If there’s one thing y’all need to experience today, it’s this jaw-dropping rendition of Leonard Cohen’s signature song, “Hallelujah“. During the 2008 X Factor season, Alexandra Burke took the stage to perform this timeless classic, successfully blowing away not just the audience, but the judges as well, as she received a standing ovation.
“Hallelujah” was written and recorded by Canadian singer, Leonard Cohen, and released in 1984 on his Various Positions album. It’s been covered numerous times, most notably by Jeff Buckley, whose version charted worldwide and is critically acclaimed. Alexandra, who won the fifth season of X Factor, released her own version which topped the charts in both the UK and Ireland in 2008.
We couldn’t agree more when the judge described Alexandra’s performance as strong, gentle, and sincere. Even the hardest-to-please judge, Simon Cowell, said that it was unbelievable, so y’all know without a fact that it was. It’s one of those performances that y’all will remember for years to come and will probably come back to it time and time again just to experience its brilliance.
HALLELUJAH LYRICS
Well I’ve 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
And she broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
But 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
Well 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
