The hymn associated with the famous church scene in Mr. Bean is “All Creatures of Our God and King,” rather than Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” In the comedy’s pilot episode, Mr Bean visits a church where the congregation sings “All Creatures of Our God and King”.
The hymn is a joyful Christian song based on St. Francis of Assisi’s early-thirteenth-century poem “Canticle of the Sun”. Its repeated “alleluia” refrain explains why it may sometimes be remembered or searched for as a “Mr Bean Hallelujah” song.
Which song is heard in Mr Bean?
In the comedy's pilot episode Mr Bean visits a church where one of the hymns the congregation sings is 'All Creatures of Our God and King'. The hymn is usually sung to the tune of 'Lasst uns erfreuen' a 17th century German Easter hymn, which is also used for 'Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones'.
The song’s strong congregational melody, church setting and repeated “alleluia” refrain make it immediately recognizable as a traditional sacred hymn. The scene uses the contrast between the solemn service and Mr Bean’s disruptive behavior as part of the comedy.
Who wrote “All Creatures of Our God and King”?
This popular British hymn started life as the poem 'Canticle of the Sun' written by St. Francis of Assisi in the early 13th century when he was recovering from an illness. Nearly 600 years later Rector William Draper translated and paraphrased the original words (which were based on Psalm 148) into English between 1899 and 1919.
It was published in 1919 in the Public School Hymn Book. The text praises God through images of the sun, moon, wind, clouds, water, fire, earth, living creatures and human beings.
The hymn’s musical setting
The hymn is usually sung to the tune of 'Lasst uns erfreuen' a 17th century German Easter hymn, which is also used for 'Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones'. The melody gives the text a bright, expansive and processional character.
The recurring “alleluia” phrases provide the musical feature most likely to connect the hymn with the word “Hallelujah”. The hymn’s title, however, is “All Creatures of Our God and King”.
Lyrics and themes
All creatures worship God most high, lift up your voice in earth and sky, alleluia, alleluia! Thou burning sun with golden beam, thou silver moon with softer gleam, O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong, ye clouds that sail in heav’n along, alleluia, alleluia! Thou rising morn in praise rejoice, ye lights of evening, find a voice, O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou flowing water, pure and clear, make music for thy God to hear, alleluia, alleluia! Thou fire so masterful and bright, that givest all both warmth and light, O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Dear mother earth, who day by day, unfoldest blessings on our way, alleluia, alleluia! The flow’rs and fruits that in thee grow, let them God’s glory also show, O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
And ev’ryone, with tender heart, forgiving others, take your part, alleluia, alleluia! Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, sing praise and cast on God your care, O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
And thou, most kind and gentle death, waiting to hush our final breath, alleluia, alleluia! Thou leadest home the child of God, as Christ before that way hath trod, O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Let all things their Creator bless, and worship God in humbleness, alleluia, alleluia! To God all thanks and praise belong! Join in the everlasting song: O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The recording associated with the search
The Choir of Southwark Cathedral is associated with a recording of “All Creatures of Our God and King”. The track is tagged “choir”, “sacred”, “church” and “christmas-bb”.
The Choir of Southwark Cathedral has 178 listeners listed, while the track has 2 listeners and 7 scrobbles in the available listing. No album is listed for this track.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Track | All Creatures of Our God and King |
| Artist | The Choir of Southwark Cathedral |
| Musical setting | Lasst uns erfreuen |
| Genre associations | choir, sacred, church, christmas-bb |
| Related performance context | Mr Bean church scene |
Church with Bean | Funny Clips | Mr Bean Official
Why the song is remembered as “Mr Bean Hallelujah”
The word “hallelujah” appears repeatedly in the hymn, including at the end of every stanza. This repeated refrain can lead viewers to remember the music by its most prominent vocal phrase rather than by the official title.
The church setting reinforces that association: the choir and congregation sing a sacred piece while Mr Bean reacts in his characteristic awkward and comic manner. The result is a memorable television scene in which the hymn becomes part of the humor without losing its recognizable religious character.
Related hymn information
The hymn is connected with several occasions and repertories, including Thanksgiving, Advent, Remembrance Sunday and funerals. Its text can sound celebratory because it calls on all creation to praise God, while its references to suffering, forgiveness and death also allow it to be used in more reflective settings.
Similar choral artists include the Choir Of St George's Chapel, Windsor, the Choir of York Minster, University of British Columbia Singers, Bruce Pullan, and Pitt Men's Glee Club.
tags: #mister #bean #hallelujah