Psalm 137 (In Babylon)
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(verse 1)
Standing here
water’s near
we’ve lost our song
The days of old
have long since gone
so far from home…here in Babylon
(verse 2)
Our captors say
we must play
our joyful songs
But our harps are hung
our melody is gone
they can’t be sung…here in Babylon
(bridge)
Can a heart tuned to mourning
Sound a song in major key
Songs meant for temple gates and rejoicing
May my tongue forget how to sing…here Babylon
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In my opinion, Psalm 137 is one of the most haunting passages in all of Scripture. Maybe its because it is so vivid and packed with imagery. It does end with the heartwarming line "...seizing infants and dashing them against the rocks".
But that image isn't the one that really sticks out in my mind. Rather, its the picture of God's people hanging up their harps along side the river. Like a boxer hanging up his gloves...the Israelites retired their songs of praise while in Babylonian captivity.
Despite its somber tone, this psalm has always been one of my favorites. I've tried time and again to pen a "worship-y" tune that incorporated some of that imagery. But it has never panned out. It would feel out of place, like I was stretching to get it in there, and so it always ended up on the cutting room floor.
Then one night I was sitting with my guitar working on another song. I hit a road block and couldn't go any further; and with my mind wandering, my fingers began to pluck the simple little guitar part. From that point, the lyrics seemed easy. I think, because I had mulled over that verse so many times the past few years, the lyrics just kinda fell out of me.
The song obviously isn't a congregational worship song, so it is a bit of a change of pace for me. But I am pretty happy with it.
