Lyrics
By the rivers of Babylon
Reflection on the experience of Babylon, a symbolic place of exile and hardship.
Where he sat down
Describing a moment of contemplation or rest by the riverside.
And there he wept when he remembered Zion
Expressing sorrow and nostalgia for Zion, a place of significance and homeland.
Oh from wicked, carry us away from captivity
Plea for deliverance from the wicked and liberation from captivity.
Required from us a song
Acknowledgment of a required response – a song as an expression of faith or resistance.
How can we sing king Alpha's song in a strange land?
Questioning the possibility of singing a song associated with King Alpha in a foreign land, suggesting a sense of displacement.
So let the words of our mouth
Request for the words spoken to be righteous and acceptable.
And the meditations of our hearts
Seeking approval for the thoughts and reflections of the heart.
Be acceptable in thy sight
Expressing a desire for words and meditations to be pleasing in the sight of a higher power.
Override
Call for divine intervention or guidance to override challenges.
By the rivers of Babylon
Repetition of the initial reflection on the rivers of Babylon and the associated emotions.
Where he sat down
Reiteration of the act of sitting down by the riverside.
And there he wept when he remembered Zion
Restating the emotional response of weeping when remembering Zion.
Oh from wicked, carry us away from captivity
Repetition of the plea for deliverance and liberation from captivity.
Required from us a song
Reiteration of the acknowledgment of the required response – a song as an expression of faith or resistance.
How can we sing king Alpha's song in a strange land?
Restating the question about singing King Alpha's song in a foreign land, emphasizing the challenge of doing so.
How can we sing king Alpha's song in a strange land?
Repetition of the challenging question, underlining the difficulty of singing a sacred song in an unfamiliar place.
Comment