| "The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Sacred Chant Version)" | |
|---|---|
 Promotional graphic | |
| Single byKathryn Hahn,Sasheer Zamata,Ali Ahn,Patti LuPone,Debra Jo Rupp andAgatha All Along cast | |
| Released | September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19) |
| Length | 3:18 |
| Label | |
| Songwriters | |
| Producers |
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| Music videos | |
| "Sacred Chant Version" onYouTube | |
| "True Crime Version" onYouTube | |
| "Lorna Wu's Version" onYouTube | |
| "Cover Version" onYouTube | |
| "Score Version" onYouTube | |
| "Nicky's Version" onYouTube | |
| "Agatha Through Time Version" onYouTube | |
| "Pop Version" onYouTube | |
"The Ballad of the Witches' Road" is a song from theMarvel StudiosDisney+ television miniseriesAgatha All Along, written by composersKristen Anderson-Lopez andRobert Lopez.[1] Eight versions of the song were used throughout the series; the main version is referred to as the "Sacred Chant Version".[2]
In January 2023,Kathryn Hahn hinted that the series would include original songs similar to those featured inWandaVision such as "Agatha All Along".[3] In March,Christophe Beck revealed that he would be returning fromWandaVision and other MCU media to compose the score for the series.[4] The following month,Kristen Anderson-Lopez andRobert Lopez were revealed to have written the series' original songs, also returning fromWandaVision. Hahn serves as the lead singer for some songs, with theother witch actors such asPatti LuPone acting as background singers.[5]Jac Schaeffer wanted to work with the composers to find a way to weave whatever songs they came up with into the series' narrative.[6] One of their songs, "The Ballad of the Witches' Road", became an ancient tune in the series that all witches are familiar with.[7] In September 2024, Michael Paraskevas was revealed to have composed the score with Beck, after previously working together in the MCU seriesHawkeye (2021).[8]
The True Crime Version and the Sacred Chant Version were released on September 19, 2024, as part ofSongs from Agatha All Along (Episodes 1 & 2).[9] The Lorna Wu's Version and the Cover Version were released on October 3, 2024, as part ofSongs from Agatha All Along (Episode 4).[10] The Score Version along with True Crime, Sacred Chant, Lorna Wu's, and Cover versions were released together on October 11, as part ofAgatha All Along: Vol. 1 (Episodes 1–5) (Original Soundtrack).[11] The Pop Version byJapanese Breakfast was released on October 17.[12] The Nicky's Version and the Agatha Through Time Version were released on October 31, as part ofSongs from Agatha All Along (Episode 9). Nicky's, Agatha Through Time and Pop versions were released together on November 1, 2024, as part ofAgatha All Along: Vol. 2 (Episodes 6–9) (Original Soundtrack).[13] All eight versions of the song were featured on the side A of the soundtrack vinyl,Music from Agatha All Along, released on October 30, 2024.[14][15]
All tracks are written byKristen Anderson-Lopez andRobert Lopez.
| No. | Title | Initially released | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Ballad of the Witches' Road (True Crime Version)" (featuringMatthew Mayfield) | September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19) | 1:43 |
| 2. | "The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Sacred Chant Version)" (featuringKathryn Hahn,Sasheer Zamata,Ali Ahn,Patti LuPone andDebra Jo Rupp) | September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19) | 3:18 |
| 3. | "The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Lorna Wu's Version)" (featuringSeomoon Tak) | October 3, 2024 (2024-10-03) | 4:41 |
| 4. | "The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Cover Version)" (featuring Kathryn Hahn, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Patti LuPone,Aubrey Plaza andJoe Locke) | October 3, 2024 (2024-10-03) | 4:40 |
| 5. | "The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Score Version)" | October 11, 2024 (2024-10-11) | 1:42 |
| 6. | "The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Nicky's Version)" | October 31, 2024 (2024-10-31) | 0:49 |
| 7. | "The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Agatha Through Time Version)" (featuring Kathryn Hahn, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, and Patti LuPone) | October 31, 2024 (2024-10-31) | 2:36 |
| 8. | "The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Pop Version)" (featuringJapanese Breakfast) | October 17, 2024 (2024-10-17) | 4:41 |
| Total length: | 24:10 | ||
The "True Crime Version" was featured in the first episode ofAgatha All Along titled "Seekest Thou the Road". It was the theme song for the fictionalized crime noir television series titledAgnes of Westview, in which the witchAgatha Harkness was trapped byWanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch in the town ofWestview, New Jersey, at the end of the miniseriesWandaVision (2021).[16][17]
The "Sacred Chant Version" was featured in the second episode ofAgatha All Along titled "Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate". It was sung by Harkness and her newly-recruited coven, during whichBilly Maximoff unknowingly created theWitches' Road, accessible via a door in Agatha's basement in her home in Westview.[18]
The "Lorna Wu's Version" was featured in the fourth episode ofAgatha All Along titled "If I Can't Reach You / Let My Song Teach You". It was sung by the character Lorna Wu, mother ofAlice Wu-Gulliver, a member of Harkness' coven, and revealed to be a protection spell created by Wu to shield Wu-Gulliver from a generational curse.[19][20]
The "Cover Version" was featured in "If I Can't Reach You / Let My Song Teach You". It was sung by Harkness' coven, during Wu-Gulliver's trial as acover of Lorna Wu's version in the hopes of protecting themselves from the Wu family generational curse.[19][21]
The "Score Version" was featured in "Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate" and was composed byChristophe Beck and Michael Paraskevas. The score plays in the final scene as the coven walks down the path of the Witches' Road after entering the door and narrowly escaping the Salem Seven.[18][22]
The "Nicky's Version" was featured in the finale ofAgatha All Along titled "Maiden Mother Crone". It was the initial version of the song, as developed by Harkness and her sonNicholas Scratch in the 1750s which started the legend of the Witches' Road.[23]
The "Agatha Through Time Version" was featured in "Maiden Mother Crone". It was the version of the song continued by Harkness after the death of her son, which she used to con other witches by leading them in singing the song as part of a ritual to open the door to the Witches' Road and proceeding to steal their powers, killing them in the process. Harkness eventually became the only known survivor of the fictional Witches' Road.[23][24]
The "Pop Version", performed byJapanese Breakfast, was featured in the credits of "Maiden Mother Crone".[12]
The Sacred Chant Version debuted at number twenty-two on theBillboardDigital Song Sales chart for the week of October 5, 2024.[25]
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[26] | 45 |
| USDigital Songs (Billboard)[27] | 22 |
"The Ballad of the Witches' Road" was widely praised for its narrative significance, emotional depth, and the unexpected plot twist surrounding its origin.[28][29][30][31]Vulture's Caroline Framke described the "Sacred Chant Version" as "an earworm of a song" that was "undeniably effective to juxtapose the coven's singalong with the arrival of the shrouded Salem 7", but noted it was not "as meme-ably catchy" as "Agatha All Along".[28]IGN critic Joshua Yehl called the "Cover Version" "wonderfully campy" and "great", and praised the lyrical elements that tied intoAlice Wu-Gulliver's story.[29] Writing forTell-Tale TV, Misael Duran found the "Agatha Through Time Version" to be a "major highlight" and "beautifully haunting",[30] whileThe Ringer's Daniel Chin praised the plot twist regarding the origins of the song.[31]
In 2025, "The Ballad of the Witches' Road (Sacred Chant Version)" won theMusic Supervisors Guild Award forBest Song Written and/or Recorded for Television.[32] The song was also nominated for aPrimetime Creative Arts Emmy Award forOutstanding Original Music and Lyrics,[33] and aDorian TV Award for Best TV Musical Performance.[34]
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