'Saturday Night Live' takes it easy on us with powerful Hillary Clinton opener

All eyes were on Saturday Night Live following Tuesday's election, with viewers curious how the show would handle Donald Trump's win.

Many wondered whether Alec Baldwin would make another appearance as the president-elect in full-on gloat mode, or whether the show would find a new Trump surrogate now that he's poised to assume the mantle of commander in chief.

In the end, the show did perhaps the only humane thing after such a contentious campaign (and the raw feelings it provoked on both sides). It turned the spotlight away from Trump to focus on Kate McKinnon's Hillary Clinton, who performed a poignant rendition of Leonard Cohen's beloved song, "Hallelujah."

Cohen died last week at the age of 82, and "Hallelujah" managed to encapsulate the sense of loss and mourning many were feeling over the past few days, with the lyrics taking on a particular resonance when sung from Clinton's perspective.

"I did my best, it wasn't much/I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch/I've 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."

McKinnon ended her performance with a heartfelt message to a divided nation: "I'm not giving up, and neither should you."

Amen.