Babylon (David Gray song)

{{Short description|1999 single by David Gray}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Babylon

| cover = Babylon (David Gray single - cover art).jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = David Gray

| album = White Ladder

| B-side =

• "Lead Me Upstairs" (live)
• "New Horizons" (live)

| released = {{start date|1999|7|12|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length =

• 4:25 (album version)
• 3:40 (single version)

| label =

• IHT
• EastWest

| writer = David Gray

| producer =

• David Gray
• Iestyn Polson
• Craig McClune

| prev_title = This Year's Love

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Please Forgive Me

| next_year = 1999

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| type = singles

| prev_title = Please Forgive Me

| prev_year = 1999

| title = Babylon

| year = 2000

| next_title = Please Forgive Me

| next_year = 2000

}}

}}

"Babylon" is a song by British singer-songwriter David Gray. Originally released on 12 July 1999 as the second single from his fourth album, White Ladder (1998), it was re-released as the album's fourth single on 19 June 2000. Described as Gray's signature song,{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/review-david-gray-puts-on-high-octane-show-at-beacon-theatre-in-new-york/article/551316|title=Review: David Gray puts on high-octane show at Beacon Theatre in New York (Includes first-hand account)|first=Markos|last=Papadatos|date=5 June 2019|website=www.digitaljournal.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.96fm.com.au/entertainment/music/it-really-is-like-time-travel-david-gray-on-the-20th-anniversary-of-white-ladder/|title='It Really Is Like Time Travel': David Gray On The 20th Anniversary Of White Ladder|website=96fm.com|last=Doyle|first=Pip|date=19 July 2022}} "Babylon" is "about a love that is lost and found again".{{Cite web|url=https://bigthink.com/high-culture/5-great-underrated-songs-about-cities/|title=5 great (and underrated) songs about cities|website=BigThink.com|last=Berezow|first=Alex|date=14 January 2023}}

"Babylon" peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart on rerelease in June 2000 and received a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in January 2021. The single also charted in the United States, peaking at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Triple-A chart. In February 2021, for the 25th anniversary of the latter chart, Billboard ranked the song sixth on its list of the 100 most successful songs in the chart's history.{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531232100/https://www.billboard.com/pro/adult-alternative-airplay-25th-anniversary-recap/|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/adult-alternative-airplay-25th-anniversary-recap/|title=Dave Matthews Band & The Wallflowers' 'One Headlight' Top Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Charts|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|magazine=Billboard|date=18 February 2021|archive-date=31 May 2023|access-date=29 November 2023}}{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011155120/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-of-all-time-adult-alternative-songs/|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-of-all-time-adult-alternative-songs/|title=Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Songs|archive-date=11 October 2023|access-date=29 November 2023|url-status=live|magazine=Billboard}}

A remix titled "Babylon II" appears exclusively on the US version of the album.{{cite AV media notes|title=White Ladder|title-link=White Ladder|others=David Gray|year=2000|type=US enhanced CD album liner notes|publisher=RCA Records|id=07863 69351-2}} The single's B-side, "Over My Head", also appears on the Japanese pressing of the album as a bonus track.{{cite web|url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=222673|title=David Gray White Ladder Japan Promo CD ALBUM (222673)|publisher=Eil.com|date=2 August 2002|access-date=9 January 2012}}