The Disco Hit Song Explaining Zionism?

the word “zionism”, with the current middle east crisis, has been tossed around like a pigskin during a two minute football drive with the offense needing to drive all the way down the field and score a touchdown. despite “zionism” plastered across mainstream media, discussed in social media posts and podcasts, sharpied on protests signs and graffitied on edifices, zionism’s origins is largely unknown to many. while understanding present day zionism is increasingly complicated due to the europe in the 1800’s and world war ii, zionism’s origin is not; a 1970’s disco hit 70s explains it.

originally written as a rastafarian song, mr. brent dowe and mr. trevor mcnaughton weaved two biblical psalms into music magic. while originally recorded by the melodians, it was the disco group “boney m” who made it a hit.

in the song, psalm 137 is combined with psalm 19 with 19 answering the question posed by 137. psalm 137 provided the song’s title- “by the rivers of babylon”. the psalm, attributed to the prophet jeremiah, reflects upon the jewish people’s exile from the holy land after the destruction of their first temple.

psalm 137’s lyrics include: “by the rivers of babylon, there we sat, we also wept when we remembered zion.” (note: “zion” was a term used for jerusalem as early as the bible.) being in diaspora, the psalm noted that “for there[ the rivers of babylon] our captors asked us for words of song…, “sing for us of the song of zion.” to this, the psalmist asked: “how shall we sing the song of the lord on foreign soil?”

psalm 137 is zionism’s kernel. one day, there was the dream for those in exile that they would return to their ancestral homeland and would never have to ask “how to sing a lord’s song on foreign soil?” this psalm is recited on the fast holiday that commemorates both temples’ destruction, tisha b’av.

thus, thousands of years ago, long before the modern colonialism movement or the likes of hateful washed out actresses or has been rock stars, zionism began. it was something that a displaced people retained in the hearts and minds; a yearning to return to their promised homeland. zionism, contrary to the propagandists, is not a modern invention; rather, it is of biblical roots.

beyond the lyrics, from the hit song, psalm 137, includes another famous line. “if i forget you, o jerusalem, may my right hand forget.” for those familiar with popular music, this line was taken and crafted into another modern song. matisyahu employed these words in his popular song, jerusalem (out of darkness comes light).

be well!!

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