Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah (A Science Version)

This one felt good to write. It hit on my personal story (1 & 2) and addresses some things I feel about the scientific craft, fellow scientists, and the public perception of both. I kept hearing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. It was on SNL, there is a Pentatonix version. As when I hear songs over and over again, I write lyrics to get them out of my head. I plan on singing so stay tuned and I will link the video once I do. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing the lyrics.

Hallelujah (A Science Version)

I started out a music man
That wrote the songs and led the band
Until I heard a voice that led to you
I overdressed, I met the chair
I got the job, with help from prayer
My science mission started Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I entered lab, green as can be
I tried to learn things desperately
What drives these science souls to want to help you
Was love not pride that drove the lot
With this I gave it all I got
The knowledge started growing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Now we are ordinary folks
The warmth we have is not a hoax
We do our best yet little, is known to you
But in competition and trends we waste
The limited number of funds we face
While we fight for diseased and broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

To seek discoveries untold
I learned my questions must be bold
And collaborative communities are essential
So I made the call to take up arm
To follow data and do no harm
And hope to find some answers Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I sit here now with lab in hand
A scientific kind of band
And all we really want to do is help you
Within the realm of vaccine’s parch
Each cure is not a victory march
For there are those still hurting Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

MDLJ