| The Ballad of the Witches' Road | |||||||||||
| Version: | Sacred Chant Version | ||||||||||
| Type: | single | ||||||||||
| Artist: | Kathryn Hahn, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Patti LuPone, Debra Jo Rupp and Agatha All Along cast | ||||||||||
| Length: | 3:18 | ||||||||||
| Misc: |
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"The Ballad of the Witches' Road" is a song from the Marvel Studios Disney+ television miniseries Agatha All Along, written by composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Eight versions of the song were used throughout the miniseries. The main version of the song is referred to as the Sacred Chant Version.
In January 2023, Kathryn Hahn hinted that the series would include original songs similar to those featured in WandaVision such as "Agatha All Along". In March, Christophe Beck revealed that he would be returning from WandaVision and other MCU media to compose the score for the series. The following month, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez were revealed to have written the series' original songs, also returning from WandaVision. Hahn serves as the lead singer for some songs, with the other witch actors such as Patti LuPone acting as background singers. Jac Schaeffer wanted to work with the composers to find a way to weave whatever songs they came up with into the series' narrative. One of their songs, "The Ballad of the Witches' Road", became an ancient tune in the series that all witches are familiar with. In September 2024, Michael Paraskevas was revealed to have composed the score with Beck, after previously working together in the MCU series Hawkeye (2021).
The True Crime Version and the Sacred Chant Version were released on September 19, 2024, as part of Songs from Agatha All Along (Episodes 1 & 2). The Lorna Wu's Version and the Cover Version were released on October 3, 2024, as part of Songs from Agatha All Along (Episode 4). The Score Version along with True Crime, Sacred Chant, Lorna Wu's, and Cover versions were released together on October 11, as part of . The Pop Version by Japanese Breakfast was released on October 17. The Nicky's Version and the Agatha Through Time Version were released on October 31, as part of Songs from Agatha All Along (Episode 9). Nicky's, Agatha Through Time and Pop versions were released together on November 1, 2024, as part of . All 8 versions of the song were featured on the side A of the soundtrack vinyl titled Music from Agatha All Along released on October 30, 2024.
The True Crime Version was featured in the first episode of Agatha All Along titled "Seekest Thou the Road". It was the theme song for the fictionalized crime noir television series titled Agnes of Westview, in which the witch Agatha Harkness was trapped by Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch in the town of Westview, New Jersey, at the end of the miniseries WandaVision (2021).
The Sacred Chant Version was featured in the second episode of Agatha All Along titled "Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate". It was sung by Agatha and her newly-recruited coven, during which Billy Maximoff unknowingly created the Witches' Road, accessible via a door in Agatha's basement in her home in Westview.
The Lorna Wu's Version was featured in the fourth episode of Agatha All Along titled "If I Can't Reach You / Let My Song Teach You". It was sung by the character Lorna Wu, mother of Alice Wu-Gulliver, a member of Agatha's coven.
The Cover Version was featured in "If I Can't Reach You / Let My Song Teach You". It was sung by Agatha's coven, during Alice's trial as a cover of Lorna Wu's version.
The Score Version was featured in "Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate" and was composed by Christophe 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.
Nicky's Version was featured in the finale of Agatha All Along titled "Maiden Mother Crone". It was the initial version of the song, as developed by Agatha and her son Nicholas Scratch in the 1750s.
The Agatha Through Time Version was featured in "Maiden Mother Crone". It was the version of the song continued by Agatha 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. Agatha eventually became the only known survivor of the fictional Witches' Road.
The Pop Version, performed by Japanese Breakfast, was featured in the credits of "Maiden Mother Crone".
The Sacred Chant Version debuted at number twenty-two on the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart for the week of October 5, 2024.
| Peak position | ||
| UK Singles (OCC) | 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| US Digital Songs (Billboard) | 22 |