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HALLELUJAH, THE RETURN OF THE KING: A DEDICATION TO LEONARD COHEN AND JEFF BUCKLEY

Squirrel Girl wept while her head was turned to the land across the sea.

Then Wind blew and no one could know where it blew from.

“What are you crying for?” asked Wind.

“I kept on hearing hallelujah in my head, so I listened to the song ‘Hallelujah,’ and it made me cry,” said Squirrel Girl. “I believe you intended me to hear the word ‘hallelujah,’ did you not? You wanted me to listen to the song ‘Hallelujah?’ It is a song written by Leonard Cohen, but Jeff Buckley gave it soul.”

Wind asked, “How was it?”

Wind had the annoying tendency to answer a question with a question.

“It’s one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.”

“So, why cry?”

“Because in the land across the sea, the King had returned. He needed to save his country from the enemy—the Bear.

“The Bear became jealous because the King was playing the secret chord to please the Lord. And seeing the jealous the Bear, the King tried teaching him the song, but the Bear didn’t care for his music much. Yet, the King composed the song because he needed proof of faith.

“And the enraged Bear broke the King’s throne and tied his beloved citizens and tortured them. But instead of screams, from the lips of the citizens, Bear drew out the hallelujah. And when the Bear had them killed in anger, in death true life was found, and their souls sang the hallelujah. Then further raged, Bear desecrated the King’s land and raped the innocent maidens and bombed the children as they screamed. And after they died, they were buried to hide the truth. Yet, the Lord was pleased with the King’s chord and heard the cries of the innocents.

“Then I saw what I saw: The King raising the victory flag amid the ruins and singing hallelujah. Seeing their ravaged land the King’s people will cry, but they will sing the hallelujah, a broken hallelujah.

“The citizens did not fear death like their King. They defended what was theirs because they wanted to breathe the ‘free air.’ Their country in ruins, yet amidst the rubble, they shall stand before the Lord and sing the hallelujah. Their victory will be cold and thus they will sing the broken hallelujah.”

“So, if the King will have his victory, why are you sad?” asked Wind.

Girl weeping still answered Wind, “Because it will be a broken hallelujah.”

Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah (Official Video) – YouTube

Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song) – Wikipedia

What are war crimes, is Russia committing them in Ukraine, and could Putin be prosecuted? – CBS News