Folk & Traditional Song Lyrics www.traditionalmusic.co.uk Rivers of Babylon 
Rivers of Babylon (Brent Dowe & Trevor McNaughton) 
(1:) By the rivers of Babylon, where he sat down, and there he wept when he remembered Zion. Oh, the wicked carry us away captivity, require from us a song, How can we sing King Alpha's song in a strange land? 

(1) 

(2:) So, let the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be acceptable in Thy sight. Oh, verai! 

(1) 

(2) 

(first verse: also sung as "the Lord's song") 
Here is the Boney M version. 
(1:) By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down, there we wept when we remembered Zion. By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down, there we wept when we remembered Zion. 
Let the wicked carry us away in captivity, requiring of us a song, How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? Let the wicked carry us away in captivity, requiring of us a song, How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? 
Instrumental + steel drums 
So, let the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be acceptable in Thy sight. Here tonight 
So, let the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be acceptable in Thy sight. Here tonight 
Repeat first verse twice 
This song is also printed in Rise Up Singing (RUS). The words have a few curious variations from the ones posted above, so I will enter them yet again. The original version was by a reggae group called the Melodians. The sound track CD for "The Harder They Come" produced by Jimmy Cliff actually contains the Melodians version. My favorite recording of the song is by Sweet Honey In The Rock. 
Rivers of Babylon (Brent Dowe & Trevor McNaughton) 
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down And there we wept when we remember Zion There the wicked (The Babylonians) carry us away captivity, require of us a song. How can we sing King Alfa's (the Lord's) song in a strange land? 
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight over I (here tonight) 
(B. Dow, T. Mcaughton, G. Reyan, F. Farian/Ackee Music Inc.; Al Gallico Music; Gema) 
RR BM BS AB oct00