ENTITY · RECORDING

"Rivers of Babylon" — The Melodians

Well supported

1970 single written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Melodians, setting Psalms 19 and 137 to reggae and Rastafari language; briefly kept off Jamaican radio over its Rastafari themes before becoming a foundation record, and reaching global audiences via the 1972 Harder They Come soundtrack album.

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At a glance

Type: recording
Confidence: Well supported
Era: Open era →

Genres, forms & lineagesStyle, language, faith & wider cultureSociety, politics & receptionDiaspora & global influence

Connections

Watch & listen

The Melodians — Rivers Of Babylon (Official Audio)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · recording

Trojan Records Official audio upload; discovery-only external reference.

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Rivers of Babylon

WEB · rights discovery only · archive source

Wikipedia reference entry.

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In stories

Story · Well supportedSongs that crossed over

How a few recordings made Jamaican music legible to new audiences without leaving the island's sound-system roots behind.

Debate & reception

How people argued about the music — praise, criticism and public debate. See all debate & reception →

commentary

Scripture in harmony-group reggae

Records such as The Melodians' "Rivers of Babylon" show how biblical text, Rastafari reasoning and vocal harmony could operate as both devotional language and popular song. Later covers widened the audience while changing how some listeners understood the source context.

Stance: devotional roots vs pop afterlife