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ENTITY · RECORDING / SONG

"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

Confidence
Well supported
Sources
Wikipedia; Crossrhythms.co.uk.

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

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Recordings

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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Articles & sources

In stories

Story · Well supportedSongs that crossed over

Jamaican records reached the world by half a dozen different routes — a London pop session, a film soundtrack, a cover version, a remix — and almost never the one the industry expected.

Debate & reception

What people argued about this record — two documented positions each time, kept apart from verified fact. Browse every argument in the archive →

Commentary

Scripture in harmony-group reggae

One side

Devotional roots

The other

Pop afterlife

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.

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Compiled and researched by The Jamaica Music Atlas music desk. The sources that informed it are credited above.

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