Babel (song)

For other songs, see Babel (disambiguation) § Songs.

2013 single by Mumford & Sons

"Babel"

Single by Mumford & Sons
from the album  Babel
Released| 9 July 2013
Recorded| 2011–2012
Genre| Indie folk
Length| 3:29
Label| Island
Songwriter(s)| Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford and Winston Marshall
Producer(s)| Markus Dravs
Mumford & Sons singles chronology
| "Whispers in the Dark"
(2013)  | "Babel"
(2013)  | "Hopeless Wanderer"
(2013)

|
|

"Babel" is a song performed by British folk rock band Mumford & Sons, released as the fourth single from their second studio album Babel (2012). It was released on 9 July 2013 as a digital download. The song was written by Mumford & Sons and produced by Markus Dravs.

## About the name

[edit]

"Babel" is the name of both the song and the album on which their song appeared. The title is a reference to the story known as the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11:1–9 in the Bible.[1] The song features numerous other biblical references too, which is common for music by Mumford & Sons.[2]

Still, they maintain that their message is not intended to be explicitly religious in nature.[3] Rather, their bassist, Ted Dwane, noted in a Rolling Stone interview that the song is more generally about human striving and discontentment: "As humans, we’re such a discontented species. We’re always trying to further ourselves, and you get all the way to the moon and then it’s just discontent. You want to go to Mars."[4]

## Music video

[edit]

A music video to accompany the release of "Babel" was first released onto YouTube on 8 July 2013 at a total length of four minutes and five seconds.[5] The video shows the band performing the song in the former 16th Street station in Oakland, California.[6][7]

## Track listing

[edit]

Digital downloadNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Babel"| 3:29

## Charts and certifications

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (2013)  | Peak
position

|

Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[8] | 8
UK Singles (OCC)[9] | 76
US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 60
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] | 9
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] | 13
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[13] | 19
US Rock & Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[14] | 25

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (2013)  | Position

|

US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[15] | 45
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16] | 39

### Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United Kingdom (BPI)[17] | Silver  | 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Region  | Date  | Format  | Label

|
|
|

United Kingdom  | 9 July 2013  | Digital download  | Island Records

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mumford & Sons: Finding Balance In 'Babel'". NPR. September 23, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
2. ^ "Mumford Review: Babel". The Two Cities. 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
3. ^ NME (2012-09-28). "Mumford And Sons' Marcus Mumford: ''Babel' is not a statement of Christian faith'". NME. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
4. ^ Doyle, Patrick (2012-08-08). "Q&A: Mumford & Sons' Ted Dwane on New Album, Possible Move to U.S." Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
5. ^ Mumford & Sons - Babel on YouTube
6. ^ Mumford & Sons unveil new single 'Babel' music video - watch - Music News - Digital Spy
7. ^ "Where should Treasure Island Music Festival 2017 relocate?". San Francisco Chronicle. October 7, 2016.
8. ^ "Mumford & Sons – Babel" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
10. ^ "Mumford Sons Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
11. ^ "Mumford Sons Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
12. ^ "Mumford Sons Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
13. ^ "Mumford Sons Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
14. ^ "Mumford Sons Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
15. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
16. ^ "Triple A Songs: 2013 (Year-End)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
17. ^ "British single certifications – Mumford & Sons – Babel". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 April 2019.

* v
* t
* e

Mumford & Sons

* Marcus Mumford
* Ben Lovett
* Ted Dwane

Albums|

* Sigh No More (2009)
* Babel (2012)
* Wilder Mind (2015)
* Delta (2018)
* Rushmere (2025)

EPs|

* Johannesburg

Singles|

* "Little Lion Man"
* "Winter Winds"
* "The Cave"
* "Roll Away Your Stone"
* "I Will Wait"
* "Lover of the Light"
* "Whispers in the Dark"
* "Babel"
* "Believe"
* "The Wolf"
* "Ditmas"
* "Tompkins Square Park"
* "There Will Be Time"
* "Just Smoke"
* "Wona"
* "Guiding Light"
* "If I Say"
* "Beloved"
* "Woman"
* "Blind Leading the Blind"

Concert tours|

* Delta Tour

Related articles|

* Discography
* Awards and nominations
* List of songs
* Winston Marshall
* Self-Titled (2022)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

|

This 2010s rock song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template