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The lyrical foundation of “Rivers of Babylon” is indeed Biblical in origin. They are derived from the Book of Psalms, specifically the 19th & 137th chapters.

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It is Psalm 137 thatis most prominently featured, specifically its first four verses.Thissection focuses on how the Israelites felt and what they experienced being inexile “by the rivers of Babylon”.Or stated otherwise, they were capturedby the Babylonians, who carried them away lớn their country.Andaccordingly they are depressed, especially when they ‘remember Zion’, i.e. Thecapitol city of Jerusalem, their own hometown. Yet their oppressors demand thatthey sing a song, specifically an uplifting one from Zion.And such tunestend lớn be religious in nature, as they are commonly intended to praise theMost High.So the writer, who is in fact one of these captive, questionshow can they actually sing such a tuy vậy under their current circumstances,specifically being “in a strange land”.

And that is pretty much the selfsame story which is recited in “Rivers of Babylon”, almost verbatim from Psalm 137. But as alluded khổng lồ earlier, there is also an element of Psalm’s 19th chapter mixed therein. This is the line that reads “let the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be acceptable in Thy sight”. So viewed comprehensively, the singers have decided to sing their praise song, under captivity, at the behest of their oppressors. Và the insinuation is that given the circumstances they are worried that ‘the Lord’ will not accept such an offering. But they are entreating Him khổng lồ focus on the sentiment behind the tune nonetheless.

Inspiration

Now, we know thatBoney M. Themselves were not captives. Nor were The Melodians, the group thatoriginally recorded this song back in 1970.But the original rendition of“Rivers of Babylon” was influenced by Rastafarian ideologies. And under such,the contemporary usage of the word Babylon points lớn the idea of asystem or particular place being repressive & spiritually-corrupt.Also,Rastas have the tendency khổng lồ identify themselves as being akin to lớn theIsraelites. So based on this understanding, a place lượt thích the Caribbean or theUnited States, where African captives were brought to & enslaved, can beviewed as Babylon. & both The Melodians and Boney M. Were from theCaribbean. So if the general idea behind this song was applied lớn modern times,it would likely have something to do with the idea of the artists, who are thedescendants of slaves, still being subject to the system which enslaved them.

Indeed it has not only been musicians of African descent from the Western Hemisphere who have covered this song. And its overall intent, outside of paying homage to lớn the Biblical story upon which is it based, is that Babylon – a spiritually-repressive nation/system – still exists in some way, shape or form.

Success of Boney M.’s “Rivers of Babylon”

This tuy vậy accomplished the very-rare featof selling over two-million copies in the United Kingdom.And throughoutthe years it has remained one of the 10 best-selling songs ever in thatcountry.

Accordingly “Riversof Babylon” went on to đứng đầu of the UK Singles Chart. Và it also scored a number1 in over 10 other nations, including South Africa, West Germany and Italy.

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And as alluded toearlier, it has been certified Platinum in the United Kingdom.Anothercountry where it replicated this feat has been in France.

“Rivers of Babylon” also marked Boney M.’s most-impressive showing in the United States, where it broke the đứng đầu 40 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart as well as the Hot 100 itself.

A Cover

Boney M. Was a band that featured vocalists from the Caribbean. They were well-known in the 1970s và are in fact one of the most-successful musical groups in history. And “Rivers of Babylon”, one of their most-popular tracks, is actually the cover of a Rasta tuy nhiên which was originally released in 1970 by The Melodians. However, Boney M. Removed the reggae sound from the tune, in addition khổng lồ modifying some of the lyrics.

Boney M.’s renditioncame out on 3 April 1978. It was the co-lead single from their third album,“Nightflight to lớn Venus”.It shared an A-side with another of their tracksentitled “Brown Girl in the Ring”.

Boney M. Also released a remix of this song when they briefly reunited in 1988, after disbanding in 1986.

Who wrote “Rivers of Babylon”?

“Rivers of Babylon” was written by the late Brent Dowe and the late Trevor McNaughton. Both songwriters were members of The Melodians.