By the waters of Babylon

Dvořák Antonín

By the waters of Babylon, 
there we sat us down
and wept when we remember'd thee, o Zion.

As for our harps, 
we hanged them up on the willow trees.
For they that had brought us to misery
asked of us a joyful song.

Yea, they did speak to us with mocking words:
"Sing us now, sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
Then we did answer:
"How can we sing to you,
how can we sing our glad songs in a strange land?"

Jerusalem, if I should for get thee,
O, Jerusalem, then,
then let my right hand forget her cunning.