For the month of March, I've decided to try something a little different. Rather than focusing on songwriting and multi-instrumental production (backing vocals, second and lead guitars, drums, synths, etc.), I'm concentrating on performance. To this end, I won't be adding additional instruments or vocals to my performances this month. I won't be using any software to edit my video sound at all, actually, although I will probably continue to edit the visuals in iMovie as I have been. Also, in the interest of focusing on performance, I'll be doing covers for the remainder of the month.

This week's entry (my first cover ever, for Open Mic!) is a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". I always thought Jeff Buckley's version was the definitive one, and the countless others that followed were superfluous, but here I am doing one myself.

It often brings a catch to my throat when I sing it, so in this performance I focused on conveying the emotion in the lyrics.

The lyrics presented below were changed slightly by me in performance.

Hallelujah

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
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Songwriters: Leonard Cohen
Hallelujah lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Want to listen to more Steemit Open Mic entries, or enter one of your own? Check it out at:

https://steemit.com/openmic/@luzcypher/steemit-open-mic-week-76-record-your-performance-and-win-steem-sponsored-by-pfunk-and-luzcypher

Big thanks as always to @luzcypher, @pfunk, @meno, @passionground, @soundlegion, @verbal-d, @jessamynorchard, @krystle, you guys rock 🖤

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