Hallelujah

Prompt #48 by Leonard Cohen

Last week's submissions were spectacular! And it was very difficult to choose a Feature. Thanks to everyone who participated in last week's prompt, There's A Place, by The Beatles! I really appreciate all of you, Readers and Writers alike. 🙏

I've decided to publish a Stories from the Jukebox Feature Winner Anthology! There are just four prompts left until the Jukebox celebrates its one year anniversary.

Want to see your name in print this Fall? Subscribe and submit to a SFTJ prompt before August 10th! All subscriber submissions are eligible. *See submission rules below.

Week #47 Feature🏆

This week’s Feature Award goes to Marty D. Snow, for his short story titled, My Place. I could go on and on about how this story embodies Lennon’s, There Is A Place. But I think this reader's comment says it best.

“This piece is a realistic reflection of how relationships change lives and how the aftermath can be both a crushing blow and a celebration. Your primary character fought herself up through the debris of years not belonging to herself and then finding grace and joy in the reawakening process. I smiled at her bravery and audacity to embrace her renewal. Great piece.” -Patricia (Substack Reader)

It’s funny Ian. After your dad left, I didn’t hear from anyone. No calls or visits. People were even ignoring me at the supermarket. Your father was so loved around here. I guess you can’t be a baby doc in a small town without getting to know everyone. But, now, all of a sudden, they’re worried?

My Place

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Here’s this week’s prompt, Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen!

"Hallelujah" is a song written by Canadian singer Leonard Cohen, originally released on his album Various Positions (1984). (Via Wikipedia)

His original version, recorded on his 1984 album Various Positions, contains allusions to several biblical verses, including the stories of Samson and Delilah from the Book of Judges ("she cut your hair") as well as King David and Bathsheba ("you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you").

When at age 50 Cohen first recorded the song, he described it as "rather joyous", and said that it came from "a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way, but with enthusiasm, with emotion." He later said "there is a religious hallelujah, but there are many other ones. When one looks at the world, there's only one thing to say, and it's hallelujah".

Cohen is reputed to have written between 80 and 180 draft verses for “Hallelujah”—a number affected by having many versions of the same line. He claimed 150 draft verses, substantiated by his notebooks containing many revisions and additions, and by contemporary interviews. Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, creators of the 2022 documentary film Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song, said that Cohen took about five years to write the song, and reconfigured it numerous times for performances.

Calling all Poets, Fiction, & Non-Fiction writers that love music — Share your prose of 1500 words or less, using the prompt, Hallelujah!

Remember:

• Each Tuesday I’ll publish a newsletter with that week’s song prompt — along with a featured writer’s submission from the previous week.

• Anyone is then free to run with it! Just add the link to your story or prose in the comments of this newsletter.

• Subscribers to Stories from the Jukebox, also have a chance to be featured in the following week’s newsletter. And I’ll do my best to give feedback and restack each submission.

There’s always rules:

1. All forms of prose are welcome, just keep it under 1500 words.

2. Submissions must be published by midnight on Monday July 27, 2026. (this newsletter is sent to subscribers at midnight)

3. Submissions must include a tag/link to this week’s Song Prompt Newsletter embedded within the post.

While anyone is welcome to add their post in the comments at any time — all rules must be followed for a post to be eligible to be featured or shared.

How would you like to pick our prompt? Find out how to join our revolving list of Headliners here.

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Bill Ferguson 🇨🇦 never disappoints when his turn to Headline comes around. As a prolific prompt writer, Bill seems to always put great effort in choosing our prompt, and this week is of course no different. I bet Hallelujah, will be a show stopper. And I can’t wait to read this week’s submissions.

Here’s a shortcut to Bill’s Flash Fiction from Prompts page — where you’ll find hundreds of prompt inspired stories. Happy Reading!

Here’s our Headliner, That’s One Way To See It, by Bill Ferguson 🇨🇦!

“Our brains know things. We think, understand and develop thoughts, ideas and concepts,” he reflected. “Our brain predates AI by millions of years. It is original, thoughtful, a builder in a world looking for success. There are no right or wrong answers, only changing concepts.”

Sammy paused as he heard movement down the shoreline. He turned his head to see a moose approaching the water.

That's One Way To See it

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