November 1, 2019 (Friday)
This song incorporates portions of Psalm 137 and Psalm 19. It was popular in the disco era and has the sounds of Jamaica and Caribbean islands.
In 587 B.C., Israel was conquered and people were taken into captivity. They were moved en masse into Babylonia, where they felt they could no longer sing the songs they had sung in Zion.
The captivity was sad, but the return after 70 years was marvelous. The words of this song quote those who said they could not sing while in captivity, but the music itself literally rings with an optimism that comes through in the music.
See the story illustrated:
By the Rivers of Babylon
Sung by Boney MBy the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion.By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion.When the wicked
Carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
Now how shall we sing the lord’s song in a strange landWhen the wicked
Carried us away in captivity
Requiring of us a song
Now how shall we sing the lord’s song in a strange landLet the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonightLet the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonightBy the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion.By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion.By the rivers of Babylon (dark tears of Babylon)
There we sat down (You got to sing a song)
Ye-eah we wept, (Sing a song of love)
When we remember Zion. (Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)By the rivers of Babylon (Rough bits of Babylon)
There we sat down (You hear the people cry)
Ye-eah we wept, (They need that ???)
When we remember Zion. (Ooh, have the power)
See the singers and watch them perform: