By the rivers dark
I wandered on
♪
I lived my life
In Babylon
And I did forget
My holy song
♪
And I had no strength
In Babylon

By the rivers dark
Where I could not see
♪
Who was waiting there
Who was hunting me
♪
And he cut my lip
And he cut my heart
♪
So I could not drink
From the river dark
And he covered me
And I saw within

My lawless heart
And my wedding ring
I did not know
And I could not see
♪
Who was waiting there
Who was hunting me
♪
By the rivers dark
I panicked on
♪
I belonged at last
To Babylon
Then he struck my heart
With a deadly force
♪
And he said: "This heart
It is not yours!"
And he gave the wind
My wedding ring
And he circled us
With everything
♪
By the rivers dark
In a wounded dawn
I live my life
In Babylon
Though I take my song
From a withered limb

Both song and tree
They sing for him
Be the truth unsaid
And the blessing gone

If I forget
My Babylon
I did not know
And I could not see
Who was waiting there
Who was hunting me
♪
By the rivers dark
Where it all goes on
By the rivers dark
In Babylon