# West Wing Question - Help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2003, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012 "2003-12-19T18:02:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SeamusToo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@SeamusToo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusToo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/1 "2003-12-19T18:02:54Z")
Near the end of the episode in which C.J.'s Special Agent Donovan is killed, a song is sung beneath the action. It seems to have the refrain “Hallelulia.” I thought I heard part of a lyric referring to David spying on Bathsheba in her bath. Does anyone know singer and song? Seamus ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/2 "2003-12-19T18:27:01Z")
The song is originally by Leonard Cohen; as you surmised, its title is Hallelujah. The version in the West Wing was done by Jeff Buckley, and can be found on his self-titled album. Lyrics can be found [here](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Hallelujah-lyrics-Jeff-Buckley/D0720188D8C780FF4825688400270D36). My big question about the West Wing… when is Season 2 coming out on DVD? ---
**Author:** ![aleong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@aleong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aleong)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/3 "2003-12-19T20:16:47Z")
While we’re on the topic, what was the point of the Rena character in the episode where the government was shut down… other than being a possible reference to Monica Lewinsky? She didn’t show up again in the subsequent episode. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bibliophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophile)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/4 "2003-12-21T17:24:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MrVisible \* > \*\*The song is originally by Leonard Cohen; as you surmised, its title is Hallelujah. The version in the West Wing was done by Jeff Buckley, and can be found on his self-titled album. > > Lyrics can be found [here](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Hallelujah-lyrics-Jeff-Buckley/D0720188D8C780FF4825688400270D36). > > My big question about the West Wing… when is Season 2 coming out on DVD? \*\* Not to nitpick, but Hallelujah is on Grace, Jeff Buckley’s first album.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SeamusToo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@SeamusToo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeamusToo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/5 "2003-12-22T19:42:55Z")
Thank you MrVisible and bibliophile. Dopers are the best. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/6 "2003-12-22T20:18:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aleong \* > \*\*While we’re on the topic, what was the point of the Rena character in the episode where the government was shut down… other than being a possible reference to Monica Lewinsky? She didn’t show up again in the subsequent episode. \*\* What Lewinsky reference? I don’t know if that plotline has been dropped, but some speculation was that she was some sort of Federal prisoner (her agency was not shut down, remember, and prisons certainly weren’t). That may be the basis of some future scandal. ---
**Author:** ![dav01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@dav01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dav01)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/7 "2003-12-22T20:19:59Z")
Incidentally, the same song is used in _Shrek_. I rented the movie about a week before I saw that episode of TWW- imagine my surprise over hearing it twice in a week! Great song, tho. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/8 "2003-12-22T22:14:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dav01 \* > \*\*Incidentally, the same song is used in _Shrek_. I rented the movie about a week before I saw that episode of TWW- imagine my surprise over hearing it twice in a week! > > Great song, tho. \*\* The version on _Shrek_ is by [Rufus Wainwright](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005CF9Y/103-7050565-1719035?v=glance#product-details) and is a damn fine song. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/9 "2003-12-23T00:16:58Z")
Great song, but the subject of some confusion. Leonard Cohen wrote about three different sets of lyrics, and it’s been covered by several different singers. My favorite version remains Cohen’s 800,000-cigarette voice on the album “Cohen Live”. ---
**Author:** ![aleong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@aleong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aleong)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/10 "2003-12-23T00:49:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > **What Lewinsky reference?** This Rena character was a nobody who was suddenly elevated to working with the White House’s inner circle… similar to how a previously unknown and unpaid intern came to know a certain President during the 1995 shutdown of the US federal government. ---
**Author:** ![Gmork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f19dbf/32.png) [@Gmork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gmork)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/11 "2003-12-23T03:14:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by St. Urho \* > \*\*The version on _Shrek_ is by [Rufus Wainwright](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005CF9Y/103-7050565-1719035?v=glance#product-details) and is a damn fine song. \*\* Actually - in the _Shrek_ film, the Buckley version is used, but on _Shrek_’s soundtrack - it’s the Wainwright one. Wierd. And annoying. I prefer Wainwrights, but most versions of this song are nice. ---
**Author:** ![Sparrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sparrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparrow)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/12 "2003-12-23T13:14:15Z")
This reminds me - can anyone tell me which was the WW episode where they played “Brothers in Arms”? ---
**Author:** ![Mogwei22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@Mogwei22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogwei22)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/13 "2003-12-23T14:04:52Z")
**Sparrow** it was _The Two Cathedrals_ ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/14 "2003-12-23T18:26:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gmork \* > \*\*Actually - in the _Shrek_ film, the Buckley version is used, but on _Shrek_’s soundtrack - it’s the Wainwright one. > > Wierd. And annoying. I prefer Wainwrights, but most versions of this song are nice. \*\* No kidding? I wondered why they sounded different… I also prefer Wainwright’s version. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/15 "2003-12-23T22:46:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mogwei22 \* > \*\ ***Sparrow** it was _The Two Cathedrals_ \*\* That’s the one with Mrs. Landingham’s funeral where at the end he announces he’ll run for a second term (or maybe it’s just implied), right? Great episode. ---
**Author:** ![LosAdri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@LosAdri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LosAdri)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-wing-question-help/220012/16 "2004-01-08T16:41:22Z")
Does anyone know who sang or what CD its on: the version of the Schubert _Ave Maria_ that Josh plays in one episode? I’ve DL’d a couple of different ones, which are beautiful, but that singer just seems to really hit the nail on the head Thanks