Rivers of Babylon – English Lyrics

• By: The Melodians

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music can be a deeply enriching experience, and "Rivers of Babylon" offers a unique window into Jamaican Patois and the cultural and spiritual heart of the Rastafarian movement. The song's powerful lyrics, adapted from biblical psalms, tell a universal story of exile and hope. By exploring this song, you can learn key Rastafarian terms and understand how language is used to express profound spiritual and social messages.

[English]

By the rivers of Babylon

Where he sat down

And there he wept

When he remembered Zion

Cause, the wicked carried us away in captivity

Required from us a song

How can we sing King Alpha's song

In a strange land?

Cause, the wicked carried us away in captivity

Required from us a song

How can we sing King Alpha's song

In a strange land?

(Frases abladas)

So let the words of our mouth

And the meditation of our heart

Be acceptable in Thy sight Oh, verai!

So let the words of our mouth

And the meditation of our heart

Be acceptable in Thy sight Oh, verai!

(Frases abladas)

By the rivers of Babylon

Where he sat down

And there he wept

When he remembered Zion

Cause, the wicked carried us away in captivity

Required from us a song

How can we sing King Alpha's song

In a strange land?

'Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity

Required from us a song

How can we sing King Alpha's song

In a strange land?

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rivers /ˈrɪvərz/ A1	noun - large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream.
Babylon /ˈbæbɪlɒn/ B1	noun - an ancient city in Mesopotamia
wept /wɛpt/ B1	verb - shed tears; cry
remembered /rɪˈmɛmbərd/ A2	verb - recalled from memory
Zion /ˈzaɪən/ B2	noun - a hill in Jerusalem; often used as a symbol of Judaism or the Jewish people.
wicked /ˈwɪkɪd/ B1	adjective - evil or morally wrong
carried /ˈkærid/ A2	verb - transported or conveyed
captivity /kæpˈtɪvɪti/ B2	noun - the state of being imprisoned or confined
required /rɪˈkwaɪərd/ B1	verb - needed or demanded
sing /sɪŋ/ A1	verb - to make musical sounds with the voice
strange /streɪndʒ/ A2	adjective - unfamiliar or unusual
land /lænd/ A1	noun - the part of the earth's surface that is not permanently covered by water
words /wɜːrdz/ A1	noun - units of language
mouth /maʊθ/ A1	noun - the opening in the face through which food is taken in and vocal sounds are emitted
meditation /ˌmɛdɪˈteɪʃən/ C1	noun - the act of focusing one's mind for a period of time
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the body
acceptable /əkˈsɛptəbəl/ B2	adjective - able to be tolerated or allowed
sight /saɪt/ A2	noun - the ability to see

Key Grammar Structures

• By the rivers of Babylon Where he sat down

  ➔ Relative Clause with implied antecedent. The complete phrase would be 'By the rivers of Babylon WHERE he sat down'. Here 'Where' introduces a relative clause modifying the rivers of Babylon.

  ➔ The word "where" connects to the preceding location, Babylon, implicitly.

• And there he wept When he remembered Zion

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time introduced by "When". 'When he remembered Zion' is an adverbial clause modifying the verb 'wept'.

  ➔ "When" indicates the timing of the weeping; it happened at the moment of remembering Zion.

• Cause, the wicked carried us away in captivity

  ➔ Past Simple Tense - "carried". Used to describe a completed action in the past. The use of 'Cause' (Because) introducing a reason or explanation.

  ➔ "Carried" indicates the act of taking them into captivity happened and finished in the past.

• Required from us a song

  ➔ Passive Voice with an Inverted Word Order: The standard form would be 'A song was required from us.' The inversion emphasizes 'required'.

  ➔ The standard sentence would be 'A song was required from us'. The actual usage shifts the focus to emphasize the act of requiring.

• How can we sing King Alpha's song In a strange land?

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' expressing ability, in an interrogative sentence. 'King Alpha's song' uses the possessive 's' to indicate ownership.

  ➔ The question conveys not just the inability, but also the inappropriateness or difficulty of singing their sacred song in a foreign context.

• So let the words of our mouth And the meditation of our heart Be acceptable in Thy sight Oh, verai!

  ➔ Imperative Mood with 'let', expressing a wish or prayer. "Thy" is an archaic form of "your", used in religious contexts. The sentence also utilizes a series of parallel structures: 'the words of our mouth' and 'the meditation of our heart.'

  ➔ The use of 'let' here is similar to 'may it be', expressing a desire or hope for something to happen. 'Thy sight' means 'in your presence' or 'acceptable to you'.