Babylon

[ Roud 13968 ; Sacred Harp 117 ; Ballad Index Dett002 ; Mudcat 4024 ; Richard Nemar]

Babylon is Fallen is a church hymn of North American origin, printed in Sacred Harp, No. 117. G.W. William’s article “Babylon is Fallen: The Story of a North American Hymn” in The Hymn, Volume 44, April 1993, pp. 31-35, said: “The original six-stanza text was by Richard McNemar and first appeared in the Shaker hymnal Millennial Praises, Containing a Collection of Gospel Hymns … Adapted to the Day of Christ’s Second Appearing (Hancock, Mass.), 1813.”

John Roberts and Tony Barrand sang Babylon is Fallen on their 1971 album Spencer the Rover Is Alive and Well and Living in Ithaca. They noted:

Helen Schneyer used to live close to Washington D.C., and opened her “soup kitchen” to a motly assortment of waifs, strays and folk singers. We sat around her table in November 1969 (after feasting on her wonderful chicken soup) and sang this from a hymnbook. It is printed in George Pullen Jackson’s Spiritual Folk Songs of Early America, and is the only truly American song that we sing here.

Swan Arcade sang Babylon in 1976 on their second album, Matchless, and in 1988 on their cassette … Nothing Blue.

This is a 1973 interim line-up of Swan Arcade, with Royston Wood having replaced Jim Boyes, performing Wood’s arrangement of Babylon which he previously sang with Steve Ashley and Simon Nicol in the 1972 Albion Country Band. This recording was made for a BBC John Peel Session on 13 February 1973:

Home Service sang Babylon, “from the English Civil War via Swan Arcade of Yorkshire”, in 1986 on their Making Waves LP Alright Jack. A live recording from the same year was released in 2011 on their Fledg’ling CD Live 1986.

Isambarde sang Babylon on their 2004 album Brunel’s Kingdom.

This video shows The Merry Wives of Windsor performing Babylon Is Fallen at the Grove of Anaheim in 2007:

False Lights sang Babylon on their 2018 CD Harmonograph. They noted:

Sacred Harp 117. A new version of a shapenote hymn, compiled as a reaction to the direction of travel in British and US politics.

Lyrics

Richard McNemar ’s Babylon

Hail the day so long expected!
Hail the year of full release!
Zion’s walls are now erected,
And her watchmen publish peace:
From the distant coasts of Shinar,
The shrill trumpet loudly roars

Chorus (twice after each verse):
Babylon is fallen! is fallen! is fallen!
Babylon is fallen to rise no more.

Hark, and hear her people crying,
“See the city disappear!
Trade and traffic all are dying!
Lo, we sink and perish here!”
Sailors who have bought her traffic,
Crying from her distant shore,

All her merchants cry with wonder,
“What is this that’s come to pass?”
Murm’ring like the distant thunder
Crying out, “Alas! Alas!”
Swell the sound, ye kings and nobles!
Priests and people, rich and poor!

Lo, the captives are returning!
Up to Zion see them fly!
While the smoke of Babel’s burning
Rolls across the darken’d sky!
Days of mourning now are ended,
Years of bondage now are o’er,

Zion’s children raise your voices,
And the joyful news proclaim!
How the heavenly host rejoices!
Shout and echo back the same!
See the ancients of the city,
Terrify’d at the uproar!

Tune your harps, ye heavenly choir!
Shout, ye foll’wers of the Lamb!
See the city all on fire!
Clap your hands and blow the flame!
Now’s the day of compensation
On the scarlet colour’d whore;

John Roberts and Tony Barrand sing Babylon Is Fallen

Hail the day so long expected!
Hail the day of full release!
Zion’s walls are now erected,
And the watchmen publish peace:
Throughout Shilog’s wide dominions
Hear the trumpet loudly roar.

Chorus (twice after each verse):
Babylon is fallen! is fallen! is fallen!
Babylon is fallen to rise no more.

All her merchants stand with wonder,
“What is this that comes to pass?”
Murm’ring like the distant thunder,
Crying “Oh alas, alas”
Swell the sound, ye kings and nobles!
Priests and people, rich and poor!

Blow the trumpet in Mount Zion,
Christ shall come a second time:
Ruling with a rod of iron
All who now as foes combine.
Babel’s garments we’ve rejected,
And our fellowship is o’er.

Home Service sing Babylon

Hail the day so long expected!
Hail the day of full release!
Zion’s walls are now erected
And the watchmen publish peace.
Throughout Shiloh’s wide dominions
Hear the trumpet loudly roar.

Chorus (after each verse):
Babylon is fallen! is fallen! is fallen!
Babylon is fallen to rise no more.

All the merchants stand in wonder,
“What is this has come to pass?”
Murmuring like a distant thunder,
Crying “Oh alas, alas”
Spread the news, ye kings and nobles!
Priests and people rich and poor!

Sound the trumpet on Mount Zion,
Christ is come a second time:
Ruling with a rod of iron
All who now as foes combine.
Babel’s garments we’ve rejected,
And our fellowship is o’er.