The Book of Praise ‎#98

98. By the Babylonian rivers

1 By the Babylonian rivers
we sat down in grief and wept,
hung our harps upon a willow,
mourned for Zion while we slept.

2 There our captors in derision
did require of us a song;
so we sat with staring vision
and the days were hard and long.

3 How shall we sing songs of Zion
in a strange and bitter land?
Can our voices veil the sorrow?
O God, hear your lonely band.

Text Information

• First Line: By the Babylonian rivers
• Title: By the Babylonian rivers
• Paraphraser: Ewald Bash, 1924-
• Meter: 8 7 8 7
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1997
• Scripture:
  Psalm 137:1-4
• Topic: Discouragement / Despair; Exile; Lament; Loneliness; Metrical Psalms; Tears / Weeping; Zion
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: LATVIAN MELODY
• Arranger: Darryl Nixon, 1952-
• Meter: 8 7 8 7
• Key: d minor
• Source: Latvian traditional
• Copyright: Arrangement © Songs for a Gospel People, 987