Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” has taken an unexpected path to becoming a popular classic.
The Canadian singer-songwriter, known for his Jewish heritage and interest in Zen Buddhism, spent five years perfecting the song, crafting as many as 180 verses.
Despite its intricate beginnings, the song is now a popular favorite, largely thanks to artists like Rufus Wainwright and Pentatonix, who covered it.
After winning NBC’s The Sing-Off in 2011, the Arlington-based a cappella group released an impressive series of Christmas albums, bringing unmatched energy and enthusiasm to holiday music and helping cement “Hallelujah” as a seasonal staple, TexasMonthly noted.
Between 2014 and 2022, Pentatonix released six Christmas albums, including a deluxe edition with extra tracks.
They also released three compilation albums featuring a mix of songs from their holiday releases.
In 2016, Pentatonix included their version of “Hallelujah” on their album A Pentatonix Christmas.
The choice was unexpected, as the song’s lyrics delve into themes like religious doubt and desire—topics not usually associated with holiday music.
However, “Hallelujah” was released as the album’s only single and became a key factor in its success despite its unconventional connection to the season.
Pentatonix’s version of “Hallelujah” became a chart hit, reaching number 23 on the Hot 100, making it the second-highest charting version of the song.
Their album A Pentatonix Christmas, which featured the track alongside classic carols like “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” was released on October 21, 2016.
Tragically, Leonard Cohen passed away just 17 days later.
History of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah
Originally, “Hallelujah” had strong religious roots, reflecting Cohen’s Jewish background and referencing biblical figures like King David and Bathsheba (“The secret chord that David played”) and Samson and Delilah, per The Guardian.
Over time, later versions of the song expanded to include more spiritual themes with occasional sexual undertones.
Some lines, such as “When David played, his fingers bled,” were eventually removed.
Cohen’s notebooks also mention his early interactions with Dominique Issermann, who was part of his life during the album’s creation.
Issermann recalled their mornings together, where Cohen would share different versions of the song as he worked on it.
She described the song as “such a riddle; such a symbolic poem,” acknowledging its complexity and comparing it to “a bird flying round the room.”
Leonard Cohen spent a decade and around 180 attempts perfecting “Hallelujah,” but his record label initially rejected it.
The song stayed largely unnoticed for nearly 20 years until it gained widespread popularity after being featured in the movie Shrek.
Meanwhile, Pentatonix’s a cappella version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is a deeply emotional performance.
Its stripped-down style enhances the song’s spiritual depth, making it even more powerful and moving. Watch:
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