujah. Have a great holiday –stay well because we need you for the big fight to take back public education and improve it so that every child in this nation has an opportunity to succeed. You’ve exposed the privatizers like no one else. Some things belong in the public sector. I know I’ll be there to help you fight the good fight in 2015.

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3. faige says:

   December 25, 2014 at 12:27 pm

   Love this song. Thank you for sharing. Good time to remember our blessings and we can make a difference.

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4. Jon Awbrey says:

   December 25, 2014 at 12:28 pm

   Leonard Cohen • Hallelujah • Live 1985

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6KLK_8Tg6Y

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5. philaken says:

   December 25, 2014 at 12:31 pm

   Here’s the kd lang version

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   • philaken says:

     December 25, 2014 at 12:54 pm

     This was kd lang’s performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame induction of Leonard Cohen in 2006. He was in the audience as you will see at the end of the video.

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6. Karen Wolfe says:

   December 25, 2014 at 12:42 pm

   This is my favorite version of this song. Thank you for posting it today, Diane. Happiest holidays to you and your family.

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7. Peter Smyth says:

   December 25, 2014 at 12:57 pm

   One for the ages.

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8. Duane Swacker says:

   December 25, 2014 at 1:03 pm

   The lyrics:

   Hallelujah (Live In London)
   Now 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?
   It goes like this
   The fourth, the fifth
   The minor fall, the major lift
   The baffled king composing Hallelujah

   Hallelujah
   Hallelujah
   Hallelujah
   Hallelujah

   Your faith was strong but you needed proof
   You saw her bathing on the roof
   Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew her
   She tied you
   To a kitchen chair
   She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
   And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   You say I took the name in vain
   I don’t even know the name
   But if I did, well really, what’s it to you?
   There’s a blaze of light
   In every word
   It doesn’t matter which you heard
   The holy or the broken Hallelujah

   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   Hallelujah, Hallelujah

   I did my best, it wasn’t much
   I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
   I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
   And even though
   It all went wrong
   I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
   With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   Hallelujah, Hallelujah
   Hallelujah

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9. Duane Swacker says:

   December 25, 2014 at 1:10 pm

   An interview with Cohen on the song and others:

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10. KrazyTA says:

    December 25, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    Words cannot express…

    Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    😎

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11. Heidi Van De Wege says:

    December 25, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    Thank you for posting this

    Merry Christmas to you and your family🎄🎅🎶🎄🎅🎶🎄🎅🎶🎄🎅🎶🎄🎅

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12. Hemlock says:

    December 25, 2014 at 2:43 pm

    There is a wonderful book about this song called The Holy and the Broken. Leonard Cohen is probably the greatest songwriter of all time. Even Bob Dylan will defer to this genuis . I have yet to meet a woman who can resist his ample charms. He only recently began touring after hi long time assistant embezzled all his money. Nhe made the nut and then some when he toured in 2010. I have seen the Ramones, Ray Charles, Bruce Springstein, Ricki Lee Jones and Bob Dylan to name a few, and aside from Iggy Pop, no performer is more compelling or as open as Mr. Cohen. It should be no surprise to you that his affection for teachers is explicit. His song teachers is worth a listen. I love Joan of Arc, Ain’t no Cure for Love, the Future and Anthem is the song that best describes our current crusades. I am so glad you all are enjoying this Canadian treasure happy New year to all of us and the students we serve , and Lenny Cohen in his Tower of Song.

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13. Hemlock says:

    December 25, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    Anthem

    The birds they sang
    at the break of day
    Start again
    I heard them say
    Don’t dwell on what
    has passed away
    or what is yet to be.

    Ah the wars they will
    be fought again
    The holy dove
    She will be caught again
    bought and sold
    and bought again
    the dove is never free.

    Ring the bells that still can ring
    Forget your perfect offering
    There is a crack in everything
    That’s how the light gets in.

    We asked for signs
    the signs were sent:
    the birth betrayed
    the marriage spent
    Yeah the widowhood
    of every government —
    signs for all to see.

    I can’t run no more
    with that lawless crowd
    while the killers in high places
    say their prayers out loud.
    But they’ve summoned, they’ve summoned up
    a thundercloud
    and they’re going to hear from me.

    Ring the bells that still can ring …

    You can add up the parts
    but you won’t have the sum
    You can strike up the march,
    there is no drum
    Every heart, every heart
    to love will come
    but like a refugee.

    Ring the bells that still can ring
    Forget your perfect offering
    There is a crack, a crack in everything
    That’s how the light gets in.

    Ring the bells that still can ring
    Forget your perfect offering
    There is a crack, a crack in everything
    That’s how the light gets in.
    That’s how the light gets in.
    That’s how the light gets in.

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14. Hemlock says:

    December 25, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    The most beautiful prayer ( check out Anthony’s version of the tube. )

    “If It Be Your Will”

    If it be your will
    That I speak no more
    And my voice be still
    As it was before
    I will speak no more
    I shall abide until
    I am spoken for
    If it be your will
    If it be your will
    That a voice be true
    From this broken hill
    I will sing to you
    From this broken hill
    All your praises they shall ring
    If it be your will
    To let me sing
    From this broken hill
    All your praises they shall ring
    If it be your will
    To let me sing

    If it be your will
    If there is a choice
    Let the rivers fill
    Let the hills rejoice
    Let your mercy spill
    On all these burning hearts in hell
    If it be your will
    To make us well

    And draw us near
    And bind us tight
    All your children here
    In their rags of light
    In our rags of light
    All dressed to kill
    And end this night
    If it be your will

    If it be your will.

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15. Hemlock says:

    December 25, 2014 at 2:54 pm

    If only these billionaires and backstabbers spent a little time with Lenny Cohen… The world may be a better place

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16. John Wund says:

    December 25, 2014 at 7:18 pm

    Thank you, Diane, for your holiday gift. I only discovered Leonard about two years ago (why is that?). He is a great poet, a great artist.

    It’s interesting to follow threads that try to clarify what Cohen ‘means’ in his works. They are voluminous, and contentious. Cohen, wisely, steps back and savors the debate. He is an excellent teacher, understanding that the real value is not the specific ‘message’, but, rather, the engagement, the ‘drawing out’ of his students.

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