724) Hallelujah!




     Christians all over the world begin their Easter worship services with those words.  Alleluia, also spelled Hallelujah, is a Biblical word of praise that has become very well known in recent years because of a song written in 1984 by Leonard Cohen.  The title of the song was simply Hallelujah, and it wasn’t much of a hit when it first came out.  But it gradually grew in popularity, and other artists sought permission to record it.  Cohen was generous in granting that permission, and there have been over 300 different professional recordings of Hallelujah, including one for the popular kid’s movie Shrek.  It has become a well known and much loved song, and has been used in numerous other movies, television shows, memorial services, and other events.

     The song’s title is a Biblical word, and the melody sounds very much like something you could use in worship.   However, even though some of the lines speak of the Old Testament King David, the lyrics would not fit very well in a worship service.  But Cohen has granted permission for the song’s use with different lyrics, and there have been some very nice recordings of some ‘Christianized’ versions.  In 2006 Kelley Mooney wrote an Easter version of Hallelujah for her church.  A couple years later she received permission to make her own recording with these words:


Here is a Christmas version:


And this one was done by a priest for a wedding:



This is Leonard Cohen singing Hallelujah as he wrote it:


And here is Cohen in a 2010 talking about the success of the song:






The Empty Tomb, Mikhail Nesterov (1862-1942)


Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, Alleluia!
14th century Latin carol





Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly king, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky he’s king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
Praise him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!