The Rivers of Babylon

A biblical journey of discovery

Introduction

picThis is the story of a particular historical event which inspired the creation of four "artistic" gems, one a biblical psalm, the others great musical works achieving enduring popularity on the stage and concert platform, namely: Psalm 137; reggae pop song "By the Rivers of Babylon"; choral masterpiece "By Babylon's Wave" and the memorable chorus "Speed Your Journey" (The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) from Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Nabucco". Each relating the story of the suffering in captivity of the Hebrews exiled to the city of Babylon after the conquest of Judea and the destruction of Jerusalem by the forces of the Babylonian empire under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar II in 586BC. The lyrics of the songs are based on the text of psalm 137 which in turn is said be inspired by writings attributed to the prophet Jeremiah.
       For context, Babylon, also known as Mesopotamia, is the supposed site of the fabled ancient tower of Babel and the hanging gardens, and is located in what is now southern Iraq on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Despite the tuneful upbeat tempo of the reggae version, and the rather pleasant legato waltz rhythm of the opera chorus, the psalm and all the songs are a lament reflecting the abuse, humiliation, pain and suffering of the exiles, at the hands of their captors spanning half a century, and the intense homesickness and yearning for the homeland they call Zion, the traditional land of their ancestors. Relief arriving eventually, when the Babylonians are defeated in battle by an invading Persian army led by Cyrus the Great, releasing the captives allowing them to return home to Palestine.
       In comparison to its more modern, upbeat pop-song relative and the Nabucco chorus, it is "By Babylon's Wave" with lyrics by the talented Scottish librettist Henry Farnie, and music by the prolific French composer Charles Gounod, which reflects most closely the original psalm, in describing the torment and suffering of the exiled captives whilst retaining the prophesy of a grim, blood-thirsty conclusion. A salutary reminder perhaps of the consequences for perpetrators of aggression and injustice? This magnificent, stirring, melodic masterpiece with its majestic, profound and poetic language, has been enjoyed by concert audiences around the world for generations, and still retains a prominent place in today's male voice choir repertoire.
       In the case of the opera Nabucco, the libretto weaves a fascinating story of romance, sibling rivalry, political ambition, mystery and intrigue involving Nebuchadnezzar and his two daughters using the historical facts, surrounding enslavement of the Israelites in Babylon as the setting, but changing the ending in quite a dramatic fashion. This version of the story concludes with the Babylonians' having a change of heart and liberating the captives themselves after their conversion to the Hebrew faith, rather than the involvement of an invading Persian army. Now united by a common religion and the best of friends, the Babylonians and Israelites celebrate and praise God together in anticipation of a safe journey home. Perhaps a more satisfying and happy ending, at least for the Babylonians than the horror predicted for them in the psalm and maybe explaining the slightly more optimistic sentiments expressed by the Israelites in "Speed Your Journey", as they reflect on their ordeal, having "drunk from the cup of affliction" and "shed bitter tears of repentance", they dream of the long journey home and pray for the strength to endure.

Psalm 137 - the source

picBy the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
There on the poplars we hung our harps, For there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.
May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
Remember Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. "Tear it down," they cried, "tear it down to its foundations!"
Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who repays you according to what you have done to us.
Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.

By the Rivers of Babylon - the Reggae version

picBy the rivers of Babylon There we sat down Yeah, we wept When we remembered Zion
By the rivers of Babylon There we sat down Yeah, we wept When we remembered Zion
When the wicked Carried us away in captivity Required from us a song Now how shall we sing the Lord's song In a strange land?
When the wicked Carried us away in captivity Requiring of us a song Now how shall we sing the Lord's song In a strange land?
Let the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight
Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight
By the rivers of Babylon There we sat down Yeah, we wept When we remembered Zion
By the rivers of Babylon There we sat down Yeah, we wept When we remembered Zion
By the rivers of Babylon (Dark tears of Babylon) There we sat down (You got to sing a song) Yeah we wept (Sing a song of love) When we remembered Zion (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
By the rivers of Babylon (Rough bits of Babylon) There we sat down (You hear the people cry) Yeah we wept (They need their god) When we remembered Zion (Ooh, have the power).

By Babylon's Wave - the choral version

pic Here by Babylon's wave, Though heathen hands have bound us,
Though afar from our land, The pains of death surround us;
Sion thy memory still, In our hearts we are keeping,
And still we turn to thee, Our eyes all sad with weeping.
Through our harps that we hung on the trees, Goes the low wind wearily moaning.
Mingles the sad note of the breeze, With voice as sad of sigh and groaning.
When mad with wine our foe rejoices, When unto their altars they throng,
Loud for mirth, then they call, "A song, a song of Sion, sing, lift up your voices".
Oh Lord though the victor command, Our captivity sad and lowly,
How shall we raise Thy song so holy, That we sung in our Father's land.
How shall we raise Thy song so holy, That we sung in our Father's land.
How shall we raise Thy song so holy, Far from our Father, Our Father land.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, if we forget thee.
Let our hands remember not their power, And our tongues be silent from that hour,
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Let our tongues be silent from that hour, Jerusalem, If we forget thee.
Woe unto thee Babylon mighty city, For the day of thy fall is nigh.
For thee, no hope, for thee no pity, Though loud thy wail riseth on high.
Then shall thou desolate forsaken, Be torn from thy fanes and thy thrones.
In that day, shall thy babes be taken, Taken and dashed against the stones.
Then unto thee, oh Babylon the mighty, Be woe, be woe, be woe.

English words by Henry Farnie based on Psalm 137.
Set to music by Charles Gounod

Henry Farnie 1836 - 1889
Was a distinguished Scottish linguist, writer, author, playwright and journalist, born in Fife and educated at St Andrew's and subsequently Cambridge Universities. At various times working in Scotland and London he translated many French operas and operettas into English for successful runs on the west end stage as well as writing books, plays and lyrics for popular songs of the day, notably "The Gendarmes Duet" using a melody by Offenbach, and the choral classic "By Babylon's Wave" to music by Charles Gounod.

Charles Gounod 1818 - 1893
Born in Paris to artistically gifted parents Victoire and François Louis Gounod, his mother a piano teacher and his father a talented engraver, who died when Charles was quite young. His widowed mother supported the family whilst the music loving aspiring musician pursued his studies at the Paris Conservatoire before making his name as a prolific composer of popular songs, opera, religious and secular choral works and symphonic and other orchestral works. Some of the more popular being his: Saint Cecilia Mass; Ave Maria inspired by Das Wohltemperierte Klavier (the Well Tempered Piano) by J S Bach; his operas Faust and Romeo and Juliet and of course "By Babylon's Wave" a particular favourite, whose introduction alone is a musical gem in its own right and sets the mood for the vocals to follow.

The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves - the operatic chorus


pic Speed your journey, my thoughts and my longings. Speed your journey through mountains and valleys
Where the sweet scented air breathes a fragrance O'er the homes that we knew long ago.
To the waters of Jordan bear greeting To the downfallen temples of Zion
Oh, my country so fair and so wretched Oh, remembrance of joy and of woe!
Golden harps of the prophets, Oh tell me, Why so silent ye hang from the willows?
Once again sing the songs of our homeland Sing again of the days that are past.
We have drunk from the cup of affliction And have shed bitter tears of repentance.
Oh, inspire us, Jehovah with courage So that we may endure to the last
So that we may endure to the last So that we may endure to the last May endure to the last.

Italian libretto: Temistocle Sole
Music: Giuseppe Verdi (1842)
Translation & English Words: Norman Tucker and Tom Hammond

Guiseppe Verdi 1813 - 1901
Was born in Busseto, a small Italian town midway between but south of Milan and Verona. His father, a farmer and innkeeper and moderately comfortably off. His musical ability was recognised when he was quite young and sponsored by wealthy merchant and patron of the arts Antonia Barezzi he was later enabled to study music and composition in Milan. He was married to his patron's daughter Margherita (m. 1836-1840), they had two children who sadly died shortly after their birth, Margherita suffering the same fate shortly afterwards. He subsequently married Giuseppina Strepponi, an operatic prima donna and music teacher (m. 1859-1897) with whom he had four children. A prolific composer of operas and other works, many received to great acclaim at their premiere and retaining their popularity well into the twenty first century notably:-

       La Traviata, Aida, Requiem, Nabucco, Rigoletto, Falstaff, Il Trovatore, Otello, Macbeth, Don Carlos,
       Un Ballo in Maschera (The Masked Ball), La Forza del Destino (The Force of Destiny), Ernani,
       Simon Boccanegra, Luisa Miller, Attila, Les Vêpres Siciliennes (Sicilian Vespers).

       Many of the above masterpieces also contain arias which have featured prominently as regular stand alone concert pieces in the repertoire of famous operatic soloists and choruses for many years, arias such as "La Donna e Mobile" (Rigoletto), "La Vergine degli Angeli" (The Force of Destiny), "The Soldier's Chorus" (Faust), "The Bandit's Chorus" (Ernani) and "The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves" (Nabucho). Verdi died in Milan in 1901 aged 87, but his legacy lives on in his extensive and much loved musical back catalogue.

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