Pope John Paul II and Psalm 137: 1-4

[Canadiantrad]

According to wikipedia, during Pope John Paul’s visit to limerick, ireland, thousands of people sang the song “rivers of babylon” which is psalm 137. Why did they choose this song to sing? How should a catholic interpret this psalm?

 

[Aramis]

According to wikipedia, during Pope John Paul’s visit to limerick, ireland, thousands of people sang the song “rivers of babylon” which is psalm 137. Why did they choose this song to sing? How should a catholic interpret this psalm?

It’s the basis for traditional Ukrainian Phillips Fast (Advent) hymn. I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t also the same for some Irish one.

 

[TimothyH]

Psalm 137 is about the longing of the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem while they were exiled in Babylonian captivity.

We are in exile here on earth, awaiting our return to the Heavenly Jerusalem.

-Tim-

 

[Mike30]

According to wikipedia, during Pope John Paul’s visit to limerick, ireland, thousands of people sang the song “rivers of babylon” which is psalm 137. Why did they choose this song to sing? How should a catholic interpret this psalm?

Why does it really matter why they chose to sing it? It is a beautiul psalm with a heart wrenching message.

Why should we as Catholics have to try to interpret the passage itself?. It is pretty self explanatory.

 

[Beryllos]

Why does it really matter why they chose to sing it?

But that is an interesting question!

I was wondering, first of all, if there are different songs by that name. The only one I can find in a quick internet search is the reggae song released in 1970 by the Melodians (hear it on YouTube). How odd, I thought, that this folksy song from Jamaica would be so well known and loved in Ireland in 1979 that they chose it to honor the Pope’s visit! Or could it be that they were singing an altogether different song by the same or similar name?

According to one source, Joe Duffy’s autobiography called Just Joe, Father Michael Cleary, one of the local organizers of the event, “kept urging us to sing ‘By the Rivers of Babylon’, saying ‘Boys and girls, make sure the Holy Father can hear you. Ah come on, you can do better than that!’” So it would seem that the song was deliberately chosen.

A quick search of the internet and YouTube turned up a few videos of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ireland, but I found none that had a song about the Rivers of Babylon. A couple of videos did have other songs that sounded like the usual sort of hymns. So I don’t know whether this was the version of “Rivers of Babylon” that was sung. If it was, I would be curious about the local Irish culture at the time which influenced this selection.

 

[Aramis]

Try looking for “We sat and wept by the streams of Babylon” by F.Th. Fröhlich

One of several with that particular wording.

Here’s a traditional western one:
youtube.com/watch?v=RPolPEh8_XE

And a modern version:
ocp.org/compositions/65116

ANd then there’s “By the Waters of Babylon”…
byzantinecatholic.com/music.htm (No sample).

 

[Beryllos]

Try looking for “We sat and wept by the streams of Babylon” by F.Th. Fröhlich

One of several with that particular wording.

Here’s a traditional western one:
youtube.com/watch?v=RPolPEh8_XE

And a modern version:
ocp.org/compositions/65116

And then there’s “By the Waters of Babylon”…
byzantinecatholic.com/music.htm (No sample).

Thanks, and yes, searching for “waters of Babylon” and “streams of Babylon” turns up many more songs.

 

[Boulder257]

Why does it really matter why they chose to sing it? It is a beautiul psalm with a heart wrenching message.

Why should we as Catholics have to try to interpret the passage itself?. It is pretty self explanatory.

Maybe because people want to grow in their understanding of the faith. Maybe the message is not so self explanatory to some either.

 

[Lormar]

This psalm always made me feel so very sad, almost to the point of tears. When I was a nova with the Poor Clare Colettines, they would sing the psalm to music when it came up in the Divine Office. I never understood back then why the psalm made me feel the way it did, but I do now. It is one of my favorites.

 

[Avila123]

Try looking for “We sat and wept by the streams of Babylon” by F.Th. Fröhlich

One of several with that particular wording.

Here’s a traditional western one:
youtube.com/watch?v=RPolPEh8_XE

And a modern version:
ocp.org/compositions/65116

ANd then there’s “By the Waters of Babylon”…
byzantinecatholic.com/music.htm (No sample).

Hey, it was 1979! BONEY M !!! released their version in 1978.
BONEY M!!! Big hit over here in the UK.

youtube.com/watch?v=fGyfxOCYvtM

Wish I hadn’t gone into this thread - Boney M now playing loudly and my fingers have gone a tapping in tune. Back to my youth - crumbs I loved this song and still do.

 

[Beryllos]

Hey, it was 1979! BONEY M !!! released their version in 1978.
BONEY M!!! Big hit over here in the UK.

An interesting connection.

That plus the fact that a lot of young people were in attendance makes it more plausible that this was the version they sung.

BTW, around the same time, Boney M released another favorite of mine, Mary’s Boy Child - Oh My Lord … (link to youtube video).

 

[Avila123]

An interesting connection.

That plus the fact that a lot of young people were in attendance makes it more plausible that this was the version they sung.

BTW, around the same time, Boney M released another favorite of mine, Mary’s Boy Child - Oh My Lord … (link to youtube video).

Now you have really done it! Have succumbed to temptation and purchased Boney M’s Christmas Album.