[Winstanley] Babylon Is Fallen

The recorded audio comes from the opening credits of Winstanley, a 1975 British period film that takes place during the English Revolution. The film is about a revolutionary group of Christians named the True Levellers but more commonly known as the Diggers. The song is Babylon Is Fallen, but only part of the song is sung before the film transitions to the prologue.
Image source: www.historytoday.com/archive/...

[@hippieneck]

This is some of the best use of music and sound direction I have ever heard in a film. still looking for a full version of the film.

[@luzcat258]

I think I watched it on Internet Archive. This link should work.
archive.org/details/winstanley1975

[@petergriffin1232]

what time is the song happening at in the movie
@@luzcat258

[@jasonedwards6870]

​@@luzcat258he didn't thank you!!! I'm thanking you very much❤❤

[@hippieneck]

I have finally thanked you

[@thorewing8820]

We used to sing this in the English Civil War Society when I was a teenager, thinking it was a song of the period, until someone pointed out it was written by Richard McNemar (1770-1839).

[@MrAwesomemonster]

Thats like learning santa isn’t real

[@talmadgewalker279]

@@MrAwesomemonster What??? That can't be true!

[@notascientist709]

This sounds way cooler than any actual studio song could ever be. Wish there were more war songs that were just sung like this. A bunch of dudes just singing together. Feels way more authentic, only wish this was the entire song but this is clearly from a movie or something unfortunatley

[@loadeddice4696]

You're right, there should be more songs that are like "five hundred dudes with spears want to murder you"

[@thakin1109]

Jo Digga

[@notascientist709]

moin@@thakin1109

[@samdavis1999]

​@@loadeddice4696unironically yes

[@threedragonstalk2123]

Finding overlap between the Owl House fandom and people who like the film Winstanley is one of those things that is surprising but makes sense when you think about it.

[@ralfi8882]

Greetings from Germany. This hymn is actually found in the Sacred Harp 1991 edition p 117. It comes from W. E. Chuts 1878. Tge first Sacred Harp was edited in 1844. I don't knof if this hymn is found in this copy. Best wishes.

[@ScarletRebel96]

Philip whitterbane be jamming to this

[@konstantinostravlos210]

Great sound direction

[@Akrafena]

Hail a day so long expected
Hail the year of full release
Zion's walls are now erected
And the watchman's published piece
Throughout Shiloh's wide dominion
Hear the trumpets loudly roar
Babylon is fallen is fallen is fallen
Babylon is fallen to rise no more
All of Earth should stand with wonder
What is this that's come to pass
Murmuring like a distant thunder
Crying Oh alas alas
Swell the sound ye kings and nobles
Priests and people rich and poor
Babylon is fallen is fallen is fallen
Babylon is fallen to rise no more
Blow the trumpets on Mt Zion
Christ shall come a second time
Ruling with a rod of iron
All who now as foes combine
Fables garment sweet rejected
And our fellowship is o'er
Babylon is fallen is fallen is fallen
Babylon is fallen to rise no more

[@ChsSchoolCity-wk1og]

Thanks for including your sources, this is really cool

[@alongalostaway]

Crip Walk Anthem

[@myrmidonesantipodes6982]

Nah parliamentarians were Bloods g

[@cturner956]

sounds... vaguely ominous

[@elviejodelabolsa8263]

Epic

[@johnvinals7423]

This is totally Philip Wittebane’s theme song, by the way.

[@luzcat258]

Bruh, wot.

[@johnvinals7423]

@@luzcat258 Sorry. Reflex/habit. Assumed you knew who he is.

[@luzcat258]

@@johnvinals7423 I know what u mean. It's just funny to hear an Owl House reference here. Hehe.

[@cosmomari4669]

hes so based for that

[@connormclernon26]

@@luzcat258considering he’s a Puritan, it makes sense. Surprised he wasn’t more offended by the modern day, but I guess they couldn’t show that.

[@kamalindsey]

Isnt this song written by an American abolitionist in the 1800s?

[@anthonymorris6490]

It's an English puritan hymn from the 1600s

[@JohnBrownsBody]

@@anthonymorris6490 I’ve had this discussion in another comment section, but I did some digging and the oldest source I can find for this song is a Shaker hymn book from Massachusetts in 1813. I’ve yet to really see any proof that this song is from the English Civil War as a roundhead and/or puritan hymn, but a lot of people claim it is. Puritans famously abstained from ballads and songs excepts the Psalms, which sort of makes me doubt this theory. Of course, it could be older than that 1813 American songbook, but with the evidence we have and it’s attribution to the Shaker movement then I can’t imagine it’s older than the mid 18th century.
It’s incredibly badass though.

[@sixtne]

@@JohnBrownsBody From what i've heard it's from the english revolution and that the lyrics refering to christ returning are a victorian addition, but that the "base" song itself is much older.

[@JohnBrownsBody]

@@sixtne I’ve heard some people say that, but I’ve still yet to find any source/information whatsoever which shows it. If you can find one that would be great, for the earliest I’ve gotten is 1813. The trail just tapers off at that point.

[@user-hk1vi9pz9s]

Yeah, it's a New England "Sacred Harp" hymn, though I'm not sure when exactly it was written, Sacred Harp originates in the late 1700s and early 1800s.