Rivers of Babylon

by Sublime • Lesson #10 • Nov 17, 2013

Editor’s Notes

Here’s a guitar lesson teaching you how to play Rivers of Babylon from Sublime’s 1998 acoustic album. This is one of the very first songs I ever learned back on my acoustic guitar back in 1999 – such a fun one to learn. I’ll teach you the chord shapes and also show tabs for the distinctive intro riff. Best of luck with it!

Free Video Lesson

Looking for a Print-Friendly Guide?

This is one of my few lessons that doesn't have a printable song sheet / PDF available. If you'd like to request I make one, let me know by clicking the button below! If there's enough demand I'll bump it toward the top of the list.

Click to Request

Chords w/ lyrics

INTRO
    G ... G ... G ... G ...    (see below for tab)
    D ... D ... G ... G ...

VERSE
                     G
    By the rivers of Babylon
                 G
    Where he sat down
                 D
    And there he wept
                       G
    When he remembered Zion

CHORUS
                           G
        Oh for the wicked, carry us away captivity
          C                 G
        Requireth from us a song
        G
        How can we sing King Alpha's song
             D       G
        In a strange land

REFRAIN    
                       G            D
            So let the words of our mouth
                        G             D
            And the meditation of our heart
                 G               D
            Be acceptable in thy sight
                 G
            Over I

    (intro chords)

    By the rivers of Babylon
    Where he sat down
    And there he wept
    When he remembered Zion

        Oh for the wicked, carry us away captivity
        Requireth from us a song
        How can we sing King Alpha's song
        In a strange land

        How can we sing King Alpha's song
        In a strange land

Notes and tabs

Chords Used

Here are the chords used to play this song. Nice and straightforward.

e-|----3----0----2----
B-|----0----1----3----
G-|----0----0----2----
D-|----0----2----0----
A-|----2----3---------
E-|----3--------------
       G    C    D

Intro & Verse Riff

Here is how you play the main riff heard in the intro. You can also play this during the verse sections of the song. Don’t forget to add strumming for each chord – this mainly focuses on the notes you play that lead to each chord. As always, listen along to the song for reference.

e-|---------------------3---|---------------------3---|-
B-|---------------------0---|---------------------0---|-
G-|---------------------0---|---------------------0---|-
D-|---------------------0---|---------------------0---|-
A-|---------2--2--3-----2---|---------2--2--3-----2---|-
E-|---3--3-----------3--3---|---3--3-----------3--3---|-
                        G                         G

 -|---------------------2---|---------------------3---||
 -|---------------------3---|---------------------0---||
 -|---------------------2---|---------------------0---||
 -|---------------------0---|---0--0--2--0--------0---||
 -|---2--2--3--3--2--0------|---------------2--0--2---||
 -|-------------------------|---------------------3---||
                        D                         G

Chord progressions

INTRO
Played with the riff shown above
| G . . . | G . . . | G . . . | G . . . |
| D . . . | D . . . | G . . . | G . . . |

VERSE
"By the rivers of Babylon..."
| G . . . | G . . . | G . . . | G . . . |
| D . . . | D . . . | G . . . | G . . . |

CHORUS
"Oh for the wicked, carry us away..."
| G . . . | G . . . | C . . . | G . . . |
| D . . . | D . . . | D . . . | G . . . |

REFRAIN
"So let the words of our mouth..."
| G . . . | D . . . | G . . . | D . . . |
| D . . . | D . . . | D . . . | G . . . |

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Gain instant access to my library of 259 print-friendly cheat sheets! Also includes my extended video lessons, jam tracks, courses, and more.

Join Song Notes Premium

Have questions? Watch video tour »

Browse Related Lessons

Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Most of the lessons on my website are 100% free. If you have the means, please show your support with a tip jar contribution. I put many hours into every lesson — but it only takes you a minute to make a donation. You have my thanks!

Donate

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Featured Courses

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Interactive fretboard map! See the patterns behind every scale in any key.

View

Capo Captain

An easy way to calculate key & chord combinations, for any capo location!

View

Key Master

See and hear the notes, chords, scales used in each of the most common keys.

View

Blank Tabs

Free PDF templates to download, print, and write out your own guitar tabs!

View

Coming soon is Jambox – which shows all the video jam tracks I've made. It's note quite ready for the spotlight, but check it out if you like!


Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!


Recent Lessons

Browse All Recent Lessons →

← back to homepage