{"slug": "by-babels-streams-we-sat-and-wept-psalm-137", "title": "Memories of Zion", "first_line": "By Babel's streams we sat and wept", "author_source": "The Psalter, 1912", "foot": "iambic", "meter": {"pattern": [8, 8, 8, 8], "doubled": false, "refrain": false, "alleluia": false, "irregular": false}, "psalm": 137, "topics": ["Psalms"], "scripture": ["Psalm 137"], "provenance": {"layer": "text", "source": "psalter-1912", "source_kind": "open_encoding", "encoding_origin": "hymnary.org (selection 379) via the Wayback Machine; cross-verified against two independently scanned printings (archive.org OCR)", "pd_basis": "pub_pre_1931", "pd_evidence": "The Psalter, United Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1912 \u2014 Psalm 137, selection 379. Imported by tools/psalter1912_import.py: word-bag attested by both scans; every line machine-scanned to the metre.", "pd_jurisdictions": {"US": true}}, "stanzas": {"1": {"syllabified": "By Ba -- bel's streams we sat and wept, For mem -- 'ry still to Zi -- on clung; The winds a -- lone our harp -- strings swept, That on the droop -- ing wil -- lows hung.", "prose": ["By Babel's streams we sat and wept,", "For mem'ry still to Zion clung;", "The winds alone our harp-strings swept,", "That on the drooping willows hung."]}, "2": {"syllabified": "There our rude cap -- tors, flushed with pride, A song re -- quired to mock our wrongs; Our spoil -- ers called for mirth, and cried, Come, sing us one of Zi -- on's songs.", "prose": ["There our rude captors, flushed with pride,", "A song required to mock our wrongs;", "Our spoilers called for mirth, and cried,", "Come, sing us one of Zion's songs."]}, "3": {"syllabified": "Not songs but sighs to us be -- long When Zi -- on's walls in ru -- in lie; How shall we sing Je -- ho -- vah's song While in an a -- lien land we die?", "prose": ["Not songs but sighs to us belong", "When Zion's walls in ruin lie;", "How shall we sing Jehovah's song", "While in an alien land we die?"]}, "4": {"syllabified": "O Zi -- on fair, God's ho -- ly hill, Where -- in our God de -- lights to dwell, Let my right hand for -- get her skill If I for -- get to love thee well.", "prose": ["O Zion fair, God's holy hill,", "Wherein our God delights to dwell,", "Let my right hand forget her skill", "If I forget to love thee well."]}, "5": {"syllabified": "If I do not re -- mem -- ber thee, Then let my tongue from ut -- t'rance cease, If an -- y earth -- ly joy to me Be dear as Zi -- on's joy and peace.", "prose": ["If I do not remember thee,", "Then let my tongue from utterance cease,", "If any earthly joy to me", "Be dear as Zion's joy and peace."]}, "6": {"syllabified": "Re -- mem -- ber, Lord, the dread -- ful day Of Zi -- on's cru -- el o -- ver -- throw; How hap -- py he who shall re -- pay The bit -- ter ha -- tred of her foe.", "prose": ["Remember, Lord, the dreadful day", "Of Zion's cruel overthrow;", "How happy he who shall repay", "The bitter hatred of her foe."]}}, "license": "The hymn texts and tunes are in the public domain; per-layer provenance is recorded on each record."}