Irish priest surprises couple at their wedding with a personal rendition of ‘Hallelujah’

Father Ray Kelly was marrying Chris and Leah O’Kane at the Roman Catholic church he pastors in Oldcastle, Meath Ireland. Half way through the ceremony, Father Kelly had a surprise for the couple and began to sing a hit song by Leonard Cohen called “Hallelujah.”

He changed the words to sing about their marriage. The first line of the song was:

“We join together here today, to help two people on their way, as Leah and Chris start their life together.”

Father Kelly nails the song. By the time he was done, the Bride was in tears. He finished the song with wild applause from the congregation, with some even standing to honor his performance.

The song posted to YouTube climbed to over 8 million hits in less than a week.

Here are the full words to the song, as posted on YouTube:

WE JOIN TOGETHER HERE TODAY,
TO HELP TWO PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY,
AS LEAH AND CHRIS START THEIR LIFE TOGETHER,
AND NOW WE’VE REACHED THEIR SPECIAL DATE,
WE’VE COME TO HELP THEM CELEBRATE,
AND SHOW THEM HOW MUCH WE LOVE THEM TOO,

HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH
HALLELUJAH,

AS LEAH IS WALKING UP THE AISLE,
AND CHRIS LOOKS UP AND GIVES A SMILE,
THE LOVE THAT FLOWS BETWEEN THEM FILLS THE CHURCH,
WITH LEAH’S FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON HER SIDE,
SHE REALLY IS THE BLUSHING BRIDE,
WITH LOVE AND PRIDE THEY LEAD HER

HALLELUJAH,
HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH
HALLELUJAH,

WITH THE PRIEST AND THE FAMILY WHO LEAD THE PRAYERS,
WE SAY OUR LINES AND THEY SAY THEIRS,
I GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE CEREMONY,
AND IN THIS HOUSE OF GOD ABOVE,
THEY JOIN THEIR HANDS TO SHOW THEIR LOVE,
AND SAY THOSE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS THAT YOU HEARD,

HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH
HALLELUJAH,
HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH
HALLELUJAH,
HALLELUJAH,
HALLELUJAH.