I am a Leonard Cohen fan, and like many of his fans, I love the haunting melody and angst-ridden lyrics of his iconic Hallelujah.

But for the love of all that is holy, I wish people would stop including it on Christmas playlists. The song has nothing to do with Christmas and realistically has very little to do with the Bible.

I know that there is a nativity version of the song. That was neither written nor authorized by Cohen himself, but written and performed by the group Cloverton.

I sometimes wonder how Cohen felt, having his song hijacked. Personally, as a writer, it really bugs me when someone meddles with my words, but I know there are many who enjoy the nativity version.

I’ve heard various criticisms of the Christmas Hallelujah, some valid and some not so much. I was interested to read writer Sigal Samuel’s take. She felt that the Christmas one was too positive, and too wholesome to be taken seriously.

She wrote, “Leonard Cohen gives us a cold and broken Hallelujah. Cloverton gives us a warm and wholesome one. You choose.”

And without meaning to, she nailed the purpose of Christmas. Christmas is God stepping             into a cold, broken world to offer us a warm, wholesome one.

Have a great week and remember: To see what is possible, you’ll have to attempt the impossible.