Find local news in Kent

Home   Faversham   News   Article

Marsh family from Faversham release rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah after going viral with Les Misérables song

16:23, 14 January 2021

updated: 16:44, 14 January 2021

A musical Kent family who went viral at the start of the pandemic have released a new song encouraging people to have the Covid vaccine.

The Marsh household, who live in Faversham, took to singing about things people had been complaining about at the start of the first coronavirus lockdown.

The Marsh family trio's rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah

People in the county instantly fell in love with the family's rendition of Les Misérables song One Day More as it became KentOnline's most read story last year.

After we broke the story, the Marshes became a viral sensation and made headlines across the world.

They appeared on ITV's This Morning, where an emotional Holly Willoughby was brought to tears after watching their video.

And they have continued to release videos on their YouTube channel to the delight of fans.

Amazingly, in just three days their newest video has already received more views than One Day More, and has been praised by medics across the country.

The Marsh family have continued to entertain viewers throughout the pandemic
The Marsh family have continued to entertain viewers throughout the pandemic

Titled Have the New Jab, it is a rendition of Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah.

It features Tess, eight, Ella, 11, and their dad Dr Ben Marsh, 44, who is a history lecturer at the University of Kent in Canterbury.

"They’ve both got lovely voices," Dr Marsh said. "We have been singing a lot over the break and they’ve been getting Zoom lessons from their grandma.

"The song is such a beautiful one anyway and Tess has sung it in the school choir.

"They knew the song already so it was just a case of trying to strike the right balance between being funny and also starting the conversation."

The Marsh family's cover of Les Misérables song One Day More back in March last year

Dr Marsh hopes the song will put a smile on people's faces, but also encourage those who are sceptical of getting the vaccine to have it done.

The family sing: "I heard there was a rumour spread that Covid vaccines were unprepared or brewed to really censor and control you.

"Well it goes like this: a fourth or fifth of people might all fall for this. They're thinking of opposing having new jabs."

Dr Marsh admits the current lockdown has been a struggle and they are all missing their friends and family.

The Marsh family members Ella, Tess and Ben. Picture: Ben Marsh
The Marsh family members Ella, Tess and Ben. Picture: Ben Marsh

"We are finding it harder than it has been before," he added.

"When the kids were back at school, at least there was a change of scene and they were moving around.

"So now we do feel a bit more constrained and imprisoned than we did before. We are just trying to keep everyone’s spirits up."

Medics have already taken to social media to praise the Marsh family for their new video.

Head of research at Kent & Medway's Partnership Trust, Sarah Dickens, wrote: "Well this may be the best thing I ever saw."

Dr Sarah Sibley, a respiratory consultant in Liverpool, told her followers it will "make your heart warm".

Any proceeds raised from their videos are donated to the World Health Organisation's Covid Relief Fund.

Read more: All the latest news from Faversham

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More