Hardest game ever. It's impossible to even get past the title screen because otherwise the music would stop playing.

If Earth needs an anthem, this is a nomination

I remember the first time I heard this. Absolutely blew me away. This sort of warm earthy feeling, tranquil and contemplative, but proud and powerful too. Perfect for a game about reliving history.

My high school's choir actually got to perform this. Probably one of my best memories from that time of my life was singing along to this in front of the packed auditorium.

I remember listening this song for the first time in 2006, when I got stuck on the menu screen for 1 hour without even playing the game LOL

The only video game song to win a Grammy... hell, the only video game song to even be nominated

Reading the civilopedia only as an excuse to listen this

I used to rush home from middle school, grab a bag of Chex mix, and slide this CD into my family computer. I’ll always be grateful to my mom for teaching me how to play civ, I play to this day.

"Hey Chris, what you got for our game?" "The Theme of Humanity" "Oh....like a title track for the main menu?" "NO"

One day I decided to see ruins of old cathedral in Melrose. When I was coming inside, group of people started signing this song. That was most amazing 5 minutes of my life...

Baba yetu, yetu uliye Mbinguni yetu, yetu amina! Baba yetu yetu uliye M jina lako e litukuzwe. Utupe leo chakula chetu Tunachohitaji, utusamehe Makosa yetu, hey! Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe Waliotukosea usitutie Katika majaribu, lakini Utuokoe, na yule, muovu e milele! Ufalme wako ufike utakalo Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni. (Amina) TRANSLATION: Our Father, who art in Heaven. Amen! Our Father, Hallowed be thy name. Give us this day our daily bread, Forgive us of our trespasses, As we forgive others Who trespass against us Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one forever. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done On Earth as it is in Heaven. (Amen)

Please tell me I am not the only one still listening to this more than 10 years later while studying

this is still the best version of this fantastic song

all I can think of when the song really kicks up is a smiling Gandhi standing on top of a mountainside overlooking a literal storm of nuclear bombs dropping on every other country, his hands swinging like he's conducting an orchestra.

Swahili is such a pretty language.

Who else spent a half hour on the menu listening to this song?

Possibly the greatest title screen/main theme game music ever. It rivals Morrowind's theme.

Haha woah, had no idea this song was the Swahili translation of the Lord's Prayer... Beautiful stuff! And fitting for a Civilization game!

of all the versions, this one is the best

What I really like about this original game version, before Christopher Tin remade it into the "official" version, is that it is the only version that features the kalimba/mbira instrument, giving it a more Africanized exotic feel.

You know a game's soundtrack is good when it's main theme is so far the only video game song that actually won a Grammy(?).

It makes me think about the wonders of humanity, really; music is one of them.

When I Baba I always Yetu.

This track is as big a masterpiece as the Civilization series itself.

Baba yetu, uliye mbinguni, Jina lako litukuzwe. Ufalme wako uje. Utakalo lifanyike duniani, Kama ni mbinguni. Utupe leo mkate wetu wa kila siku. Utusamehe makosa yetu, Kama sisi kuwasamehe kosa hilo dhidi yetu. Usitutie katika majaribu, Lakini utuokoe na uovu. Kwa ufalme ni wako, Nguvu, na utukufu, Kwa milele na milele. Amina.

The opening scene with the music, which shows humanity's progression from Ancient TImes to the Space Age across all historical eras is really powerful. Especially in the end when the scene with the space station returns to the Stone Age and shows a man drawing in a cave envisioning the future with space stations. Really powerful how they're telling you that even during the Stone Age, humans had the vision and imagination to reach amazing heights and accomplish incredible feats. Imagine that, from the Stone Age to the Space Age. Really shows you how incredible human civilization has been despite the wars and brutality.

Singing this in a high school chorus concert, also for when we travel to Disney in a few weeks, hope it sounds good!

The Aztecs are still pissed

I set that music as alarm clock, but still love it. Genius track.

This song bring me memories of when i was a child and i was seeing my father playing this game. Sorry, my english it's bad i think

On December 5, 2010, it was reported that "Baba Yetu" was nominated for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in the 'Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)' category, making it the first video game theme nominated for a Grammy Award.[6] On February 13, 2011, it was announced as the winner of its category, making it the first piece of music composed for a video game to win a Grammy Award.[7] At the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards, "Baba Yetu" was the winner in the 'Song Used in Film/TV/Multimedia' and 'World Beat Song' categories,[8] and at the 2006 Game Audio Network Guild (GANG) Awards in 2006 it won Tin two awards.[

"Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime" Words to live by

Fun fact: This song is the Swahili version of the lord's prayer

To me, this song, like this game, is about humanity. It's about the rich history and life of these curious animals on a this blue spec of dust. Look at how their civilizations have adapted and changed over the ages, yet what it means to be human hasn't. All of us are one in the same, one people, one type of beings. Each of us shapes civilization in our own way, it is our lasting legacy in the universe. We must put aside our differences and look at each other as fellow human beings.

This, the ingame arrangement, is sung by Stanford University's Talisman Choir.

8 people were nuked by Ghandi

anyone still constantly playing this game? best of the series by far, I've played every scenario over the years and i wish there was a thousand more. This game was my childhood

First time I loaded this game I just sat back and let the title screen music play for a couple of times. Amazingly evocative.

I was 11 when I heard this playing in my older brother's room. Ran over to see what he was listening to because the music captivated me. From that day forward I became a civ player and haven't looked back since.

This is such a beautiful and epic song I well up every time i come back to hear it, happy 2021.

this song makes me very emotional and i even don't know what it means

Man, I used to zoom in real close to my cities and just leave the game running to listen to the soundtrack.

Still hits hard in 2023

I never played a civ game in my life, impulsively bought civ 4 last week and this song gave me the best first impression 👍 Civ 4 is awesome btw I already have both expansions

Thank you to all the positive commenters, you made my day! Like many others, I found much beauty and fun in the game but couldn't start playing until the last note of this uplifting composition had diminished. Spock as Narrator? Can't get cooler than that! Michael, thanks for posting!

I'm crying of nostalgia

humanity begins lonely, it grows, slowly, but steadily, things are changing, then... an entire civilization is born!

I really hope they'll bring this back to Civ VI or something. The song deserves it.

This is the most soothing, pleasing, whatever other words work here, sing I have ever listened to.

_lyrics: translated to English_ Our father who is in heaven, Hollowed be your name. Your kingdome come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread Forgive us our *debts* As we forgive our *debtors* Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil For yours is the kingdom And the power And the glory Forever Amen

It's one of those songs that you just can't hate on. Not even if you set it as your alarmclock imo. :P

This brings me back.

I remember playing Civ4 with my sister. Sometimes we booted up the game just to listen to the music. Man i miss my Civ4 copy.

Theres something very human about this music. Im a metal head but I really like this!

It makes me remember all those days of my childhood that I used to spend playing this game. I really miss these good old days.

Idk about anyone else... but the I-V tubular bells at 2:19 absolutely make this song the best it can be. Honestly such a simple motive but so incredibly effective here

I closed my eyes listening to this. Here is what I saw. A tree sprouted from a silver raindrop. As it grew, fruits of gold were born from it, and the branches seemed to sway and turn with a melody sung by the wind. The wood and leaves changed to different colors, and indigenous people with unspeakable sicknesses, untimely plagues and revolting blemishes began to flock to this tree, taking its fruit while singing to the tree, and to their children. They happily rejoiced together as they held the fruit up to the sun, pulled it in half, and let the heavenly juices wash over their faces, cleansing their skin in holy offering. Then they ate these fruits, one bite at a time, and their boils, blemishes and plagues left their bodies, fading away into the air. Their raspy, tired voices began to liquify, as the fruit entered their throats, and what was once scratchy vocalizing was now angelic harmony. After all that was left of the fruits were their pits and cores, they were not thrown away, but lovingly placed at the foot of the tree, where they sank into its roots, and more came to bear on the branches. As they bowed to this gentle deity, they began to sway with the melody, and their dance was met with a cleansing rain of silver. I had never known such beauty that had never truly existed.

Looking at that start menu brings back a lot of memories. Almost as much as looking at waiting rooms for online teamers.

This song makes my heart fucking ache in such a great way.

There was a powerful kind of symbolism to hear this song while you start a new game. Aside from being an excellent song, the song's Swahili makes me think of the cradle of humanity, and how all of humankind's achievements find their roots in eastern Africa where Swahili is native. Very appropriate. I think hearing this at the start of each game really made Civ 4 my favorite Civ game (and I've been playing since Civ 1).

I would like to thank you warmly for your efforts. I searched for it for a long time and found it with them. Thank you

I absolutely love this game. Been playing it since I was little and I got my Choir teacher to select this beautiful piece for my choir class to perform at a concert in high school. That was years ago...

My (choir) teacher legit made us sing this at the concert Not disappointed 👌

Grahckheuhl thank you for doing this. I've been looking for a long time. It's about time I heard the beauty of ALL these songs again.

Amazing. Years later, the song randomly popped back in my head. Don't have any regrets.

more than a decade later and this is still an awesome intro song.

WE DID THIS FOR OUR MARCHING BAND SHOW. IT WAS AMAZING AND A BANGER.

One of the best soundtracks of Civ franschise

this brings up soo many feelings, from when my dad got the game and i watch't him play it :D he was playing England and the longbow men was soo badass XD

In the cinema world, one of their finest songs is the circle of life. Our answer to that is baba yetu. ❤

This actually is the best title menu song for the entire series, whenever i load up Beyond the Sword and Warlords. the lack of it's presence is so jarring, nothing else lives up to it. It's so well done for what it's meant to serve as. It builds anticipation and inspires you, for the game that lies ahead.

I heard this being sung in a music class in the next room last school year... it immediately took me back to this game and the epic time I spent... Thank you for putting this up.

Amazing how this music successfully makes me in tear

Best Civ Title Song!!! Brings back some great childhood memories.

so much memories, excelent game I used to play online with other real players, excelent times I

You're a savior, thanks for uploading all these

Doing this for my choir. It’s sounding great right now

My father introduced us to the franchise all the way back with the first Civilization game, then its Super Nintendo variant, then Civ II, then eventually Civ IV came out and... The music is simple, yet oh so captivating, right from the main menu. Yet I cannot, for the life of me, resurrect my memories of playing Hot Seat games with him. Despite knowing how much I did. I loved him so much. I miss him so much. But I cannot recall so many things anymore. About him or other people. Many memories let go as I distanced myself both mentally, then even physically, from people I loved. Didn't really realize at the time just how psychologically damaged I was, and quite frankly probably still am blind to, through all of it. Just knew I didn't want to go through or see people suffering anymore. But after all this time, and despite everything, somehow I'm still here, but he isn't anymore? And I'm still not over it. Any of it. Not even close. But it keeps stacking. And that's just the most recent loss, never mind the details of it or of others. No matter, though, is it? Why worry when you can just lose yourself in the music, as others do in their drink, or whatever vice they've attached to in order to cope? Like having another breakdown in another random corner of the internet where it's easy to scream without being heard, drown without losing breath, or exist without feeling alive. Provided no one takes issue with your negativity and tries to add to your problems further, anyway. Somehow those who insist on hurting others in any way they can always, invariably, inevitably, try doing whatever they can to take advantage of others and of systems to hurt you that bit more, just because they can. Because in the end, or rather in lack of an end, suffering always perpetuates. Significantly or otherwise, for an individual or multitude, it's always there. Always spreading.

This was the first time I ever got a song stuck in my head without being able to speak the language.

THank you by the way. This is good background music to work to.

Nostalgia hittin hard... One of the greatest games.

with ove 500 hours in civ 4 this song is part of my very soul

Kind of ironic how this song fills you with a sort of inspirational hope for the future of mankind whilst in the game you end up wiping civilisations off the map with nukes.

i remember that game was installed on my family pc i used to open it just to listen to that music, back when we didnt have internet connection 😄

Keep this here and up. I need my morning pick me up after the coffee wakes me up.

memories from high school. When I got home and finished homework my father and I would play this or World of Warcraft, but this was our usual game together. One day I would be at the keyboard doing my civ and instead of using the computer advisors we advised each other. So much fun ^.^

spent great times listening to this

Game of the century, insane replayability with friends.

This Song won a Grammy Last year for best Video Game Tittle Song. It certainly deserves it.

One of the best video game tracks I've heard in god know how long. It makes me proud to call myself a civilization fan.

I'm tired of not being able to have the lyrics on the same page as this awesome video. So, Baba yetu, yetu uliye Mbinguni yetu, yetu, amina! Baba yetu, yetu, uliye Jina lako litukuzwe. Baba yetu, yetu uliye Mbinguni yetu, yetu, amina! Baba yetu, yetu, uliye Jina lako litukuzwe. Utupe leo chakula chetu Tunachohitaji utusamehe Makosa yetu, hey! Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe Waliotukosea usitutie Katika majaribu, lakini Utuokoe, na yule, milelea milele! Baba yetu, yetu uliye Mbinguni yetu, yetu, amina! Baba yetu, yetu, uliye Jina lako litukuzwe. Baba yetu, yetu uliye Mbinguni yetu, yetu, amina! Baba yetu, yetu, uliye Jina lako litukuzwe. Ufalme wako ufike utakalo Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni. (Amina) Baba yetu, yetu uliye Mbinguni yetu, yetu, amina! Baba yetu, yetu, uliye Jina lako litukuzwe. Utupe leo chakula chetu Tunachohitaji utusamehe Makosa yetu, hey! Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe Waliotukosea usitutie Katika majaribu, lakini Utuokoe, na yule, simama mwehu Baba yetu, yetu, uliye Jina lako litukuzwe. Baba yetu, yetu, uliye Jina lako litukuzwe.

Humanity doesn't have religion. It itself a way of life. The choir represents that. 🤍🕊️

So many memories of this beautiful game ❤️

Incredible song *.* I can't stop hearing that !

This songs brings so many special memories playing this game for so many hours for days

Right now i'm playing Civ 6 while listening to the Civ 4 soundtrack xD Both are great games btw

i'm singing this song in choir lmfao omg

The music is what I love about Civ 4 the most...I like the game but, the soundtrack is epic! Thanks for the most excellent upload Grahckheuhl !!

I don't know why but this music makes me remember my past, think of my present and imagine or plan my future.

Jesus, that nostalgia... ^_^