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Babel's Streams/By Babel's Streams We Sat And Wept
Shape-Note Gospel by William Walker 1835;
ARTIST: William Walker; 1835
CATEGORY: Traditional Shape-Note Gospel;
DATE: 1835 William Walker
RECORDING INFO: Babel's Streams
OTHER NAMES: "'Ye Nations All"
SOURCES: Southern Harmony
NOTES: "Babel's Streams" (Key Em, Meter: C.M.) is William Walker's setting of Psalm 137:1 and 137:2. It appears as Southern Harmony no. 52 with a first line: "By Babel's streams we sat and wept." Here are the Psalms 137:1- 137:5 that have been set to music.
Psalm 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
Psalm 137:2 Upon the willows in the midst thereof we hanged up our harps.
137:3 For there they that led us captive asked of us words of song, and our tormentors asked of us mirth: 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.'
137:4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a foreign land?
137:5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
BABEL’S STREAMS- William Walker 1835
1. By Babel's streams we sat and wept,
While Zion we thought on;
Amidst thereof we hung our harps,
The willow trees upon.
With all the power and skill I have,
I'll gently touch each string;
If I can reach the charming sound,
I'll tune my harp again.
Here's the music: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/walker/harmony/files/hymn/Babels_Streams.html
I've also played a different song titled "Rivers of Babylon." Below is another famous setting of Psalm 137:1 by William Bradbury.
BY BABEL’S STREAMS WE SAT AND WEPT- Music: Olive’s Brow, William B. Bradbury, 1853
By Babel’s streams we sat and wept,
For memory still to Zion clung;
The winds alone our harp-strings swept,
That on the drooping willows hung.
There our rude captors, flushed with pride,
A song required to mock our wrongs;
Our spoilers called for mirth and cried,
“Come, sing us one of Zion’s songs.”
Not songs but sighs to us belong
When Zion’s walls in ruin lie;
How shall we sing Jehovah’s song
While in an alien land we die?
O Zion fair, God’s holy hill,
Wherein our God delights to dwell,
Let my right hand forget her skill
If I forget to love thee well.
If I do not remember thee,
Then let my tongue from utterance cease,
If any earthly joy to me
Be dear as Zion’s joy and peace.
Remember, Lord, the dreadful day
Of Zion’s cruel overthrow;
How happy he who shall repay
The bitter hatred of her foe.
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