In character as Hillary Clinton for the first time since Election Day, Kate McKinnon performed “Hallelujah” during Saturday Night Live’s cold open this week, a surprising departure from the show’s typical humor about the presidential race.
The skit, which struck a somber note, melded the news this week of Clinton’s stunning election loss to Donald Trump and the death of Leonard Cohen, who wrote “Hallelujah.”
Seated at a piano, McKinnon, who has portrayed Clinton throughout the presidential campaign, sang lyrics that included:
I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you.
And even though
It all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
“I’m not giving up,” McKinnon said in character after the song, “and neither should you.”
Watch the clip above.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0
- How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker
- The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Katie Reilly at Katie.Reilly@time.com