Here's a listing from LeonardCohenFiles.com of all the known covers (44) of "Hallelujah." I don't see the Pogues in here. The Whiffenpoofs did it, though.

Hallelujah Angelou Sweet dreams tonight UK 2002 Eng
Hallelujah/Shrek Alleluia Baccini, Francesco La notte non dormo mai Italy 2003 Ita
Hallelujah Blue Jupiter Ear Candy USA 2002 Eng
Hallelujah Blumfeld 1000 Tränen tief Germany 1999 Ger
Hallelujah Bono Tower of song USA 1995 Eng
Hallelujah Botti, Chris December USA 2002 Instr
Hallelujah/Halleluja Brandt, Steffen& Dickow, Tina På danske laeber Danmark 2004 Dan
Hallelujah Buckley, Jeff Grace USA 1994 Eng
Hallelujah (live) Buckley, Jeff Mystery White Boy -live '95-'96 USA 2000 Eng
Hallelujah (live, diff. version) Buckley, Jeff Live at L'Olympia France 2001 Eng
Hallelujah (live, diff. version) Buckley, Jeff Live at Cin-E USA 2003 Eng Hallelujah Cale, John I'm your fan France 1991 Eng
Hallelujah (live) Cale, John Fragments of a rainy season USA 1992 Eng Hallelujah Clark, Carrie Release the butterfly USA 2001 Eng
Hallelujah Crowe, Allison Tidings: 6 songs for the Season Canada 2004 Eng
Hallelujah Dylan, Bob Critic's Choice Vol.3 (bootleg) (live, Montreal 1988) Eng
Hallelujah Felix, Julie I walk with beauty UK 2004 Eng
Hallelujah Elisa Lotus Italy 2003 Eng
Hallelujah/Halleluja Finardi, Eugenio Il silenzio e lo spirito Italy 2003 Eng Hallelujah Freya CD single Denmark 1999 Eng
Hallelujah/ Halleluja Gallai, Péter A vendégek – Leonard Cohen dalai Hungary 2003 Hun
Hallelujah/Halleluja Hector Kultaiset lehdet Finland 1995 Fin
Hallelujah Jaensch, Juergen Ich kenne Deine Träume Germany 1997 Eng
Hallelujah Jones, Vince Live Australia 1999 Eng
Hallelujah/Decembernatt Jöback, Peter Jag kommer hem till jul Sweden 2002 Swe
Hallelujah Karaoke album Enya and Leonard Cohen USA 2002 Instr
Hallelujah/Elämä läikkyy Kekäle, Jari & CO Oven raosta Finland 2001 Fin
Hallelujah/Alleluja Kukura, Juraj Jsem tvuj muz Czech R. 1995 Cze
Hallelujah L(ukeman), Jack Rooftop Lullaby Ireland 2000 Eng
Hallelujah Lang, K D Hymns of the 49th parallel USA 2004 Eng
Hallelujah/Halleluja Lundell, Ulf Når jeg kysser havet / Ulf Lundells beste Sweden 1999 Swe
Hallelujah / Den hemliga sången Lundqvist, Jan Erik Leonard Cohen på svenska Sweden 2002 Swe
Hallelujah Mean Larry & Friends Chelsea Hotel: A tribute to Leonard Cohen USA 2000 Eng
Hallelujah/Aleluya Morente, Enrique Omega Spain 1996 Spa
Hallelujah Norby, Cecilie First conversation Denmark 2002 Eng
Hallelujah Northcott, Tom Joyful Songs of L. Cohen Canada 1997 Eng
Hallelujah O'Calaghan, Patricia Real emotional girl Canada 2000 Eng
Hallelujah Pascal, Daniele Dance me to the end of love S. Africa 1996 Eng
Hallelujah/Halleluja Perttu, Tapani Tanssi elämän tanssi Finland 1988 Fin
Hallelujah / Aleluya Surfin' Bichos Family Album I Spain 1993 Spa
Hallelujah Twentytwo Brides Blazes of light USA 1997 Eng
Hallelujah Wainwright, Rufus Shrek (soundtrack) USA 2001 Eng
Hallelujah Whiffenpoofs Whiffenium USA 2000 Eng
Hallelujah Williams, Kathryn Relations UK 2004 Eng
Hallelujah Workman, Nanette Roots 'n' blues Canada 2001 Eng
Hallelujah/Alleluja Zembaty, Maciej Alleluja Poland 1985 Pol

cathy had this to say:

According to this site, perhaps they are confusing it with this?

eta: from The Kirsty MacColl web site [link]

Top of the Pops

November 23, 1989. Another TV slot, this time as backing singer with Happy Mondays when they performed Hallelujah. Jakki Brambles and Jenny Powell presenting.

The Pogues never recorded a version of this song to the best of my knowledge.

Hallelujah Lang

Without the proper punctuation, this makes me laugh.

So I AM insane. Well, it's nice to finally be sure.

Thank you all.

t natter

Nara, are you a Dead @ 17 reader?

The Happy Mondays "Hallelujah" is a different song from the Leonard Cohen one, though.

Anything in the way of help would be greatly appreciated, as this is REALLY making me question my sanity. Well, more than usual. Erm, thanks.

A totally excellent Buffista de-lurkage, I have to say, with the insanity and all. I was on tenterhooks waiting to see what the hivemind could come up with, and I only have a passing acquaintance with the Pogues.

Nara, are you a Dead @ 17 reader?

'Fraid not. In fact, I'm not entirely sure what that is. There are huge gaps in even my passing familiarity with pop culture (unusual upbringing, long story), which is one of the reasons I've shied away from posting here so far - you lot seem so damn up on, well, everything.

The Happy Mondays "Hallelujah" is a different song from the Leonard Cohen one, though.

Is it really? In that case, it couldn't have been them because that was definitely Cohen's song I remember. And the more I think about it, the more I go back to feeling that it was MacGowan doing it. I mean, the bastard made me weep (he often does but that time it was special, particulary since it was the first time I'd seen/heard The Pogues)! My brain doesn't normally get confuzzled about things to which I have such a strong emotional reaction.

Grrrr!

I only have a passing acquaintance with the Pogues.

See, rationally I can understand that The Pogues just aren't everyone's cup of tea. On a less rational level, however... What the hell's wrong with you??! (joking. Mostly)

Is it really?

Yes. The lyrics don't seem to be anywhere online, but it doesn't sound anything like the Cohen one. The Happy Mondays song is used to good effect in the film 24 Hour Party People.

(And most of us don't know everything, except for Hec and Jon, who use their powers for good. Me, I'm good from about 1982-1998, and a lot of everything before and after is mushy mush.)

The lyrics don't seem to be anywhere online, but it doesn't sound anything like the Cohen one.

I just stumbled upon a mention of the Happy Mondays' "Hallelujah" while looking for that elusive Pogues cover I remembered and glommed onto it as a possible explanation for why I couldn't find a trace of the latter. I've probably never even heard it - is it any good?

Me, I'm good from about 1982-1998, and a lot of everything before and after is mushy mush.

Well, that's still a lot more than I can say. I was pretty sketchy on who The Smiths were until a few years ago (I can almost hear the horrified gasps).