“Hallelujah” performed by Time for Three,
from their 3 Fervent Travelers release.
I purchased the single at Amazon.com

“Hallelujah”
Leonard Cohen

There are many wonderful interpretations of this magnificent song. k.d. lang’s is certainly one of the most elegant.

Many favor Rufus Wainwright.

But for my money, the most stunning performance is that of Jeff Buckley.

This brilliant, promising talent was lost to the world after a few scant years of international acclaim, to a drowning accident.

Eerily, his signature, a award-winning song, “Grace”, is almost prescient. “well it’s my time coming, I’m not afraid to die ... and I feel them drown my name.”

On the other hand, Leonard Cohen’s own recordings, early and late, have a wonder of their own.

I present, first, the k.d. lang live performance, as almost a benchmark. Then you will hear two by the poet himself.

Finally, I present several by Jeff Buckley, just because they move me beyond beyond: the original studio recording; a live performance in France in 1996; and, lastly, an early live performance Sin-é, a tiny coffeehouse in New York’s East Village. I believe you will see why he bears repeat hearings.

You will have your own favorite, likely different from mine (perhaps one that is not even here, so please forgive my slight favoritism), and enjoy the sublime grace of this truly remarkable poem set to music.

But first, the lyrics:

    “Hallelujah”
    Leonard Cohen

    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 you
    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

    Now baby I have been here before
    I know this room, I've walked this floor
    I used to live alone before I knew you.
    I've seen your flag on the marble arch
    Love is not a victory march
    It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

      Hallelujah, Hallelujah
      Hallelujah, Hallelujah

    Now maybe there's a God above
    But all I've ever learned from love
    Is how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
    And it's not complaint you hear tonight
    And it's not some pilgrim who's seen the light
    It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah.

      Hallelujah, Hallelujah
      Hallelujah, Hallelujah .

    There was a time you let me know
    What's really going on below
    But now you never show it to me, do you?
    And remember when I moved in you
    The holy dove was moving too
    And every breath we drew was 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.

    And here is a webpage that gives the chords, tablature and can even play an accompaniment!

Let us begin with

Behold, the sublime k.d. lang at the Juno Awards in Winnipeg in 2005.

 

Then there is the Master, in the professional Sony video which, unfortunately, cannot be embedded. It is so fine, you’ll even forgive the commercial at the beginning. Click: HERE.

An early studio recording of Jeff Buckley had embedding disabled, but you may go to it by clicking HERE.

Jeff Buckley, Live in France, fearlessly speaks Truth to Power as he quietly, gently excoriates the French government for it’s entry into the Nuclear Club.

 

Jeff Buckley, Live at at Sin-é, early 1990s, must also be viewed at YouTube. Click HERE.

For a Bonus Video, click HERE for Leonard Cohen’s great anthem, “Democracy”.

Not that I am worthy — except, I am. Hear me at Jazz Sacra.

—Daniel ben Avrám