Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 08:24 PM

The verses I have are fairly similar to those above and the ones in the digitrad, some are just one or two words different some have a couple of lines at variance for instance the shrill trumpets roar 'from the distant courts of Zion'and 'Nows the day of compensation, Hope of mercy now is o'er'

I think it is a case of people missing a couplet and confusing what came where.

I have captains returning, not captives - but easily confused if not written clearly.

Some of the rhymes don't, so as the song is still in my temporary folder I have added them for later consideration (OK I have written them in on the bottom of the envelope) but it looks as though most of the variation is 'the folk process' and the requirement to get something on the page.

I did note the printers J Harding of Preston and Wilson of Bideford as sources in the Bodelian.

Anne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Burke
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 07:02 PM

Anne, I found the Bodelian sources. They only have 5 verses & you mentioned 6, so I was wondering about the 6th verse. The 3rd Sacred Harp verse is different from all the others, is that your 6th verse?

Now I'm wondering where it came from to start with. I can get to a copy of the Shaker original in micro & will do so when I have time.

Pete, please do post your Slobberchops is Hungry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Burke
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 07:01 PM

I've got both the Shaker hymnbook that it was originally published in and the article that I mentioned earlier. The words on p.50-51 of Millennial Praises are exactly as those I posted above. There is no music.

The rest of this is will be summary of the article:
G. W. Williams, "Babylon is Fallen: The Story of a North American Hymn" _The Hymn_ Volume 44, April 1993, pp 31-35.

I have a fax of a photocopy & all words were were in shaded blocks & are extremely difficult to read.

There is no author listed in Millenial Praises. The attribution of the hymn to Richard McNemar appears to be from an article by Daniel W. Patterson in Shaker Quarterly, v.18.

The first stanza of the text appears in a manuscript of tunes from the Enfield, Conn. community & may date to as early as 1810. The original 6 verses are clearly refering to images in Revelation 17-19. "It is clear ... that McNemar knew the Revelation passage thoroughly and was closely following its pattern and its precepts." The text was reprinted in an 1833 Shaker hymnal, but not in later ones.

It was reprinted in non-Shaker books, usually with variations on words, from the 1820's on. The first verse always remains substantially the same, except for the reference to 'the distant coasts of Shinar.' Shinar did not mean much more in the 19th cent. than it does to us today. It means "Babylon in its fullest extent" and is used in the O.T. to refer to Babylon. Always associated with impiety in some way, the substitution of "courts of Zion" or "our Shiloh" substantially changes the meaning of the 2nd part of the verse. It transforms "cries of despair from the citizens of the ravished city to shouts of triumph from God's favored people."

The 3rd verse from the Sacred Harp version was first published in William Houser's "The Olive Leaf" in 1878. This was also the book where Chute's tune was first published so the version most well know now traces most directly to it. Either Houser or Chute may have written the 3rd verse, there's not really any way to know. This new verse changes the tone of the hymn to emphasizing rejoicing in triumph rather than the desolation in destruction of the original.

Before 1878 at least 2 different tunes were paired with the words in different publications. All apparently suffered from the problem that the chorus does not follow the same 8,7 meter of the verses. The 12,10 of the chorus were somehow forced into the 8,7 pattern of the tunes used.

William Houser first published a 6 verse version with one of these problem tunes in The Hesperian Harp, 1852. When Houser published it in The Olive Leaf, 1878 with the now familiar tune he headed the entry with the attribution. "Prof. Wm.E. Chute, of Ontario. Prof. composed this tune out of an old theme, and is too modest to claim any originality, but I do it for him.--W.H." The 'old theme' may be Sons of Sorrow

The author makes no mention of any versions outside of the Western Hemisphere. It seems to have been quite popular if it managed to be parodied.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 10 Jul 04 - 02:14 PM

I am just trying to sort out the backs of envelopes and discarded printings -
Variations from that sent by Burke -30 March 04 above
watchmen live in peace.
From the distant courts of Zion

Lo they sink to rise no more.
Merchants who have brought her traffic

Lo her captains are returning
Up to Zion see them fly
Whist the Heavenly host rejoicing
Shout and echo through the sky
See the ancients of the city
Terrified at the uproar

Tune your harps ye heavenly choir
Shout ye followers of the lamb
see the city all on fire
clap your hands and fan the flame
Nows the day of compensation
Hope of mercy now is o'er

Blow the trumpet in Mount Zion
Christ shall come a second time
Ruling with a rod of iron
All who now as foes combine
Babels garments we've rejected
And our fellowship is o'er

I make that 7 verses in total
Anne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: davidmeredith
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 09:50 AM

The group Swan Arcade really used to belt this one out.I've never heard a better version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 01:35 PM

Interesting "Negro spiritual" midi here: Spirituals
Good tune- a little faster than the usual tempo for the Work tune.

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 12:49 AM

Is "The Fall of Babylon" English? Or has an American poem been revised for the emancipation of slaves (1834) in the British dominions?
The song is used in Emancipation celebrations in Jamaica and elsewhere. There are several versions, as shown in the posts here.

Lyr. Add: Emancipation Song (Jamaica)

Hail the day so long expected,
Hail the day of full release
Zion's walls are now erected
And her watchmen are at peace.
From the distant courts of Zion
Distant trumpets loudly roar
Slavery is fallen to rise no more!

August 1, 1834 is when some 750,000 slaves were freed by the Crown.
In Jamaica, the declaration was read in the square of Spanish Town. I have not found the tune.
Emancipation Song

The following mentions England rather than Shiloh or Shinar, and the scarlet whore is absent from the last verse. It is close to two versions in the Bodleian Collection (the third is a 'teetotal' parody), neither of which mention England. Probably best to post in full. "Author unknown."

Lyr. Add: The Fall of Babylon

Hail the day so long expected, hail the day of full release
Zion's walls are now erected, and her watchmen promise peace.
Throughout England's wide Dominion, shrill the trumpets loudly roar:
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, is fallen.
Babylon is fallen, to rise no more.

All her merchants stand with wonder, what is this has come to pass
Murmuring like a distant thunder, crying O alas, alas.
Swell the sound ye kings and nobles, priest and people rich and poor,
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, is fallen.
Babylon is fallen, to rise no more.

Blow the trumpet in Mount Zion, Christ shall come a second time
Ruling with a rod of iron, all who now as foes combine.
Babel's garments we've rejected and our fellowship is sure.
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, is fallen.
Babylon is fallen, to rise no more.

Tune your harps ye heavenly choirs, shout ye followers of the lamb.
See the city all on fire. Clap your hands and swell the flame.
Now's the day of compensation. Hope of mercy now is o'er.
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, is fallen.
Babylon is fallen, to rise no more.

Fall of Babylon

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: NH Dave
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 03:09 AM

Howie Mitchel and his wife sing two parts of this song and play the other two parts on his Appalachian Dulcimer record (and book combo) exploring various things that can be done an a plucked dulcimer vice a hammered dulcimer. This was available from Folk Legacy on vinyl some years ago but I don't know if it ever made the transformation to CD.

This tune was used to demonstrate the "Twicimer" he had constructed, which was two dulcimers on a single body, perhaps made out of part of a hollow cored door. The Patons can probably tell you if they have any plans to reissue this work, or his work on hammmered dulcimers.

Dave

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Gervase
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 06:57 AM

Whe I first heard this about 25 years ago I was told it was an Anabaptist hymn from the 17th Century. It was certainly popular among the Parliamentarian singers in the English Civil War Society and other 17th Century living history groups.

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 12:59 PM

Gervase, Chris Atton of Edinburgh raised the possible English Civil War connection in the "Another 'Babylon'?" thread which was cut off.

We have here a hymn or poem which was revised more than once for different purposes, and for which more than one tune may exist. Its roots have not yet been exposed.

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Chris Green
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 01:02 PM

The earliest I know of it is that was a hymn sung by the Ranters in the mid-seventeenth century in England. There's some info about them here

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 02:48 PM

The 17th-18th c. existence of the poem or its use as a hymn lacks verification. Interesting idea, but only speculation so far.

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: GUEST,Sally
Date: 30 Nov 04 - 07:53 AM

I am so glad I found this thread! I knew I'd heard Swan Arcade sing this in the dim and distant past, but never managed to trace a recording. Is there any chance someone could sell me a copy?

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: sable
Date: 30 Nov 04 - 08:05 AM

This post might appear twice as my first attempt disappeared! I have had fond memories of the Swan Arcade version, heard in the dim and distant past, but I have never managed to trace a recording of it, in fact I have never come across "Nothing Blue" at all. Is there any chance of a copy? Please?

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: GUEST,Bill Hopkinson
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 07:27 AM

My understanding was that it dated from the English Civil War. I used it in my production of Caryl Churchill's play "Light SHining in Buckinghamshire. But the scholarship on the thread so far does seem to end with the Shakers. maybe it just feels right for apocalyptic millenial moments.

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: GUEST,Orville Eastland
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 06:09 PM

Wow. This is a fascinating thread. I've been researching the history of this hymn myself, and it's interesting to come back a few months later and find some entirely new information. (Can anyone give me some print sources to find the Jamaican and English versions?)

Oh, and in case anyone wants a parody, here's one involving the history of the Babylon Project from the "Babylon 5" TV series...
http://www.mewsic.com/Ed/music/original/BabylonIsFallen.html

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: GUEST,Swan Arcade Version on youtube
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 09:00 PM

Ran across the Swan Arcade version of Babylon is Fallen on youtube- AMAZING TUNE now im hunting for the guitar chords for it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 09:17 PM

This help?

X:2
T:Babylon is Fallen
L:1/8
M:4/4
V:1
V:2
V:3 transpose -24
V:4 merge
K:EMin
[V:1] |:    B2B2 BGE2|   A2AF G2A2|    B2B2 GFEG|   F2 F/G/F E4 y:|
[V:2] |:    G2G2 E2G2|   F2F2 D2F2|    E2G2 BAG2|   D2 D2    B,4y:|
[V:3] |:    e2e2 B2e2|   d2d2 A2d2|    g2e2 e2e2|   B2 B2    e4 y:|
[V:4] |:"Em"x8       |"D"x8       |"Em"x8       |"D"x4   "Em"x4 y:|
%
[V:1]    B3 c dBd2|    e2   f2     ed B2|   B3 c dB d2|   e2     f2     e4|
[V:2]    E3 E G2G2|    G2   D2     E2 E2|   E3 E E2 E2|   G2     D2     E4|
[V:3]    g3 a b2g2|    e2   B2     e2 e2|   g3 a b2 g2|   e2     B2     e4|
[V:4] "G"x8       |"Em"x2"D"x2 "Em"x4   |"G"x8        |"Em"x2 "D"x2 "Em"x4|
%
[V:1] |:    B>BBB G2 GE|   A2AF G2A2|    B>BBB G2 EG|    F2 F/G/F  E4 y:|
[V:2] |:    G>GGG E2 EE|   F2FD D2F2|    G>GGG E2 GE|    D2 DE     B,4y:|
[V:3] |:    e>eee B2 BB|   d2dA A2d2|    e>eeB B2 eB|    B2 B2     e4 y:|
[V:4] |:"Em"x8         |"D"x8       |"Em"x8         |"D" x4   "Em" x4 y:|

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: GUEST,JimI
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 07:31 PM

Swan Arcade on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmDwjDiDXb8

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: GUEST,Cristiano Ronaldo
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 07:09 AM

Jo crec que la cançó és una merda, perque es molt idiota i imbecil!!!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 11:57 AM

I looked up this song in the Bodleian collection, using the first line "Hail the day so long expected," and got this back:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Printer: Harkness, J. (Preston)
Date: between 1840 and 1866
License note: Sec. 18. Printer's Series: (577).
Illus. Ballads on sheet: 2

    Copies: Harding B 11(1126)

    Ballads: 1. The fall of Babylon ("Hail the day so long expected ...")
Subject: Religion
---------------------
So by the time that broadsheet appeared, Americans had been singing the song at least 10 years.

I did a subject search on Babylon, and they said they had no broadsheets on Babylon. Which is a lie, because they had at least one, the one referred to above.

Anyhow, I have yet to be convinced that this is an old song from England.

On YouTube there is an enjoyable video of it being sung in the Harrod (or maybe Harrod Creek) Baptist Church. First they go through singing the syllables, then they start the actual words. It's very stirring.

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Rumncoke
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 07:24 PM

There are two versions in the Bodlian collection that I found, but it could be that they are not picked up by your search. One I found was the J Harding of Preston which you must have found too, the other was printed by Wilson of Bideford.

Having finally put all the bits and variations I have found onto something more organised than my first jottings I have an A4 sheet of them now, verses and variations. It seems to have undergone various changes which seems strange - it is the only song I have which is so altered.

Unfortunately I have not kept any detailed notes of where the different bits came from - I have no great interest in sources I'm afraid. If asked 'Who's version was that?' my usual response is 'Mine.'

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 08:08 PM

Leeneia, the broadsheet tells one nothing about the date of origin of a song; only that someone (in this case Harkness) printed a cop[y in the period 1840---.

The hymn first appeared in hymnals in 1813. It was in the Latter Day Saints Hymnal in 1841.

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 08:53 PM

The only author I could find is "unknown." Millenial Praises, 1813, Hancock, Massachusetts.

A version of the lyrics may have been written during the English Civil War. I haven't checked on this.

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Dec 12 - 04:08 PM

Anything verifiable before 1813?

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Dec 12 - 05:22 PM

Whoop-de-doo

Subject: RE: Origins: Babylon is Fallen (to Rise no More)
From: GUEST,Hyperbole
Date: 25 Nov 22 - 01:20 PM

I contacted the English Civil War society about their reenactors singing the song, and the person who emailed me said that he believed it was an 1850s church hymn of American origin. He didn't seem to think there was any English Civil War connection besides the reenactors liking it.