Boney M. - Rivers of Babylon: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Rivers of Babylon" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

Chorus:
                  C
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
          G7                        C
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion
                  C
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
           G7                       C
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion

C
When the wicked
                   C7
Carried us away in captivity
    F               C
Required from us a song

Now how shall we sing the Lord's song in
    G7     C
a strange land
C
When the wicked
                    C7
Carried us away in captivity
   F               C
Requiring of us a song

Now how shall we sing the Lord's song in
    G7     C
a strange land

         C            G7                C
Let the words of our mouth and the meditation
        G7
of our heart
      C               G7           C
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight

         C            G7                C
Let the words of our mouth and the meditation
        G7
of our heart
      C               G7           C
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight

Chorus:
                  C
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
           G7                       C
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion
C
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
           G7                       C
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion

                  C
By the rivers of Babylon (daughters of Babylon)
There we sat down (you got to sing a song)
          G7
Ye-eah we wept, (sing a song of love)
                  C
When we remember Zion. (yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
By the rivers of Babylon (Prophets of Babylon)
There we sat down (you hear the people cry)
          G7
Ye-eah we wept, (they need their god)
                 C
When we remember Zion. (ooh, have the power)
By the rivers of Babylon, (oh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
There we sat down (yeah, yeah yeah)
           G7
Ye-eah we wept (daughters of Babylon,
                    C
When we remembered Zion (ooh, yeah yeah yeah)
By the rivers of Babylon


You can simplify chords by removing barre

Transpose

Reset

Font Size

Reset

Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

C

Guitar chord C

C7

Guitar chord C7

F

Guitar chord F

G7

Guitar chord G7

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Rivers of Babylon" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M..