The aptly named Rosevelt Sings is just 12-years-old, but already she knows about some of the world’s worst evils and is using her musical gifts to do something about them.

The Childhelp Youth Ambassador works to raise awareness and money for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and human trafficking.

This summer she even performed at an event headlined by the speaker and former child captive Elizabeth Smart in Arizona in an effort to shine a light on the excruciating but possible recovery of children after abuse.

Last year, she released an album titled Rosevelt Sings in order to raise one million dollars to benefit Childhelp, the nation’s leading nonprofit helping victims of child abuse. The album even features a duet with the legendary Dick Van Dyke who chose the song “Rosie” from Bye Bye Birdie.

“It is a delight to welcome Rosevelt as a Childhelp Youth Ambassador. She’s an 11-year-old girl with the voice of an angel and the heart of a warrior. She wants to make the world a better place one child at a time,” said Childhelp Co-Founder and President, Yvonne Fedderson last year.

Now, Rosevelt is getting attention for her beautiful performance of a holiday version of the oft-covered song “Hallelujah,” originally by Leonard Cohen.

In the video for her song, Rosevelt lights up the screen with her elegant, golden dress. (In fact, she’s known in part for her elaborate wardrobe.)

But this is no regular cover of “Hallelujah.” The lyrics have been entirely changed to fit the holiday season. Take a look at the beginning:

I’ve heard about this baby boy
Who’s come to earth to bring us joy
And I just want to sing this song to you
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
With every breath I’m singing Hallelujah

But Rosevelt didn’t write the lyrics – in fact, it’s probably more appropriate to say she’s covering the Christian worship band Cloverton’s song “Hallelujah.”

Their spin on the classic received lots of criticism when it first came out in 2013 (hey, it’s such a beautiful song – why mess with perfection?), but those who don’t enjoy it have largely been able to ignore it since then.

The main complaint has been that Cohen’s original invoked the Bible’s King David and Samson and had nothing to do with the Christmas story (Cohen was also Jewish, so turning it into a Christmas song rubbed some people the wrong way).

While the band first got permission to borrow the melody, once it went viral they were asked to take down their video, which they did.

Nevertheless, music is always adapting and now there’s yet another version of the controversial now-Christmas song.

One has to admit, the lyrics are kind of facile, even if the singing skills and good intentions are there:

A couple came to Bethlehem
Expecting child, they searched the inn
To find a place for You were coming soon
There was no room for them to stay
So in a manger filled with hay
God’s only Son was born, oh Hallelujah

Nevertheless, the song is going viral again after Rosevelt released her version last December, racking up over 47,000 views.

Be sure to scroll down below to hear Rosevelt’s rendition of a holiday “Hallelujah.”

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: ChildHelp.org, Forward, Rosevelt Sings Official Website, Rosevelt Sings via YouTube