It's been a month since the massive flash floods in Texas that claimed 130 lives, including 27 girls from the Christian Camp Mystic. One of the survivors, 12-year-old Skyler Derrington, rewrote the lyrics to Leonard Cohen's classic song 'Hallelujah' with the help of her mom to honor the lives lost in the devastating tragedy.
Derrington's song quickly went viral on social media, and she was invited to sing it live on the TV Show Fox & Friends.
Before her performance, Derrington spoke about her faith: "I have always been a Christian, and I believe God is with me no matter what happens."
Then her rich alto voice filled the room as she sang acapella:
"I heard there was a giant flood, but we were washed in Jesus' blood ...."
Derrington's powerful lyrics go on to describe how the tragedy unfolded:
"On July the 4th, 2025th, the waters rose and we went adrift ...."
The breathtaking song's midsection tells how the survivors were aided by the hands of many:
"You clothed us, fed us, brushed our hair ...."
And the tribute concludes on a bright note of hope:
"We did our best, we left a mark, a light that shines within the dark ...."
The familiar Hallelujah chorus sung by such a young, strong voice sent shivers through the newsroom and left all on the stage misty-eyed. But the sober moment was quickly buoyed by a surprise visit from Derrington's all-time hero, the Christian music star Lauren Daigle.
"You took a tragedy," Daigle encouraged the young singer, "and turned it into something beautiful."
