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 by 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)

rich r ^^