The man himself, Leonard Cohen, comes through even more powerfully than the performance, radiating streams of glory and integrity.
The closest anyone else has come to this purity of spirit is K.D. Lang, dressed in a black shapeless garb and singing the angels out of heaven.
I recollect that somewhere LC had the same appreciation for KDL's rendition; same heart, different entity, same blazing glory.

For kd lang's supreme version, just Google --
kd lang hallelujah cshf 2006

cshf for the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

I first heard Tim Buckley's son's (can't recall his name) version of this song and I really loved it. That was several years ago and I think that at this late date this tune is one of the most over played/covered pieces of music I have ever heard. Even in music, familiarity breeds contempt.

I like it. Thx for sharing.

There's also an uptempo broadway show tune with the same name -- much more Ethel Merman than Cohen. I like them both. Compare and contrast. You have 60 seconds.

j.