Babylon Is Fallen is a popular song with Sacred Harp singers (4th song on preceding link, starts about 4:35). The source of the words is Hymn XXII on page 50 of Part I (sub-headed “Babylon is fallen”) in the 1813 hymn book Millennial Praises: containing a Collection of Gospel Hymns, in Four Parts; adapted to the Day of Christ’s Second Appearing. The hymn book was compiled within the Shaker community by Seth Youngs Wells (1767-1847). The words (six stanzas) were written by Richard McNemar.
McNemar (1770-1839) was a Presbyterian minister who became a New Light preacher briefly, then joined the Shakers. He wrote several hymns included in Millennial Praises, some perhaps before his joining the Shakers. The Shakers placed a strong emphasis on an earthly Millennium foretold in the New Testament (Revelation 20:1-6, et al.). This emphasis is repeated in the phrase “Babylon is fallen” (Revelation 14:8; 18:2). There is an urgency about the message, as well as in the tune.
The tune Babylon Is Fallen was written by William Edward Chute (1832-1900), a Canadian-born Baptist, singing master, songwriter, book collector, and family genealogist. He was also a Union soldier during the War Between the States. Some researchers think the tune is an arrangement of a Shaker tune.
Chute chose two stanzas of McNemar’s hymn – McNemar’s stanzas 1 and 3 – and then added a third (the 7th stanza below). Chute possibly wrote this stanza. The song was first printed in The Musical Million in 1875. The new stanza embraces a new tone, a triumphal rejoicing, whereas the original hymn focuses on judgment, retribution, desolation, and destruction.
The meter of the hymn and tune is 8s.7s. in six lines, with a recurring refrain in 12s.10s.
Hail the year of full release.
Zion’s walls are now erected,
And her watchmen publish peace.
Through our Shiloh’s wide dominion,
Hear the trumpet loudly roar,
Babylon is fallen! is fallen! is fallen!
Babylon is fallen to rise no more.
2. Hark, and hear her people crying,
“See the city disappear!
“Trade and traffic all are dying,
“Lo, we sink and perish here!”
Sailors who have bought her traffic,
Crying from her distant shore,
“Babylon is fallen! is fallen! is fallen!
“Babylon is fallen to rise no more.”
3. All her merchants stand with wonder,
“What is this that comes to pass?”
Murm’ring like the distant thunder,
Crying out, “Alas, alas!”
Swell the sound, ye kings and nobles,
Priest and people, rich and poor;
Babylon is fallen! is fallen! is fallen!
Babylon is fallen to rise no more.
4. Lo! the captives are returning,
Up to Zion see them fly!
While the smoke of Babel’s burning
Rolls across the darken’d sky!
Days of mourning now are ended,
Years of bondage now are o’er,
Babylon is fallen! is fallen! is fallen!
Babylon is fallen to rise no more.
5. Zion’s children raise your voices
And the joyful news proclaim!
How the heavenly host rejoices,
Shout and echo back the same!
See the ancients of the city,
Terrified at the uproar;
Babylon is fallen! is fallen! is fallen!
Babylon is fallen to rise no more.
6. Tune your harps, ye heavenly choir,
Shout, ye foll’wers of the Lamb!
See the city all on fire,
Clap your hands and blow the flame!
Now’s the day of compensation
On the scarlet colour’d whore:
Babylon is fallen! is fallen! is fallen!
Babylon is fallen to rise no more.
7. Blow the trumpet in Mount Zion,
Christ shall come a second time;
Ruling with a rod of iron
All who now as foes combine.
Babel’s garments we’ve rejected,
And our fellowship is o’er,
Babylon is fallen! is fallen! is fallen!
Babylon is fallen to rise no more.
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