Bible Question

[1969912 0]

A song that I've always liked has lyrics that refer to either the Bible or the Christian faith. I'm pretty clueless, and don't know if they're telling a story, or are just babbling. If someone who knows of such things has time to listen and let me know what the song is about, it would be appreciated.

Thanks!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ovJo9WgEEg&mode=related&search=

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[ryoder 1,590]

Tried Wikipedia?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_Of_Babylon

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[1969912 0]

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Tried Wikipedia?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_Of_Babylon

Duh, I shoulda tried that. Brain fade or something. Just checked your link, answer is right there.


Thanks!

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[1969912 0]

Looks like I've been listening to a serious religious song for 15 or so years without knowing it. Far out.

Per the Wiki:

The song was originally written by a group in Kingston, Jamaica, and later became an anthem for the Rastafarian Movement.

The group that wrote it was called "The Melodians", and they were one of the biggest names in Reggae. The Wailers (Bob Marley) were influenced to a great extent by the Molodians. Never would have guessed.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[squarecanopy 0]

The original Christian traditional hymn is one that is still sung in churches of Christ to this day. It is a simple song that laments the Jewish captivity in Babylon and their captor's demand for music when they really had nothing to rejoice about; and is also a prayer to God that the meditations of their hearts and the words of their mouths be acceptable to the Almighty.

Just burning a hole in the sky.....

[Royd 0]

Quote

A song that I've always liked has lyrics that refer to either the Bible or the Christian faith. I'm pretty clueless, and don't know if they're telling a story, or are just babbling. If someone who knows of such things has time to listen and let me know what the song is about, it would be appreciated.

Those insidious bastards!

[1969912 0]

OK, it took a while, but I have been able to understand the links between most everything in the song and something in Psalm137, except for "Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts", which must refer to the part that I have highlighted below. Somehow it must mean approximately what's in the song though.

Also, it was/is common practice to omit the last 10 lines or so that discuss a desire to kick the crap out the Babylonians in retaliation for the conquest when converting Psalm137 into songs.

Anyway, that song done by that group is one of the most beautiful I've ever heard, and now I have an idea what they're talking about.


Thanks for the help,

jim


------------------------------------------------------
137:1 By the waters of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
2 On the willows [1] there
we hung up our lyres.
3 For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How shall we sing the Lord's song
in a foreign land?
===============


5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget its skill!
6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
above my highest joy!


================
7 Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites
the day of Jerusalem,
how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,
down to its foundations!”
8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,
blessed shall he be who repays you
with what you have done to us!
9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones
and dashes them against the rock!

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[kallend 2,182]

Well, I just happen to have the Boney M version of Rivers of Babylon.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[1969912 0]

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Well, I just happen to have the Boney M version of Rivers of Babylon.

There's something wrong here. We agreed on something last week, and now this




Do you have any of their other works?

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[1969912 0]

Quote

Those insidious bastards!

Yer not a kidding. The same song is even played by a British Punk band called "Snuff":

Watch Snuff music video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gADOwO3iW1A (wait through the first minute or so for the song to really get going)

And a US sorta-Punk band called "Sublime"

It's everywhere

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[kallend 2,182]

Quote

Quote

Well, I just happen to have the Boney M version of Rivers of Babylon.

There's something wrong here. We agreed on something last week, and now this




Do you have any of their other works?

Indeed I do.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.