Top 10 Greatest Broadway Death Songs

[@MsMojo]

Did any of these songs have YOU reaching for tissues? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 10 Best Broadway Revenge Songs - kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3uvlZV-ZrqKhdE

[@mykellayne]

A Little Fall of Rain.

[@johnsantos5278]

My favorite was Javert’s suicide song in Les Miserable. The song was so powerful. It shows both denial and acceptance of his defeat over Valjean.

[@TopHatGacha]

AGREEEEEEEEE

[@BurrShotHam711Jenna]

fact for Stay Alive (Reprise): Lin-Manuel Miranda mentioned that ever since he became a father, this song was very hard for him to perform. Miguel Cervantes (former Chicago Hamilton current Hamilton on Bway until January 7th 2024) has also mentioned that this song was hard for him to perform due to his daughter Adelaide's epilepsy condition (Adelaide passed away in 2019 at the age of 3 years old, 5 days shy of her 4th birthday)

[@olvialee7221]

I had no idea. Heartbreaking for Miguel Cervantes

[@trinaq]

"A Little Fall of Rain" always breaks my heart. Not only does Eponine die, before completing her song, but Marius realises her feelings for him. 💔

[@ansleyhendrix3381]

Oooh!…. Phillip’s death in Hamilton is so hard to watch. EspeEspecially when Eliza screams

[@lifewithntokozo]

I feel like Abuela’s goodbye in In The Heights deserved a mention.

[@baileygrizzell7086]

EXACTLY

[@BurrShotHam711Jenna]

Alabanza is a tearjerker (why do you do this to us Lin?)

[@angelwhitehead8688]

That's what I was thinking!

[@wjquick32]

For sure!

[@lillykennedy2135]

I was just on a plane home to the States and was watching In The Heights. I was already in tears when Abuela started singing Paciencia Y Fe so I had to turn off the movie.

[@gavino0077]

Everytime I hear Eliza's scream of pain I get chills and I tear up a lil

[@rhothko66]

Kim's death in Miss Saigon, Javert's suicide in Les miserables, Christine and the phantom in love never dies....

[@kristymerrill2496]

I had the privilege of seeing Les Mis three times. That third time, when she came over the barricade, I started weeping even before they started to sing this beautiful duet.

[@baliyae]

Judas’ Death is definitely a powerful number. You can feel the guilt Judas is feeling after betraying the man he called his friend.

[@evdb02]

I know it is not a Broadway musical, but I had secretly hoped that "I Am Damaged" from Heathers would make a honourable mention. JD and Veronica's back and forth in it is beautiful, it displays JD's emotional state to perfection. And when the final 'boom' goes, you as an audience member (though you know what is going to happen) are still in shock. But if we were going to add all the songs mentioned in the comments it would be a top 30 and not a top 10, so I understand others might take priority.

[@forgettableanimegirl5253]

I didn’t know that this list would be entirely sad songs. So that’s why I hoped our love is God would make it on. It really sets the tone for act two and sets up JD as the main villain now.

[@allikl7188]

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables also hits hard even if its about grief and not a swan song. I'd love to see a list of Broadway moments that make you cry that aren't swan songs (like mentioned above or the end of Phantom of the Opera where he lets Christine and Raul leave)

[@sterlingross919]

Should’ve given the This is the Hour (Reprise) from Miss Saigon some love.

[@LilFoxyCosplay]

A little fall of rain gets me every time Also somewhere Sweeney todds ending made me cry unnecessarily...when he realises he killed his wife...here come the tears I use music when writing as it helps convey appropriate atmosphere

[@asterismos5451]

Forever Yours (Reprise) from Once On This Island, Don't Do Sadness from Spring Awakening, Finale from Hunchback of Notre Dame, Der Schleier Fällt from Elisabeth (not Broadway, I know), Dyin' Ain't So Bad Reprise from Bonnie & Clyde. Always great to see Bridges of Madison County acknowledged though!

[@apparition668]

Les Mis is a series of crushing swan songs- if not for the Thenardiers lightening things up, I'm not sure we could handle the musical. Honestly, every death in Les Mis should top this list.

[@Caulderone]

So true. Every death was tragic from Fantine to the students. Even when I can't remember every name of the friends, "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" was terribly sad. The Thenardiers are usually played by very fine performers. They got a standing ovation when I watched the show.

[@eristineforever6934]

To me one of the saddest deaths in a musical is Christine Daae’s in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies. I wish it was included in this list. I really do. I know that Love Never Dies isn’t a Broadway but…still.

[@larajurado8001]

I love "Ti'll we reach that day", from Ragtime. It's very powerfull.

[@janflewelling6277]

Not even an honorable mention for Tony's death in West Side Story? It may be a very short reprise, but There's a Place for Us at that moment cracks your heart.

[@sessionshannah]

Beautiful, I absolutely love Hamilton

[@emilyfraier378]

What happened to Fantine's death in Les Miserables? That one gets me every time!!!!😭

[@chelseacanales8763]

Moment in the Woods The baker’s wife death is still shocking

[@TheWiseGrif]

So glad to see Fun Home on this list, Edges Of The World breaks me every time But how DARE you leave Falsettos off of either the main or mentions list

[@christinedaae7323]

As a Phantom Phan, I absolutely love “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again”. Not only is it one on my two Solos in Phantom, but, it’s a heartbreaking song.

[@vcdaraujo20]

An honorable mention to "The Flash Failures (Let the Sunshine In)", from Hair 😢

[@gabrysiamuras2504]

I'm so mad that the wedding song from Jekyll&Hyde isn't on that list. It's so full of emotions like fear and the sadness at the end. That is truly a masterpiece

[@Imshortitsok06]

Beth’s death in the song “Some things are meant to be” in Little Women. This one is super sad.

[@JanScogin]

Inspector Javair's last song in Les Miserables, especially as sung by Norm Lewis stunned me so much that I fell to the ground sobbing.

[@erinsilcox9652]

"Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind" from Spring Awakening.

[@denisefreitas6727]

This moment in Hamilton... Somewhere in West Side Story and Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind in Spring Awakening are another good ones.

[@waittillfamewtf2385]

Come What May - "Moulin Rouge!"

[@VernonJones-wo9gr]

Have to add‘You gotta die sometime’ from Falsettos

[@HPABQ]

Surprised "There's a Place For Us" from Westside Story did not get a mention.

[@baliyae]

I believe the song is called Somewhere

[@HPABQ]

@@baliyae You are correct!! Still think it should have gotten a mention.

[@elphabathropp2818]

Edward Bloom's death in Big Fish. I just did that show and the entire cast cried every single night.

[@DramaBabe18]

Angel's death always gets me crying. She's the best character in the whole show.

[@lillykennedy2135]

Atencion/Alabanza deserved to be on this list. Also why was the Final Sequence of Sweeney Todd the lowest?

[@ljaygould]

How about one of Richard Rogers' last: the death of Esther in TWO BY TWO (Hey, girlie...don't go yet) It likely would only have made an Honorable Mention but at the end of the song when Danny Kaye as Noah sings Girlie...girlie? Now what did you have to do that for?" as he breaks down in tears. Crying as I write it.

[@KatyBeardshall]

How its ends from big fish is one of the most heartbreaking songs in musical theatre

[@bojanabujosevic7849]

I am so dissapointed Christine's death is not on the list. It always made me cry, especially Phantom's reaction to her death. Also Esmeralda's death from The Hunchback of Notre Dame

[@thomasbradley4505]

I was never a big fan of Man of La Mancha until I heard the Brian Stokes Mitchell version and man was it a revelation

[@pazyamor2292]

Could probably do a top 10 just from Les Mis.

[@charleybarnes5239]

I was seriously just thinking that Fantine, Javert, Valjaun, and Eponine could be the 1st 4 on THIS list!

[@blind_t2]

stay alive reprise, I didn’t sign a permission slip to go on a feels trip.

[@christinamann3640]

“Something’s Missing” Come From Away

[@amandaschaefer3786]

Not on the list, but "Little God Of My Heart" from "Miss Saigon" had me tearing up. 😢

[@lauramichnowski799]

stay alive hurts my heart so bad as a mother that lost my little girl😢

[@erinsquire2749]

I cried in the Hamilton when the son died doing the shoot thing 😢

[@deniselongino6769]

Finale “Sail On” from Titanic with the ghosts of the dead mingled with the survivors… wow!

[@equusquaggaquagga536]

A little fall of rain is always difficult to take serious onstage but the movie musical nailed it

[@techone72893]

I'm not sure how you can say that. I saw it onstage in 87 from 10th row center stage, and that scene was the first time I ever openly wept in public during a show. The scene got to me in every way, so much so that a friend and I went back to see it again a second time and we got seats in the third row stage right, which is where the scene plays out. I could see the actor's faces clearly and it hit just as hard as it did the first time I saw it. Michelle Nicastro was playing Eponine both times and I became a huge fan of hers from that moment until her untimely death in 2010.

[@alext7280]

Christine’s death was the saddest part of Love Never Dies

[@kelleyceccato7025]

I prefer to forget the existence of that show. It's the Alien3 of musicals.

[@bojanabujosevic7849]

I agree. Erik's reaction kills me every time and the way Ramin plays the role is genius. Erik will always be my favorite and only villan that I love.

[@WillScarlet16]

Short but powerful, the Sh'ma from Parade - sung to the same tune as the Confederate anthem that opens the show, Leo Frank sings his last prayer before being lynched by a Southern mob.

[@christinalittleton3771]

To me, "Heart of Stone" counts. Queen Jane Seymour (according to historians) was known as "boring" due to being the least controversial. But to King Henry the 8th, she was perfect. She had a blood disorder that caused her to be more fragile, but she didn't care when she gave birth to her son. The baby was healthy, but she wasn't; childbirth was too much for her, so she spent her last 2 weeks on her bed... dying. "Soon I'll have to go I'll never see him grow But I hope my son will know He'll never be alone When the river runs dry And leaves it scars behind, I'll be by your side 'Cause my love... Is made of stone" [Yes, I cried a bit typing that part of the song... no regrets!]

[@olvialee7221]

I cried when Hamilton’s son died

[@Ilovemoonlight12]

Same, and I didn’t just cry I literally had to stop the whole musical on my phone for 10 minutes to get calm.

[@Coco12769]

Somewhere that is green makes me cry everytime

[@MINGIRL1979]

I'm surprised that Memory from Cats didn't make it into the list!

[@samuelcollantes1175]

Hey, who brought onions here? Just kidding, what a great top to start off thi week, Emely. have a happy monday morning and God bless you. Greetings from Colombia to you as well.

[@jenniferkerner6444]

Super late to this one - but I'd like to throw in "Happy Birthday" from Zorba.

[@mbrow]

Seriously, how could you leave out one of the most iconic death songs, Somewhere, from West Side Story??? Phantom of the Opera and its sequel Love Never Dies also deserve mention here.

[@jijitters]

"Afternoon" from Alice By Heart is my pick

[@chemina8541]

Man of La Mancha is such a great musical and isn't staged enough. Neither is Les Mis -.- No, hear me out, it is a long-running musical but if you don't live near London (as a European, never mind Broadway) it is bust. I'm still hoping for a revival in Vienna but I don't think that will happen in my life.

[@monikawojs1495]

From Love Never Dies when Christine dies

[@annafowdy]

Oh, Philip...

[@forgettableanimegirl5253]

If we were to go with a list that isn’t full of entirely sad songs. I would’ve 100% given “Our love is god” from Heathers a placement. It really sets up the tone for act two and especially sets up JD as the new main villain.

[@TommyBoggs-cq4te]

No more Lion King, please! We choose The Mourning for the updated Lion King musical!

[@jasonkingsley9134]

The King and I with the reprise of something wonderful where the king of Siam dies at the end of the film with a sad heart . 😂

[@olvialee7221]

I see Hamilton, I clicked.

[@russellstinson3414]

"Momma, Look Sharp" from 1776 should be on here somewhere.

[@dr.horrible6179]

And no one will tell about "You gotta die sometime" from Falsettos?

[@lovemojiheartkiss]

Common MsMojo L: Judas' Death only an honorable mention?!

[@petematthews9346]

I would but Make Them Hear You ahead of the three above it.

[@baldbeardedbloke6887]

When the bloody hell are we to see "Hamilton The Movie" or "Hamilton The Television Series"

[@baldbeardedbloke6887]

When the bloody hell are we going to see "Hamilton The Movie" or "Hamilton The Television Series" Or even "Hamilton The Stage Play" in Adelaide?.

[@dorismedvetz5796]

How can the Orchestra play without crying?

[@baldbeardedbloke6887]

I know nobody has made "Hamilton The Movie" or "Hamilton The Television Series" yet but has anyone made "Rent The Movie" or "Rent The Television Series"?.

[@theunamiable]

Just for some variety of tone, you should have mentioned Ready Set... Not Yet from Beetlejuice!

[@MockingbirdTheatrics]

Um...where is "What Would I Do?" from Falsettos??????

[@Huskytabby]

Samantha Barks, the best Eponine!

[@Blazingstoke]

You're really gonna skip over "What Would I Do" from _Falsettos_ like that?

[@erinlizzie09]

If you read the found writings, you see that Hamilton got it all wrong. Alexander told his son not to go to the fight and his son actually obeyed but the guy shot him anyway. Also Elisa wasn't angry because she wasn't gone because Alexander Hamilton didn't cheat on her. The whole show is lies.

[@ThePinkDragon]

Hamalton was sad

[@ashleyhoops5306]

wow again the song that simba sings after his dad dies wasnt on here

[@LunarEclipse360]

Because this list is of songs where the character dies either during or shortly after the song ends. "Endless Night" literally happens in the next act and it isn't performed by the character who died.

[@dominiquejansma5948]

nothing from heathers? that show basicly kills everyone

[@kathrynnewhall5687]

Momma, Look Sharp from 1776

[@BobbyMoore2-mp8wb]

😮

[@giorgiopolloni7936]

Too bad you didn’t include any of the songs from classic musicals…

[@1_2_3_LGB]

Uuhhh.... DEAR EVAN HANSEN??? REQUIEM??? YOU WILL BE FOUND??? THE DISRESPECT!!!!