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Rivers of Babylon

[Psalm 136 (Heb. 137); Joseph Gelineau]

Martin Carthy sang Rivers of Babylon on Sydney Carter's Songs from ABC Television's “Hallelujah” album. This track wa included in 2001 on The Carthy Chronicles.

Lyrics

By the rivers of Babylon
There we sat and wept
Remembering Zion
On the poplars that grew there
We hung up our harps

If I ever forget the thought of you
May my tongue cleave to my mouth

It was there that they asked us
Our captors for songs
Out of thrashers for joy
Sing to us, they said,
One of Zion's songs

If I ever forget the thought of you
May my tongue cleave to my mouth

Oh how can we sing
The song of the Lord
On alien soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
Let my right hand wither

If I ever forget the thought of you
May my tongue cleave to my mouth

Acknowledgements

Transcribed by Reinhard Zierke