There’s a Blaze of Light in Every Word of Hallelujah

When Columbia’s executive producer first heard Hallelujah, he looked Leonard in the eye and muttered, “This is a disaster.” A prayerful hymn with biblical references, Hallelujah wasn’t viewed as a hit that would top the charts. At the time, songs like Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Kenny Loggin’s Footloose were getting listeners up and dancing. Hallelujah, Columbia Records believed, would do nothing but put them to sleep.

Joni Mitchell / Leonard Cohen / Leonard Cohen / Bob Dylan.

Source: Getty Images

But, boy, were they wrong. Hallelujah is a brilliant masterpiece. It’s a poem that unites and touches the souls of religious and secular people alike and has grown to become one of the most covered singles of all time. From Bob Dylan in the late ‘80s to Jeff Buckley’s high-pitched version in 1994, Hallelujah is beautiful in every form.