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While not intended, perhaps, Halleujah has been a comfort and celebration in many ways to many people. 2 or 3 new verses for the hearts to heal in Newtown for the 6 new angels and 20 innocents (perhaps YouTubed by Jackie Evancho?) would be a gift to the world right now.

No, it would not be appropriate. For if Newtown, then why not Utoye, Columbine, Dumblaine, Jonestown...? "Death is woven in with the violets: death, and again death."

Much more interesting would be to get hold of the fifteen verses Leonard apparently supplied to John Cale.

I have a question regarding the music of "Hallelujah." We are Voices for Heroes,Inc., A charitable 501(c)-3 organization. We are in the process of producing a compilation CD of Connecticut singer/ songwriters which will benefit Newtown/ Sandy Hook. We are very close to production and we have been contacted by a very talented young man, Joe, from Newtown who really wants to help his community. He had expressed his desire to be included in this CD and has written lyrics for this song. I believe it would be a wonderful inclusion to this project, however there is the obvious issue of licensing to use Mr. Cohen's music. Joe lost seven friends that day. How would we go about obtaining permission to use Mr. Cohen's composition?

Here is a link to this young man's effort:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... o-OSfkGkU8

As we are very close to production, I'm sure you can understand, time is of the essence.

Thank you

Didn't one of those TV talent shows actually feature a clip of its participants singing "Hallelujah" for the Newtown victims? I'm guessing, thought, they conveniently neglected to include the verse:

Maybe there's a God above
All I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew ya . . .