Nothing on Their Tongue but Hallelujah: Why Leonard Cohen’s Dark Hymn Will Forever Escape Trumping
Résumé
The article considers Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah in the context of the Republican Party's use of it during Donald trump's nomination ceremony as presidential candidate. It examines how deeply subversive the song is and how it eschews partisan politics and alone jingoistic celebration. “Hallelujah” is deeply anti-ideological. It invites us to dissolve the ego, look inside, way deeper than our ideological affiliations, to embrace our burning hearts and, from that point of view, a point of view that – as the lyrics inform us– could “baffle” even king David, pronounce whatever hallelujah may arise.