As others have mentioned, this is based on Psalm 137; the arrangement is from the 1700s, by Philip Hayes. I found an interesting link referencing the version I heard:
"Back in 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, singer Don McLean performed his hit song Babylon in front of a live audience and had them singing along with him."
The Yom Kippur War was between Israel and several Arab states. Psalm 137 is a song of mourning the loss of Jerusalem to Babylon and the exile of the Jewish people. I don't know enough about the 1973 war to know whether it was in fact an existential threat to Israel; if it seemed likely at the time, then this would have been apropos.
As others have mentioned, this is based on Psalm 137; the arrangement is from the 1700s, by Philip Hayes. I found an interesting link referencing the version I heard:
http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2014/08/no-jokes-today-its-tisha-bav-day-of.html
"Back in 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, singer Don McLean performed his hit song Babylon in front of a live audience and had them singing along with him."
The Yom Kippur War was between Israel and several Arab states. Psalm 137 is a song of mourning the loss of Jerusalem to Babylon and the exile of the Jewish people. I don't know enough about the 1973 war to know whether it was in fact an existential threat to Israel; if it seemed likely at the time, then this would have been apropos.
Ugh, double-posted -- this is the older one. If an admin can delete it, that would be great.
Ugh, double-posted -- this is the older one. If an admin can delete it, that would be great.