Most people associate the song "Rivers of Babylon" with Boney M. However, the song's roots date back to biblical times, specifically the Book of Psalm 137. The psalm talks about the Babylonian exile where the Israelites were forced to leave their homeland and journey to Babylon. Psalm 137 verses 1-4 read:It is Psalm 137 that is most prominently featured, specifically its first four verses. This section focuses on how the Israelites felt and what they experienced being in exile "by the rivers of Babylon". Or stated otherwise, they were captured by the Babylonians, who carried them away to their country.By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down. Yeah, yeah, we wept, When we remembered Zion. Then the wicked Carried us away in captivity, Required from us a song. Now how shall we sing the Lord
"Rivers of Babylon" is a Rastafari song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians in 1970. The lyrics are adapted from the texts of Psalms 19 and 137 in the Hebrew Bible.
