---
title: 'The Math Behind Hallelujah: When Patterns Fool You'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=NOCsdhzo6Jg'
video_id: 'NOCsdhzo6Jg'
date: 2026-08-11
duration_sec: 239
---

# The Math Behind Hallelujah: When Patterns Fool You

> Source: [The Math Behind Hallelujah: When Patterns Fool You](https://youtube.com/watch?v=NOCsdhzo6Jg)

## Summary

In this entertaining and mathematically insightful presentation, Matt Parker explores the fascinating pattern of powers of two and its connection to a little-known early version of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah.' He demonstrates how a simple sequence—1, 2, 4, 8, 16—appears in geometry and number theory, only to break down unexpectedly, illustrating the beauty and pitfalls of mathematical patterns.

### Key Points

- **The Powers of Two Pattern** [00:00] — Matt introduces the pattern of doubling: 2, 4, 8, 16, highlighting its elegance and prevalence in mathematics.
- **Leonard Cohen's Math Connection** [00:16] — Matt reveals that Leonard Cohen, the original songwriter of 'Hallelujah,' was a math enthusiast and wrote an early version of the song about this mathematical pattern.
- **Performance of the Original Version** [01:01] — Matt performs a humorous rendition of what Cohen's early 'Hallelujah' might have sounded like, with lyrics about splitting circles and powers of two.
- **The Pattern Breaks** [02:16] — Matt explains that while the pattern holds for a while, adding a sixth point results in 31 regions instead of the expected 32, demonstrating that patterns can be deceptive.
- **Prime Numbers and Patterns** [03:01] — Matt touches on another pattern involving prime numbers, suggesting that even seemingly reliable patterns can fail, reinforcing the theme of mathematical caution.

### Conclusion

Matt Parker's presentation cleverly combines music and mathematics to remind us that patterns, while beautiful, can be misleading. The key takeaway is to always test and verify mathematical conjectures, as even the most intuitive patterns can break down.

## Transcript

It's two, then four, then eight, then it's sixteen. It's very nice. And before I go on with this particular pattern, there's a fun story about it. A little known fact. Do you guys know the song Hallelujah, the one popular from Shrek?
Yeah, okay. We all know the song. Lots of different artists have played it. The original artist was Leonard Cohen. He was the one who wrote the lyrics. Few people know, he actually went through many, many different iterations of what the song would be.
and ultimately ended up as this kind of biblical devastation of love. But one of the earlier versions was about this particular pattern in math. 100% true. Leonard Cohen was a low-key math buff.
And I thought it might be fun, just because I don't want the original version to get lost in the annals of history, to share with you guys what this would have sounded like. If history had turned out my way, if you didn't make it about love and religion and all of those great things.
So welcome to the stage yet again to accompany on keynote Matt Parker. Wonderful. And I know I'm no Leonard Cohen, but just imagine if you're watching Shrek and when they get to that pivotal moment
when you don't think love is going to hold, you've actually heard the proper original. Well I heard there was a sequence of chords
Splits the circle to one, two, then four And points seem to cut in powers of two Yeah, it was on like this With a fourth and a fifth
But something's up when you add a sixth And it falls to thirty-one I don't need foolin' I break forward I break forward I break forward Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah
When your faith is strong you still need proof I guess I can lead to a goof, be general, but on the left is pi over two, yeah.
I think that's true for the next, which is fair, but like a girl who you've shown that it's half my hair. It's a subtle slip, but it's true that I'll pattern for you.
I'll pattern for you. I'll pattern for you. How they fool you, how they fool you
Now take a prime and write it in face four Just like you have before And the prime gives a new prime with this rule, yeah Or does it though, you'll eventually find new friends or not?
So simply design patterns, hold them, they're broken How they fool you, how they fool you
How they fool you, how they fool you How they fought and won And they fought and won
And they fought and won