SNL Comedy Show Ends Week Of Trump’s Triumpth & Leonard Cohen’s Death On A Somber, Reflective Note

Posted by Doug Draper on Niagara At Large

November 13^th, 2016

If you missed the first few introductory moments of Saturday Night Live this November 12^th, they unfolded as SNL cast member Kate McKinnon, who did a dead ringer impersonation of Hillary Clinton through the U.S. election campaign, sat down at a piano with the stage lights darkened behind her and sang Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’.

It was a sombre and powerful shift from the usual comedic, satirical skits Saturday Night Live is so famous for and it was one that had many viewers at home turning to social media to say that it moved them from the numbness or sense of denial or shock they had been wallowing in since Trump’s election to begin the process on reflecting on what happened and on what people of good will need to do next.

It was also a reminder of how insightful and timeless so many of the lyrics are of Leonard Cohen, who died the day before the final vote this November 8^th but whose song Hallelujah, now more than three decades old, speaks to the feelings many people had following this election.

When Kate McKinnon, made up like Hillary Clinton one more time, finished singing the song she looked into the eye of the camera and into our eyes to millions of us who were watching on the other side of the screen and said – “I’m not giving up and neither should you,” before finishing with the show’s usual call-out, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!’

If you missed this, here it is now for any of you who care to click on and view. Then share your thoughts below if you like.

The lyrics to Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’  –

“Now 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? It goes like this The fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew her She tied you To a kitchen chair She broke your throne, and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain I don’t even know the name But if I did, well really, what’s it to you? There’s a blaze of light In every word It doesn’t matter which you heard The holy…

You say I took the name in vain I don’t even know the name But if I did, well really, what’s it to you? There’s a blaze of light In every word It doesn’t matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn’t much I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you And even though It all went wrong I’ll stand before the Lord of Song With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah …”

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 “A politician thinks of the next election. A leader thinks of the next generation.” – Bernie Sanders