Did you ever have a song repeatedly going through your head even though there is no music? There is just a haunting melody that fills you. Nobody can hear it except you, but you hear it clearly as if it was playing on the radio.

The song that’s been lingering in my head is “Hallelujah.” While I am drawn to the mesmerizing melody, it dawned on me that I don’t know the words.

I love the way we can turn to good old Google to swiftly tell us what we want to know.

A few of my younger friends can’t seem to get through a conversation without turning to Google for more information.

I once had the strange experience of having a couple over for dinner but I didn’t have the nice conversation I anticipated. To tell the truth, we didn’t have much conversation at all because the woman brought her cellphone to the table and used it to constantly Google things that came up in my attempt at conversation.

My favorite part of any “company meal” is lingering at the table for some pleasant conversation. When I mentioned that practice was part of my Italian heritage, I didn’t get the chance to finish my conversation because she was giving her attention to something: She was Googling about Italian traditions.

While I don’t Google often, and never when others are around, I am glad when KNOW IT ALL GOOGLE INDEED DOES KNOW IT ALL. Most times it instantly tells me what I want to know, no matter how obscure the information is.

When you get right down to it, Google has changed our lives, requiring less effort yet opening up a world of knowledge.

I Googled “Hallelujah” to find the words to that mesmerizing Leonard Cohen hymn. That only led to more surprises.

One surprise was learning some say that the song that has become one of the most popular hymns in the world was only “sort of” written as a hymn.

I believe it is a hymn, a nontraditional one. It is embraced by those who see it as a song of praise for God as well as by nonreligious, nonbelieving followers.

Most experts, as well as Cohen himself, say it is about faith, doubt and then ultimate praise.

OK, I admit it. I have been so fascinated with Cohen’s “Hallelujah” that I’ve been researching all I can find, trying to understand the song. What I really wanted was to find is, what is it about the song that drives people of ages and background to tears when they hear the song?

This week I watched Andre Rieu and his an orchestra bring the audience to tears, but some just surrendered to deep sobs.

I thought it might perhaps be the words, words I didn’t know at the time. Back to Google and I found some of the surprising words about a cold and broken hallelujah.

Before I started researching the song, I thought a powerful song like that would surely bring the writer to great acclaim. I was surprised to learn the opposite was true. It almost destroyed him.

It took Cohen a full decade to write the song then another seven years to write a dozen different versions.

When he finally finished, it was completely rejected by his record company. Nor did it win any acclaim until the movie “Shrek” used the song, springboarding it to worldwide acclaim. Isn’t it ironic that it took an animated ogre to turn what is basically a religious song into a monster hit?

But even then it wasn’t the composer who gained a big following. Cohen ended up drinking a lot before spending five years in a Buddhist monastery in California. Eventually he did produce a successful album that included his version of “Hallelujah.” It finally relaunched Cohen’s popularity as a performer.

I liked reading that when Cohen performed “Hallelujah” before he died in 2016 he did it on his knees. I guess that answers the question of whether or not he was writing it as praise to God.

If you think I’m intrigued by the song and its aftermath, you’re right. The other night right before I fell asleep I listened to multiple performers deliver their versions of “Hallelujah.” It lead to a peaceful sleep.

What I’ve learned is that I missed a lot of good music and entertainment. I must not have been paying attention in earlier times when these artists were in their heyday.

But thanks to YouTube, my absolute favorite place for entertainment, I am able to listen to great concerts and performers in the comforts of my own home, and I have a prime seat.

I’m enchanted with how I can request any performer and YouTube gives me plenty of viewing choices.

I usually go through phases where I will listen to an artist for weeks or months, devouring all I can before I find another favorite. For months I’ve been following Andrea Bocelli, his son and daughter. Not only do I get exposed to the finest entertainment but I also get to see sites in beautiful Italy.

All that and tickets are free.

How lucky can I get?

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net