He Changed The Lyrics To "Hallelujah" And It Made People Go Wild

Dec 09, 2021

Over the years, Leonard Cohen's renowned song "Hallelujah" has become an iconic and incredibly moving piece of music. This is evidenced by the countless cover versions of the song that have come out since it was first released in 1984. The lyrics have a deep meaning that speaks to humanity, while the musical chords are powerful and moving. After all, there's a reason it's been covered so many times.

Though lovers of the song may think they have heard all of the various renditions of "Hallelujah" that are out there — of which there are many — true fans of the song can still have their breath taken away when they come across a different version of it.

One different take of "Hallelujah" is this outstandingly beautiful version that was first released in 2012. The American band Cloverton changed the lyrics of the original song and made it a glorious Christmas song. The choice of "Hallelujah" for a Christmas performance is a very classic one and for good reason –– it's beautiful and moves people during that special time of year. 

In the video, the band performed the song in a small cozy café, with hot chocolate, Christmas lights and an incredibly warm atmosphere around them. The singer's voice accompanied by the piano makes the performance simply incredible. You'd think that it couldn't get any more marvelous but then the crowd joined in at the end and the result was even more moving. Their rendition is sure to give you goosebumps for five minutes straight. 

When the singer began to play the piano and sing the opening lyrics, it was familiar to anyone who's ever heard "Hallelujah." But unlike Cohen's version and the many other covers that exist, Cloverton's rendition switched up the lyrics. They go:

"I've heard about this baby boy / Who's come to earth to bring us joy"

From early on, it's clear that the song tells the story of Jesus' birth. He continued in the second verse:

"A couple came to Bethlehem / Expecting child, they searched the inn"

The way that he sang the song is incredibly heartfelt but the story behind the band's inspiration is even more touching. Titled "A Hallelujah Christmas," Cloverton's rendition has not only the magic of the original song but it tells the magical story of Christmas. 

The video is just as warm and heartfelt. As the singer played on the piano and sang, his fellow band members took their positions behind their instruments and joined in. One played the electric guitar while another was on the cello, and there was even a xylophone. Footage of the audience as they watched on in awe showed just how captivating the performance was. The crowd even joined in toward the end and sang the famous words, "Hallelujah."

People were in just as much awe in the comments section. One person wrote:

"An absolutely beautiful version!! This song with these lyrics is so appropriate and there is so much truth in it! Brings tears to my eyes every time!"

Meanwhile, others hailed it as their new favorite Christmas song. Another said:

"My new Christmas favorite! This is simply, beautiful" 

Written in 1984 by Cohen, "Hallelujah" initially didn't receive a lot of acclaim until it was covered by other musicians. One of these was Jeff Buckley, whose 1994 alternative rock version brought this amazing song into the mainstream. But it wasn't until John Cale's version was later featured in a movie that the song became a mainstream success. His rendition featured in the 2001 film "Shrek" and since then it received a surge in popularity, as it dominated the airwaves, particularly during the holiday season. In total there are over 300 different covers of the song.

Beyond having written "Hallelujah," Cohen is a hugely influential artist of his time. His songs explore a wide range of themes including love and relationships, death and loss, depression and even politics. While today we know "Hallelujah" to be his most famous song, it took quite some time to catch on and eclipse his other hits.

According to Rolling Stone, "Hallelujah" is about the many irreconcilable conflicts which continuously conspire to tear the world apart. Despite this, Cohen believed that there were moments when we were able to simply “reconcile and embrace the whole mess." It is in these moments that we arrive at the "Hallelujah" to which the song’s title refers. The song explained that "all kinds of hallelujahs do exist, and all the perfect and broken hallelujahs have equal value." 

In fact, "Hallelujah" has become such an iconic piece of music that there was a book written about its history by the author Alan Light, titled "The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, and the Unlikely Ascent of ‘Hallelujah.‘" 

Are you a fan of the song "Hallelujah"? Which version is your favorite? Let us know, then pass this on so others can get into the holiday spirit with Cloverton's seasonal take on the classic.