Song catalogue · Lyrics available
Babylonian Blues
Scott Simpson
All songs & lyricsSong information
Release years and genres refer to the catalogued recordings. Composition credits follow Apple Music; separate writer credits follow the supplied lyric sources.
Credit sources
Lyrics
Down by the river of Babylon we sat on the banks and cried
It was on the muddy banks of the Babylonian river, we sat, we sat
And we cried, Lord, we cried
We were remembering home, felt like, felt like we had died.
(instrumental)
Well we stacked up there, underneath the aspen tree, a stack of old guitars
I said there, under the aspen tree, was a stack of silent guitars
I’m askin’ Lord how can we play, how can we sing?
How can we sing with these scars? How can we sing, how can we play
With these scars?
(instrumental)
Well, every face... every face I see is sarcastic and mocking
They say—go on, play me a song—a happy song
Every face I see, well they’re laughin’ they’re laughin’
They want a happy song, yeah, they want a happy song...
I said how can I sing a happy song when I’m here all day
I’m here all night long? How can I sing a happy song
So far from home? Yeah, yeah...
(instrumental)
Well, I’m gonna let my fingers wither and fall off,
Gonna let my tongue swell up and turn black.
Let my fingers wither and fall off, like the leaves on the trees
Let my tongue swell and turn black
If I ever forget my home, now
If I ever forget to head back... if I ever forget you,
No, I’m coming back to my home now, yeah, yeah, yeah
Gonna get back home now...
Gonna get back home, gonna get back home
I won’t ever forget my home,
Ain’t ever gonna turn my back.
Source: ScottSimpsonAllLyrics (2).pdf · pp. 186–187
Other supplied versions
Simpson_lyric_sheets
(instrumental verse)
Down by the river of Babylon
We sat on the banks and cried
It was on the muddy banks of the Babylonian river
Well we sat and we cried
We were remembering home, felt like we had died... yeah, yeah
(instrumental verse)
Well, we stacked up there underneath the aspen tree,
A stack of old guitars
I said there under the quaking aspen tree
Was a stack of silent guitars
I’m asking Lord, how can we play, how can we sing
How can we sing with these scars?
How can we sing, how can we play with these scars?
(instrumental verse)
Well every face, every face I see
Is sarcastic and mocking—they say go on play me a song, a happy song...
Every face I see, well they’re laughing, they’re laughing they want a they want a happy song
They want a happy song
I say, how can I sing a happy song
When I’m, I’m here all day I’m here all night long?
How can I sing a happy song so far from home now, yeah?
(instrumental verse)
Well, gonna let my fingers wither and fall off
Gonna let my tongue swell up and turn black
Let my fingers wither and fall off, like the leaves on the trees
Let my tongue swell and turn black
If I ever forget my home, now
If I ever, if I ever forget to head back
If I ever forget you....
I’m coming back to my home now... yeah, yeah
Gonna get back home get back home now...
Gonna get back home now...
I won’t ever forget my home
Ain’t ever gonna, ain’t ever gonna
Turn my back
Oh Lord, Oh, yeah, yeah...
Source: Simpson_lyric_sheets.pdf · pp. 18
Albums & listening
Live, remastered, and alternate arrangements may differ from the supplied lyrics.
