In the Rastafarian faith, the term "Babylon '' is used for any governmental system which is either oppressive or unjust. In Jamaica, Rastafarians also use "Babylon '' to refer to the police, often seen as a source of oppression because they arrest members for the use of marijuana (which is sacramental for Rastafarians). Therefore, "By the rivers of Babylon '' refers to living in a repressive society and the longing for freedom, just like the Israelites in captivity. Rastafarians also identify themselves as belonging to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The original version specifically refers to Rastafarian belief in Haile Selassie, by changing references to "the Lord '' in the Biblical text to "Far - I '' and "King Alpha ''. Both terms refer to Selassie (Selassie 's wife Menen Asfaw is known as Queen Omega). In addition, the term "the wicked '' replaces the neutral "they '' of Psalm 137 in the line "they that carried us away captive required of us a song... ''. According to David Stowe,
who is king alpha in rivers of babylon
Selassie Selassie Selassie