Psalm 137 (Greek numbering: Psalm 136) is one of the best known of the Biblical psalms. Its opening lines, "By the rivers of Babylon..." (Septuagint: "By the waters of Babylon...") have been set to music on several occasions, most succesfully covered by German Disco group Boney M.
But long time before that the first 2 verses of Psalm 137 were used for a musical setting in a round by English composer Philip Hayes
(c) Philip Hayes (1786) (as "By The Waters Of Babylon")
It is one of the "Canons in the Unison" (for 4 vocals)
It is on page 105 of "The Muses Of Delight" (1786) by Philip Hayes
Here's the complete book
Don McLean covered the Philip Hayes setting as "Babylon", which was the final track on his 1971 album American Pie.
Listen here:
In 1976 Manfred Mann's Earth Band incorporated the Philip Hayes setting in their composition "The Road To Babylon", on their album "The Roaring Silence".
Listen here:
Another cover of the Philip Hayes round was featured at the end of the episode Babylon during the first season (2007) of Mad Men.
Watch it here:
In 1894 Czech composer Antonín Dvořák set verses 1-5 of Psalm 137 to music as #7 of Biblical Songs (Op. 99).
Notable recordings in English include those by George Henschel and Paul Robeson.
In 1913 George Henschel recorded a version for the HMV-label
(c) George Henschel (1913) (as "By the Waters of Babylon")
Recorded December 16, 1913
Released on His Master's Voice #02527 and D104
But here's a George Henschel recording from 1929
Recorded December 12, 1929 in London
Released on Columbia LB3
Listen here:
And here's Paul Robeson (sung in Czech) from 1961 in one of his latest recordings
Listen here:
Another version of Psalm 137 was set to music by Charles T. Howell
(c) Reinald Werrenrath (1914) (as "By the waters of Babylon")
Listen here
And here's a gospel-setting from the 1950's.
(c) The Gospel Clefs (1959) (as "By The Water Of Babylon")
Listen here:
In 1969 reggae-group The Melodians wrote another version of Psalm 137, also adding one verse from Psalm 19. Their "new' interpretation was titled "Rivers Of Babylon"
Dowe and McNaughton used the first 4 verses of Psalm 137. and verse 14 of Psalm 19 ("Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight"),
But the lyrics were not the only thing Dowe and McNaughton had "borrowed".
The melody bore a striking resemblance to the traditional "(Oh) Happy Day".
Only the metre is different (Rivers of Babylon: 4/4 and Happy Day 3/2)
(o) Trinity Choir (1913) (as "Happy Day")
Label: Victor 17499
Matrix B-13601.
Recorded July17, 1913 (Camden, New Jersey)
Listen here:
And The Melodians "borrowed" the Psalm 19 words ("Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight") and melody from a very rare recording from 1962.
An unknown artist, produced by well-known ska producer Simeon L Smith, recorded a song called "Zion Oh Lord (Hola Zion)".
Listen here (at 36 seconds)
(c) The Melodians (1970) (as "Rivers Of Babylon")
Lisren here:
But even before Boney M hit the big time with their version of "Rivers Of Babylon", Linda Ronstadt recorded a version on the album "Hasten Down The Wind".
(c) Linda Ronstadt (1976) (as "Rivers Of Babylon")
Listen here:
(c) Boney M (1978) (as "Rivers Of Babylon")
Some controversy arose when the first single pressings of Boney M only credited Frank Farian and Reyam (aka Hans-Jörg Mayer); after an agreement with Dowe and McNaughton, these two were also credited on later pressings.
(c) Steve Earle (1995) (as "Rivers Of Babylon")
On his album Train a Comin' - Wikipedia
Listen here:
(c) Sinead O'Connor (2007) (as "Rivers Of Babylon")
On her Theology (album) - Wikipedia
Listen here
(c) Jimmy Cliff (2010) (as "Rivers Of Babylon")
Live on July 10, 2010 in Central Park, New York
Listen here:
More versions here:
And here:
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) was an abolitionist, women's suffragist, author, and statesman who escaped from slavery to become one of the most powerful American orators of the 19th century.
In 1852 Frederick Douglass used Psalm 137 in his most important speech, commonly republished as "What to a slave is the 4th of July?" or "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?", an untitled speech originally given by Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852.
He originally gave the speech to the Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, N.Y.
The speech is over 2,500 words long.
In 1972, renowned actor Ossie Davis brought to sonic life several of Douglass's visionary writings, plying his resonant voice to produce riveting renditions of the Douglass classics "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July," "If There Is No Struggle, There Is No Progress," "A Plea for Freedom of Speech," and "Why I Became a Women's Rights Man.
On the next link you can listen to a sample of this reading (it is #117)
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