By the Rivers Dark
By the rivers darkI wandered on.I lived my lifein Babylon.
And I did forgetMy holy song:And I had no strengthIn Babylon.
By the rivers darkWhere I could not seeWho was waiting thereWho was hunting me.
And he cut my lipAnd he cut my heart.So I could not drinkFrom the river dark.
And he covered me,And I saw within,My lawless heartAnd my wedding ring,
I did not knowAnd I could not seeWho was waiting there,Who was hunting me.
By the rivers darkI panicked on.I belonged at lastto Babylon.
Then he struck my heartWith a deadly force,And he said, ‘This heart:It is not yours.’
And he gave the windMy wedding ring;And he circled usWith everything.
By the rivers dark,In a wounded dawn,I live my lifeIn Babylon.
Though I take my songFrom a withered limb,Both song and tree,They sing for him.
Be the truth unsaidAnd the blessing gone,If I forgetMy Babylon.
I did not knowAnd I could not seeWho was waiting there,Who was hunting me.
By the rivers dark,Where it all goes on;By the rivers darkIn Babylon.