Full Lyrics
By Babylon's waters
We sat down and wept!
No more by our daughters
Their glad harps were swept;
O'er the low meaning billows,
Their chords all unstrung,
From the boughs of my willows
Neglected they hung.
The oppressors who led us,
As captives, away,
Exultingly bade us
Restring them and play.
Keen rose our wrongs
As the mandate it rang,
"Come sing us the songs
That in Zion ye sang."
Thy songs, could we sing them
in exile, or shame,
Our lips, could we bring them
To breathe but Thy name!
No! as then, mute for ever
Our voices may be,
But, faithless! no, never,
Lov'd Zion, to thee!
