Song Challenge: new versions of 'Hallelujah'

Subject: Song Challenge: versions of 'Hallelujah'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Dec 21 - 12:25 AM

There's a twitter thread, started by a woman named Ellen Kushner, in response to someone else posting their protest about a vapid holiday song written to the tune and meter of Cohen's "Hallelujah." (Here, if you need a reminder). If you're still with me, here is the post she responded to along with her challenge:

I call upon the power of all my genius rhyming friends (and any of theirs) to now crank out a series of increasingly rambunctious songs beginning always with:
"I heard there was a...."
a/a/b/b/etc. rhymes only, please
@lizduffyadams

@Signs_of_Life

This looks like a great occupation for interested Mudcatters - creating new verses for this estimable song.

Here are a few samples of the responses:

(Amal El-Mothar)
I heard there was a vorpal sword
ate snicker-snacks when it got bored
but you don't really care for Carroll, do ya
well it goes like this, drawn forth in myth
a shouted call, a gleaming gift,
a frabjous boy Calloo-ing, Callalujah
Callay-loo-jah, Callay-loo-jay


(Glenn Hauman)
There was a garden with a gate
for Adam and his future mate
A place that He Himself had made quite holy
He brought forth Eve and let them live in
Paradise, til they were given
fruit, forbidden fruit, twas picked by Crowley...

(apologies to @neilhimself)


(Lin-Manuel Miranda)
I heard there was a kid in blue
With windows he was wavin through
the high school kids around him always dancin'
Alas, he was a lyin kid
And when they heard the things he did
He sang through snot and tears, dear Evan Hansen...

(Liza Mezzo)
I heard there was a choral thing
That Handel wrote to please the King
So let’s all get our scores and sing it through, yeah
A fanfare then a fugue quick-set,
Then “Lord of Lords”— but don’t forget
The rest before the final Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah..
Hallelujah


and this lovely response and clarification:

(Chris Upton)
I heard there was a special song
Where parodies could not go wrong
(And Leonard Cohen's not around to sue ya.)
A A B C C B's the rhyme,
Iambic couplets keep the time,
And every stanza ends with Hallelujah.
#AltHallelujah


The tag #AltHallelujah will bring up more on Twitter.

NOW: if there was ever a song challenge for Mudcat, this seems like an nice one for the holidays of 2021 when everyone could use a boost! Have fun contorting folksongs (or their messages) to this format.

Go for it!

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: new versions of 'Hallelujah'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Dec 21 - 12:55 AM

Another participant:

Now lately there's a well-known verse
Stays in your head, a pleasant curse
Feel the urge to write new lyrics for it, do you?
Remember as you're penning it
Iambic couplets always fit
Now you have yourself new lines of Hallelujah

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: new versions of 'Hallelujah'
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 14 Dec 21 - 03:03 PM

I heard that theres a great 'Cafe',
On facebook, not so far away
Where Folkies meet to discuss things that fool ya.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluuuuiiiiiiiaaaaaa.
The folkies chat and research 'Folk'
That Mudcat Cafe is no joke,
Where some of the people really are peculiar,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluuuuiiiiiiiaaaaaa.
Some get themselves in quite a mess,
When commenting upon BS,
And some of them can be unpleasant to ya.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluuuuiiiiiiiaaaaaa.
But in its way it holds some force,
It's a comprehensive music source,
For you and all Folkies that ever knew ya.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluuuuiiiiiiiaaaaaa.