“Hallelujah” by Pentatonix & Leonard Cohen & Jeff Buckley

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

One of my all time favorite songs is “Hallelujah” and one of the most covered songs.  I am most familiar with the version by Leonard Cohen (the original) and then of course my personal favorite , Jeff Buckley.

I came across this version by Pentatonix that they released this past week and I have to say I enjoyed it.  It is off their new album, ‘A Pentatonix Christmas’.  It reminded me how great the songs is and always will be.  However, nothing beats Buckley’s version in my opinion. I can enjoy this one as well.

I will share all three versions with you and you can pick your favorite.

Pentatonix:

Leonard Cohen:

Jeff Buckley:

“Hallelujah”

Well, I 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
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah…

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…

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

Written by Leonard Cohen

14 thoughts on ““Hallelujah” by Pentatonix & Leonard Cohen & Jeff Buckley”

  2. Dropping in to say fair play to all who enjoy the cover versions, but for me the only version is Leonard’s original. Everyone else just makes it too overwrought, and they miss out on the nod and sexy wink that Leonard gave his version. Peace!

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      1. I tthink that’s true for a lot of people, they heard the Buckley first. And fair play, as i said. I’ve just never heard a cover of any of Leonard’s songs that was as good as the original. Guess I’m a purist! 🙂

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  3. Oooft. I don’t know that I’d ever want to hear that version again. At least they’ve tried to move away from Jahn Cale’s version, which most try to replicate. But it sounds like a generic ‘boy band’ take on a song with some weight. Way too earnest.

    Anyhoo, it’s a great song. Personally I prefer Leonard’s, as it’s just very real. It’s hard to comment on the true spirit of the song (only he knows), but I generally find that most covers of it through it into ‘generic spiritual’, with so little weight or wit. Which is at the centre of all Leonard’s work.

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      1. Buckley’s was the first version I knew, too. From there I learned about Cohen and then Cale’s take (which is what most cover). I mean, it’s one of the greatest songs ever penned, which I guess is why it’s so widely covered!

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