It's a long way (It’s a long way)
It's a long way (It's a long way)
It’s a long day (It's a long day)
It's a long day (It's a long day)
[Verse 1: Madonna, The Batukadeiras Orchestra]
Lord have Mercy (Lord have Mercy)
Things have got to change (Things have got to change)
There's a storm ahead (There's a storm ahead)
I hear the wind blowing (I hear the wind blowing)
Let me catch my breath (Let me catch my breath)
Will we win this race? (Will we win this race?)
Swear the road is long (Swear the road is long)
And the highway listens (And the highway listens)
[Chorus: Madonna, The Batukadeiras Orchestra]
'Cause it's a long way (’Cause it’s a long way)
It's a long way (It’s a long way)
'Cause it's a long day ('Cause it’s a long day)
It's a long day (It's a long day)
[The Batukadeiras Orchestra Interlude]
[?][1:12]
[Verse 2: Madonna, The Batukadeiras Orchestra]
I was up all night
I said a little prayer
Get that old man
Put him in a jail
Where he can't stop us (Where he can't stop us)
Where he can't hurt us (Where he can't hurt us)
We will stand tall (We will stand tall)
Underneath this tree (Underneath this tree)
'Cause it's a—
'Cause it's a long way ('Cause it's a long way)
It's a long way (It's a long way)
'Cause it's a long day ('Cause it's a long day)
It's a long day (It's a long day)
[Verse 3: Madonna, The Batukadeiras Orchestra]
But will we taste the freedom (But will we taste the freedom)
In the right way (In the right way)
Will we stand together? (Will we stand together?)
It's a new day (It's a new day)
So don't judge a human (So don't judge a human)
'Til you're in their shoes ('Til you're in their shoes)
'Cause if you have a dream ('Cause if you have a dream)
Then you can't stop us (Then you can't stop us)
[Bridge: Madonna, The Batukadeiras Orchestra]
Sing "Hallelujah" (Sing "Hallelujah")
Say "Amen" (Say "Amen")
Say "Hallelujah" (Say "Hallelujah")
And say "Amen" (And say "Amen")
I say "Oh, yeah" (I say "Oh, yeah")
I said "Oh, yeah" (I said "Oh, yeah")
I said "Amen" (I said "Amen")
I say "Hallelujah" (I say "Hallelujah")
'Cause it's a long way ('Cause it's a long way)
It's a long way (It's a long way)
'Cause it's a long day ('Cause it's a long day)
It's a long day
[The Batukadeiras Orchestra Outro]
[?][3:56]
About
“Batuka” is an anthem about overcoming adversity. Written with Madonna’s son, David Banda, the track was recorded with The Batukadeiras Orquestra of Portugal, a collective of female drummers from Cape Verde, with its members ages ranging from teenagers to elderly women. With influences with afrobeat, the track is a batuque song, a dance and music genre from Cape Verde.
When Madonna moved to Lisbon in 2017 she started to get involved with local culture. The singer would meet several artists, painters and musicians who would invite her to “living room sessions”, in which they would sit around a table, eat, play instruments and sing mostly Faado and Samba. One of the closest friends she made was the musician Dino d'Santiago, who introduced her to the Batukadeiras Orchestra.
Madonna immediately fell in love with the Orchestra, the singer was so amazed by what she described as an “amazing” experience, with “mesmerizing and hypnotizing” music, that she not only invited the drummers to be on her album, but also to go on tour with her.
Since most of the women did not speak English, d'Santiado had to act as a translator. Through him, Madonna explained them the meaning of the song; and they liked it, since it matches the group’s philosophy of “fighting for their rights and empowering women”. After the recording sessions, the Batukadeiras would ask the whole studio to pray together, blessing Madonna in the end. Through what Madonna described as a positive and emotional encounter, “Batuka” was born.
The track’s music video, directed by Emmanuel Adjei, was shot at Praia de São Julião of Sintra, Portugal. Madonna explained that the directors wanted to replicate when the singer first met the Batukadeiras, but in a more natural environment for their first meeting place. Madonna commented on that:
[It] wasn’t easy to replicate the significance of our first meeting and how it all happened. […] [I hope it] captures the range of emotions that I felt coming from them, and their music.
The video opens with the following message that reads:
Batuque is a style of music created by women that originated in Cape Verde, some say the birth place of slave trade. The drums were condemned by the Church and taken away from the slaves because it was considered an act of rebellion. The women continued their singing and dancing and the Batuque lives on today.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Talking to Billboard, Madonna described the experience of recording with The Batukadeiras Orchestra:
They weren’t used to singing into microphones so there was a comical aspect to it. We realized we had to record things separately because I was singing in 4/4 time, and they were playing their txabeta triplet time. In any case, for me it was an amazing experience because they were so open to anything I suggested and to collaborating. They brought their fire and their passion.
Originally called batuque, it is a music and dance genre from Cape Verde. It is performed mostly by women during festive occasions. The song’s music video shows the following message:
Batuque is a style of music created by women that originated in Cape Verde, some say the birth place of slave trade. The drums were condemned by the Church and taken away from the slaves because it was considered an act of rebellion. The women continued their singing and dancing and the Batuque lives on today.
- 1.Medellín
- 2.Dark Ballet
- 3.God Control
- 4.Future
- 5.Batuka
- 7.Crave
- 8.Crazy
- 9.Come Alive
- 10.Extreme Occident
- 11.Faz Gostoso
- 12.Bitch I’m Loca
- 15.I Rise
- 16.Funana
- 18.Ciao Bella
