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By the Rivers of Babylon Lyrics
By the rivers of babylon
where we sat down
and there we wept
when we remembered zion
'cause the wicked
carried us away - captivity
required from us a song
how can we King Alpha's of a song
in a strange land?
'cause the wicked
carried us away - captivity
required from us a song
how can we sing King Alpha's song
in a strange land?
Sing it alah
sing a song of freedom (brother)sister
sing a song of freedom sister ohhh
wannaahhanna (woohooooh)
hhhmm mm m mmm m
we gunna walk it(wegunaSing&shoutit) talk it
we gunna sing & shout ohh yaww yea
shout the song of freedom now
woohhoo hooo (hmmm mm m)
so let the words of our mouth
and the meditations of our hearts
be acceptable in thy sight
O, Far I
so let the words of our mouth
and the meditiations of our hearts
be acceptable in thy sight
O, Far I
Sing it sing it de(oohhooo hoo)
we got to sing it together
everyone ohh woohoo (gottoshoutittogether)
aahhnaanaana (oohohoh ananaa)
woohhoo ohh wooohoh
By the rivers of babylon
where we sat down
and there we wept
when we remembered zion
'cause the wicked
carried us away - captivity
required from us a song
how can we sing King Alpha's song
in a strange land?
'cause the wicked
carried us away - captivity
required from us a song
how can we sing King Alpha's song
in a strange land?
sing it sing it ohh(sing itsing it sing it )
sing a song of freedom brothers
you got to sing it sisters....
(fades)
Based on Psalm 137 of the Hebrew Bible
(I Think...)
where we sat down
and there we wept
when we remembered zion
'cause the wicked
carried us away - captivity
required from us a song
how can we King Alpha's of a song
in a strange land?
carried us away - captivity
required from us a song
how can we sing King Alpha's song
in a strange land?
sing a song of freedom (brother)sister
sing a song of freedom sister ohhh
wannaahhanna (woohooooh)
hhhmm mm m mmm m
we gunna sing & shout ohh yaww yea
shout the song of freedom now
woohhoo hooo (hmmm mm m)
and the meditations of our hearts
be acceptable in thy sight
O, Far I
and the meditiations of our hearts
be acceptable in thy sight
O, Far I
we got to sing it together
everyone ohh woohoo (gottoshoutittogether)
aahhnaanaana (oohohoh ananaa)
woohhoo ohh wooohoh
where we sat down
and there we wept
when we remembered zion
'cause the wicked
carried us away - captivity
required from us a song
how can we sing King Alpha's song
in a strange land?
carried us away - captivity
required from us a song
how can we sing King Alpha's song
in a strange land?
sing a song of freedom brothers
you got to sing it sisters....
(fades)
(I Think...)
Song Info
Submitted by
babylonsdemise On Dec 13, 2005
More Bob Marley and the Wailers
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Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
The song is based on the Biblical hymn Psalm 137:1-4, a hymn expressing the yearnings of the Jewish people in exile following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC:[1] “ By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion... They carried us away in captivity requiring of us a song... Now how shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? ”
The namesake rivers of Babylon are the Euphrates river, its tributaries, and the Chebar river. The song also has words from Psalm 19:14:[2] “ Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight... ”
In the Rastafarian faith, the term "Babylon" is used for any governmental system which is either oppressive or unjust. In Jamaica, Rastafarians also use "Babylon" to refer to the police, often seen as a source of oppression because they arrests members for the use of marijuana (which is sacramental for Rastafarians). Therefore, "By the rivers of Babylon" refers to living in a repressive society and the longing for freedom, just like the Israelites in captivity. Rastafarians also identify themselves as belonging to the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
My prior post was a quotation from Wikipedia.
My prior post was a quotation from Wikipedia.
Check also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haile_Selassie_I for information about Haile Selassie, (revered by Rastafarians...), who traced his roots back to King Solomon... so the tie-in between Rasta, Ethiopia, and Jewish people.
Check also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haile_Selassie_I for information about Haile Selassie, (revered by Rastafarians...), who traced his roots back to King Solomon... so the tie-in between Rasta, Ethiopia, and Jewish people.
Such a great song!! i lov it man! its bob marleys rendition of the Psalm 137 in the jewish bible. great stuff, it runs off the page like poetry man. catch myself singing this song all the time, it just pops in my head and wont get out, but i still luv it !!
Bob never recorded this song. It sholdn't be here.
Yeah isn't this like Steve Earle or someone?
Psalms aren't in the Torah either. (though this looks like it is correctly billed as Psalm 137)
I'm pretty sure this is a song by the Melodians ("Rivers of Babylon" off of 'The Harder They Come' album). Don Carlos and Sublime among others did a cover of this song, but i've never heard a recording of Bob singing it.
Beautiful song though.
This is a MELODIANS song