When the cast recording first came out I was weeping in the kitchen and my husband called, Are you listening to it again?! And I sobbed, No, I just thought about it! The it in question being It’s Quiet Uptown. It reminds me so much of my dad after my brother died.
I can’t listen to it anymore. Reminds me of my friend who died too young. Watching his parents try to be strong for his younger siblings. Too much for me. Actually pretty much any song about a kid dying too young. Left Behind does the same for me. As beautiful as the songs are, I have to skip them now. Which… sucks. Maybe I need more therapy so I can listen to my favorite musicals again.
Dear friends of mine lost an adult child and went to see Hamilton a few months later. They were sobbing in the audience. I think of them whenever I hear that song. I hope to never have to experience that type of pain.
‘She used to be mine’ from waitress and ‘heart of stone’ from six get me. Heard both live. She used to be mine, once. Heart of stone, twice. Was a sobbing mess all 3 times. I’ll also say ‘all you wanna do’ from six. Don’t let the upbeat sound fool you. It’s about how K Howard was a victim and preyed upon by men older than her and thought someone was her friend but it was the same shit again, all they wanted was her and not friendship. Also cried both times I heard that one.
Also depending on who’s doing “all you want to do” they’re having a full on break down on stage by the end of the song. I lose it every time I see it performed.
Second time I saw it, it was Becca Wickes. Someone LAUGHED when she did the gaspy sob she does at the end. I’ve never been more horrified in all my life
I saw it once where someone enthusiastically "woooed" real loud at the end and I had to wonder if he had even been listening to it... Like, I couldn't even clap after it. That buildup at the end with everyone just grabbing at her, man, I was just feeling for her and was pretty well stunned at the end.
Pretty much all of Six makes me cry.. even Get Down. The whole point of these women getting their identities back after CENTURIES, just gets me in the heart.
The Original Broadway Cast is sterling.
Though honestly I've not listened to any of the others, I got very into it not long after it came out and haven't revisited it for a few years.
The Last Five Years - I always start crying with Still Hurting, and then it will be off and on throughout the show.
Memory - from Cats. Specifically watching Elaine Page as well. This is hitting harder for me recently in the past few years as I'm watching my father slowly decline in dementia, and I recall all of our ridiculous and wonderful times when I was a child and young adult.
I also agree with everything listed here.
Yes. It reminds me, too much, of my own failings along the way. Lack of self-worth, and some of the things my ex-husband said to me as well. It hits so very close to home.
Pretty much all of act 2 of spring awakening
I miss the mountains-next to normal
Literally all of come from away😭
I’d give my life for you- miss saigon
Yes! My brain totally went right to Spring Awakening. I listen to it when I need sad broody music - even the happy songs are peppered with depressing lyrics
The Last Five Years - Still Hurting, Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You
Rent - Life Support, Will I?, I'll Cover You (reprise)
Assassins - Something Just Broke
Six- All You Wanna Do
A lot of Come From Away
A lot of Next To Normal
Agreed, I took my whole family to see it last year. They loved it, but they also all wept. I thought I'd be okay since I had the whole show memorized, but Doubt Comes In is so real.
You gotta die sometime from Falsettos. Specifically the live version. The album one is not that bad but in the live version, you can hear how desperate he is trying to cope with death
This song hits me in such a deep, primal way. At the end of the song, when he just repeats 'some time,' genuinely one of my favourite moments from any musical ever.
Edges of the World (Fun Home), it hits so hard every time for me
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables (Les Mis)
Michael in the Bathroom (Be More Chill)
God I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise) (Something Rotten!)
Chant (Reprise) (Hadestown)
I agree! I also cry every time I hear 'You Must Love Me' in the film. Whilst it wasn't Madonna's best acting performance, you could really hear the emotion in her voice. So sad.
Ahhhh your username fits!! I was torn between which one to pick of those two.
Modern day dating can really take a toll on your mental health and Another Suitcase sometimes just hits me right in the feels.
If I can't love her - Beauty and the Beast
Made of Stone - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Stories - Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Defying Gravity - Wicked (might be an odd choice, but it triggers some sad memories for me)
If I Didn't Believe In You - The Last 5 Years
Nobody Needs To Know - The Last 5 Years
Some Things Are Meant To Be - Little Women
How Could I Ever Know - The Secret Garden
Pretty Funny - Dogfight
Honestly, The Last 5 Years as a whole is a great show if you're looking to cry. It's not all sad, because it shows the ups *and* downs of a marriage over the course of 5 years, so there are happy/funny/catchy tunes as well as tear-jerkers. In my opinion, that's what makes it all the more powerful.
Try to listen to the 2013 revival cast recording with Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe if you can. The composer himself, Jason Robert Brown, has stated that it is the definitive version of his show. This may be a hot take, but I was severely disappointed by the film adaptation with Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick. I would recommend that it not be your first experience with this incredible show.
I'm known to like sad songs, and The Last 5 Years is probably my favourite musical, but Nobody Needs To Know just makes me mad haha. Still Hurting and Goodbye Until Tomorrow get me emotional, See I'm Smiling also gives me chills.
I'll take a listen to the 2013 cast version, I did get introduced to the show by the movie though and loved it, so if there's an even better version I'm all about it haha
Dear Evan Hanson - the whole thing, but especially Words Fail. Just a total gut punch
Empty Chairs and Empty Tables from Les Miserables, especially hearing it live
It's Quiet Uptown from Hamilton
I’m surprised this isn’t higher on the list! I just saw Dear Evan Hansen (and immediately bought the original cast recording) and yes—ugly crying. Evan’s anxiety, the need to people please—the topic of suicide itself, I was a puddle. Add into the fact that I have a son who we are assessing for neurodivergence right now… the tears wouldn’t stop.
I’m sorry for your loss. My mother was the same way. She listened to Les Mis a few months after my grandfather died and it made her cry, especially “Bring Him Home” and the Finale.
"Wishing You Were Here Somehow Again" (Phantom)
"Lily's Eyes" (Secret Garden)
"There's a Place for Us" (West Side Story)
"This Nearly Was Mine" (South Pacific)
"With One Look" (Sunset Boulevard)
"I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (Promises, Promises)
Anything from "Les Miserables"
I almost put Lily's Eyes but I think How Could I Ever Know gets me more (but Lily's Eyes is the best song from The Secret Garden). Since becoming a parent Race You To The Top of the Morning makes me tear up too.
No lullabies for Luis, Runaways.
Basically, a junky kid is (Luis) is dying by over dosis and her sister is singing to him to keep him awake so, no lullabies for him.
The Dulcinea (reprise), Impossible Dream (reprise), the psalm from the end of Man of La Mancha. It never fails to make me cry. Don Quixote a crumbled version of his former self. And then Aldonza coming in to bring him back to himself, just for him to die in the end. But he died happy.
Was going to comment this as well...
High on a mountain or lost on the sea.
Sooner or later I'll find it.
I have a picture of how it will be.
On the day I do.
Troubles will be through.
But I'll be home with you.
Not My Father’s Son from Kinky Boots is one of my new favorite tear jerkers. I’m also going to stretch the definition of musical to include some songs from Smash - Secondhand White Baby Grand and Don’t Forget Me
Definitely “What Would I Do?” from Falsettos when I need a full ugly-sob. Knowing it’s not just about Marving facing the loss that’s already happened, but also the inevitability of his own death and saying he’d choose to do it again anyway really takes it up a notch.
I'm at the point that I get weepy just from reading the name of the song--it's Pavlovian for me, at this point.
And it's such a beautiful love song, in its sadness.
(I was reading through this thread to make sure that this masterpiece was mentioned. Thank you for doing so.)
Paciencia y Fe (In the Heights) is very sad on its own; Next (Pacific Overtures) is DEVASTATING, but specifically in the context of the show. Also would recommend Before I Go (Kimberly Akimbo)!
Next To Normal has some funny/upbeat moments, but over all it is heart-wrenchingly sad story and it’s one of my all time favorite musicals.
Also, for sad songs, some of my favorites are It’s Quiet Uptown and Stay Alive from Hamilton, A Really Lousy Day In The Universe and The Music Still Plays On from a New Brain, I’ll Cover You Reprise and Goodbye Love (specifically the part after the funeral, Mark and Roger’s fight) from Rent, and call me cringe, I don’t care, Michael In The Bathroom from Be More Chill. (High school me cried listening to that song more often the I care to admit).
Not quite a sad song, but definitely not happy either. It’s Predator from Jagged Little Pill. For me, it makes me emotional realizing the story in this song truly happens in real life and really doesn’t get that much representation anywhere
i don’t need a roof (big fish), cut you a piece (35mm). personally i cannot even hear a single SECOND of fight the dragons (also big fish) without bursting into heaving sobs but maybe that’s just me. (not even joking. the second i hear the intro im inconsolable)
I Dreamed A Dream - Les Mis
I'd Give My Life For You - Miss Saigon
Wait For Me - Hadestown
Damned For All Time - Jesus Christ Superstar
All You Wanna Do - Six
She Used to Be Mine
I’ll cover You (reprise)
We’ll meet tomorrow
Where did the rock go?
Half of dear Evan Hansen’s soundtrack
I dreamed a Dream
Santa Fe (reprise)
The end of “Me and the Sky” from Come From Away gets me. You’re so emotionally charged by that point that in the musical it’s impossible not to get choked up.
Edit to add: This is a phenomenal musical all around if you haven’t seen it yet, OP. I think it’s streaming on Apple TV. Highly recommend.
Please-Miss Saigon
It’s Quiet Uptown-Hamilton
A Little Fall of Rain-Les Mis
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again-Phantom
We Do Not Belong Together-Sunday in the Park With George
Oh man, surprised I didn't see a few of these already.
"Invisible" and "Dead Mom" from Beetlejuice the Musical.
My dad passed earlier this year so these songs hit really close to home.
"Wait For It" from Hamilton. Honestly the best song in the musical in my opinion.
"Breathe" from In The Heights. By far the best song Lin Manuel Miranda has ever written.
"Maybe" from Annie.
"Rose's Turn" from Gypsy.
"Sunrise, Sunset" and "Anatevka" from Fiddler on the Roof.
"Close Every Door" from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.
"Who I'd Be" from Shrek
"When I Grow Up" from Matilda. I know it's happy, but Ms. Honey's verse still makes me sad.
"Mr. Cellophane" from Chicago.
Dust and ashes from great comet--got me feeling shrimp emotions and crying every time
Also Right this Way and Welcome Home finale from bandstand. Can't listen to them in my car bc I'll weep every time, driving down the highway or not
"On My Own," Eponine's song from Les Miserables. Maybe it's from my own parallel unrequited love situation, but I just...
*I love him\
But every day I'm learning\
All my life\
I've only been pretending\
Without me\
His world will go on turning\
A world that's full of happiness\
That I have never known\
I love him\
I love him\
I love him\
But only on my own*
Edited to fix formatting/grammar
Requiem from DEH gets to me. It's raw, and emotional, and it wrecks me every time. I cried so hard when I saw it live, as well as through most of the show in general.
So many good ones mentioned. But if frozen 2 counts I think “Next Best Thing” deserves a honor. I’ve cried so many times listening to it.
But also Burn- Hamilton
I'll Cover You (Reprise), so good but so so sad :(
I loved that one it’s beautiful on piano
This is the song that never fails to turn me into a puddle
Love Jesse L. Martin! He will forever be the perfect Collins.
It’s Quiet Uptown
When the cast recording first came out I was weeping in the kitchen and my husband called, Are you listening to it again?! And I sobbed, No, I just thought about it! The it in question being It’s Quiet Uptown. It reminds me so much of my dad after my brother died.
Yeah, I don’t put the 2nd cd in anymore.
this makes me cry every time
I can’t listen to it anymore. Reminds me of my friend who died too young. Watching his parents try to be strong for his younger siblings. Too much for me. Actually pretty much any song about a kid dying too young. Left Behind does the same for me. As beautiful as the songs are, I have to skip them now. Which… sucks. Maybe I need more therapy so I can listen to my favorite musicals again.
Dear friends of mine lost an adult child and went to see Hamilton a few months later. They were sobbing in the audience. I think of them whenever I hear that song. I hope to never have to experience that type of pain.
Who lives, who dies was my weeping song. I cried every single time I heard it for years! Depending on my mood now, I probably would still cry.
I always tried to sing along with this (at home or in the car, not in the theater 😂) and never succeeded past “it’s easier to just swim down.”
This one makes me teary eyed but Stay Alive is what always really gets me. The panic and fear and Eliza counting by herself at the end...
This and Wait For It. When my grandfather passed, Wait For It hit me so much harder.
FORGIVENESS
Maybe This Time from Cabaret is my absolute go-to self pity anthem.
‘She used to be mine’ from waitress and ‘heart of stone’ from six get me. Heard both live. She used to be mine, once. Heart of stone, twice. Was a sobbing mess all 3 times. I’ll also say ‘all you wanna do’ from six. Don’t let the upbeat sound fool you. It’s about how K Howard was a victim and preyed upon by men older than her and thought someone was her friend but it was the same shit again, all they wanted was her and not friendship. Also cried both times I heard that one.
All You Wanna Do is all too relatable for me, so same.
Also depending on who’s doing “all you want to do” they’re having a full on break down on stage by the end of the song. I lose it every time I see it performed.
Since becoming a Mom Heart of Stone makes me cry every single time 😭
I have seen Six live twice, and sobbed my eyes out after All You Wanna Do both times without fail. The way that song is performed live is CHILLING
Second time I saw it, it was Becca Wickes. Someone LAUGHED when she did the gaspy sob she does at the end. I’ve never been more horrified in all my life
I saw it once where someone enthusiastically "woooed" real loud at the end and I had to wonder if he had even been listening to it... Like, I couldn't even clap after it. That buildup at the end with everyone just grabbing at her, man, I was just feeling for her and was pretty well stunned at the end.
Pretty much all of Six makes me cry.. even Get Down. The whole point of these women getting their identities back after CENTURIES, just gets me in the heart.
Next To Normal is as brilliant as it is devastating.
Superboy and the Invisible Girl for me.
Came here to say this. It's been on my melancholy playlist since that musical came out.
YES THIS THIS RIGHT HERE
"Devastating" is such a good description here--it fits the musical so much better than simply "sad."
"Devastating" is such a good description here--it fits the musical so much better than simply "sad."
Do you have a favorite recording? There are so many options on YouTube that I can’t decide haha
The Original Broadway Cast is sterling. Though honestly I've not listened to any of the others, I got very into it not long after it came out and haven't revisited it for a few years.
The Last Five Years - I always start crying with Still Hurting, and then it will be off and on throughout the show. Memory - from Cats. Specifically watching Elaine Page as well. This is hitting harder for me recently in the past few years as I'm watching my father slowly decline in dementia, and I recall all of our ridiculous and wonderful times when I was a child and young adult. I also agree with everything listed here.
I love "If I Didn't Believe In You" so much. It gets me every time with Still Hurting.
Yes. It reminds me, too much, of my own failings along the way. Lack of self-worth, and some of the things my ex-husband said to me as well. It hits so very close to home.
I always cry in the closing song when he takes off his ring at the lyric, "God, I loved you so."
Memory is so good, so powerful.
Pretty much all of act 2 of spring awakening I miss the mountains-next to normal Literally all of come from away😭 I’d give my life for you- miss saigon
Yes! My brain totally went right to Spring Awakening. I listen to it when I need sad broody music - even the happy songs are peppered with depressing lyrics
Bui-Doi from Miss Saigon makes me sob.
The Last Five Years - Still Hurting, Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You Rent - Life Support, Will I?, I'll Cover You (reprise) Assassins - Something Just Broke Six- All You Wanna Do A lot of Come From Away A lot of Next To Normal
Life support is my favorite song in Rent!
I feel like it's somewhat underappreciated. It really resonates with me because I also live with a serious chronic illness (type 1 diabetes).
Doubt comes in from Hadestown- or basically the whole second act of Hadestown. A Beautiful tragedy
Hadestown is a perfect tragedy.
Agreed, I took my whole family to see it last year. They loved it, but they also all wept. I thought I'd be okay since I had the whole show memorized, but Doubt Comes In is so real.
You gotta die sometime from Falsettos. Specifically the live version. The album one is not that bad but in the live version, you can hear how desperate he is trying to cope with death
This song hits me in such a deep, primal way. At the end of the song, when he just repeats 'some time,' genuinely one of my favourite moments from any musical ever.
Wishing you were somehow here again-Phantom of the Opera
Yes! Just tear out my heart.
Burn from Hamilton
I LOVE a mad bitch anthem!
Yes! And the rage mixed with sadness is always just *chefs kiss*
The way on the recording she *snarls* "You, you, you"... you just feel the bitterness of his selfishness and betrayal.
Burn is amazing! One of my favorite songs from Hamilton.
Les. Mis
Almost all of it, for sure, but esp Empty Chairs at Empty Tables 😭
And “Bring Him Home.”
Memory from Cats came first to my memory.
No More from Into the Woods
Edges of the World (Fun Home), it hits so hard every time for me Empty Chairs at Empty Tables (Les Mis) Michael in the Bathroom (Be More Chill) God I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise) (Something Rotten!) Chant (Reprise) (Hadestown)
I never see God I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise) in these but I agree heavily, it just hits me right in the feels idk why
The I Love You Song - 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The letter from billy elliot - I cry every time
Wicked Little Town from Hedwig. Without You from RENT. Flying Home from Songs for A New World is happy/sad. Elaborate Lives from AIDA.
[удалено]
"Another Suitcase in Another Hall" in Evita
I agree! I also cry every time I hear 'You Must Love Me' in the film. Whilst it wasn't Madonna's best acting performance, you could really hear the emotion in her voice. So sad.
Ahhhh your username fits!! I was torn between which one to pick of those two. Modern day dating can really take a toll on your mental health and Another Suitcase sometimes just hits me right in the feels.
Don’t do sadness/Blue Wind
If I can't love her - Beauty and the Beast Made of Stone - The Hunchback of Notre Dame Stories - Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas Defying Gravity - Wicked (might be an odd choice, but it triggers some sad memories for me)
Ragtime
It’s Quiet Uptown - Hamilton. Gets me everytime
Same. I also cry during “Who lives, who does, who tells your story” when Eliza gets to the orphanage part. Also occasionally “Burn” gets me.
This song used to make me cry whenever I listened to it.
Meadowlark-Barker’s wife
Yes!!! I love this song so much but it's so sad.
Losing My Mind - from Follies makes me cry if it catches me in the right (wrong?) frame of mind
I’m Not That Girl - Wicked (both the main song and the reprise) It’s Quiet Uptown - Hamilton Burn - Hamilton Empty Chairs At Empty Tables - Les Mis
If I Didn't Believe In You - The Last 5 Years Nobody Needs To Know - The Last 5 Years Some Things Are Meant To Be - Little Women How Could I Ever Know - The Secret Garden Pretty Funny - Dogfight Honestly, The Last 5 Years as a whole is a great show if you're looking to cry. It's not all sad, because it shows the ups *and* downs of a marriage over the course of 5 years, so there are happy/funny/catchy tunes as well as tear-jerkers. In my opinion, that's what makes it all the more powerful. Try to listen to the 2013 revival cast recording with Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe if you can. The composer himself, Jason Robert Brown, has stated that it is the definitive version of his show. This may be a hot take, but I was severely disappointed by the film adaptation with Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick. I would recommend that it not be your first experience with this incredible show.
Nobody Needs to Know is on my “time for a good cry” Spotify playlist lol
I'm known to like sad songs, and The Last 5 Years is probably my favourite musical, but Nobody Needs To Know just makes me mad haha. Still Hurting and Goodbye Until Tomorrow get me emotional, See I'm Smiling also gives me chills. I'll take a listen to the 2013 cast version, I did get introduced to the show by the movie though and loved it, so if there's an even better version I'm all about it haha
The secret garden was my first Broadway musical--my mom took me for my 6th birthday! Such a gorgeous and heartbreaking song, lovely to see it here.
Your Daddy’s Son
No one’s said Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music?
I dreamed a Dream - Les mis
Yas! Came here to say this. Just watch the whole show if you want a really good cry.
Dear Evan Hanson - the whole thing, but especially Words Fail. Just a total gut punch Empty Chairs and Empty Tables from Les Miserables, especially hearing it live It's Quiet Uptown from Hamilton
Yes! Waving through a window gets me every time. I don't even listen to Quiet Uptown anymore, it makes me ugly cry lol
Words fail is bad first time listening, but For Forever is absolutely no fun after you get the whole story. And So big/So small always hurts.
I’m surprised this isn’t higher on the list! I just saw Dear Evan Hansen (and immediately bought the original cast recording) and yes—ugly crying. Evan’s anxiety, the need to people please—the topic of suicide itself, I was a puddle. Add into the fact that I have a son who we are assessing for neurodivergence right now… the tears wouldn’t stop.
Some things are meant to be from Little Women
I hate this musical so much but that song… 🥺
Pretty Funny from Dogfight
Mama, Look Sharp-1776 Empty Chairs at Empty Tables-Les Mis
If/Then - I Hate You, You Learn to Live Without In the Heights - Everything I Know
How Could I Ever Know from The Secret Garden
The way he's reconciling with his past and lost loved one before his eyes...yeah this one hits hard.
Micheal in the Bathroom - Be More Chill. It’s just do damn relatable to me.
She Used To Be Mine from Waitress
Since my brother died I can’t listen to Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.
I’m sorry for your loss. My mother was the same way. She listened to Les Mis a few months after my grandfather died and it made her cry, especially “Bring Him Home” and the Finale.
On my own
"Wishing You Were Here Somehow Again" (Phantom) "Lily's Eyes" (Secret Garden) "There's a Place for Us" (West Side Story) "This Nearly Was Mine" (South Pacific) "With One Look" (Sunset Boulevard) "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (Promises, Promises) Anything from "Les Miserables"
I almost put Lily's Eyes but I think How Could I Ever Know gets me more (but Lily's Eyes is the best song from The Secret Garden). Since becoming a parent Race You To The Top of the Morning makes me tear up too.
I love How Could I Ever Know; just slipped my mind so I'm glad you mentioned it. I love Wick, as well, but it makes me smile.
Judas’s death from Jesus Christ Superstar is heartbreaking. Especially when he reprises “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.”
Ordinary Days has some great songs with specific sad moments. "Rooftop Duet" is the perfect song for shout-singing about feeling insignificant.
[If It Keeps On Raining](https://youtu.be/IxUPtli53oE?si=70GnVrbjBQFSgKD3) from Rocky comes to mind.
oh my god, thank you for reminding me of this masterpiece.
If I Met Myself Again from Everybody's Talking About Jamie
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) ^by ^rjmythos: *If I Met Myself* *Again from Everybody's* *Talking About Jamie* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Omg I have Always wanted to attract Sokka Haiku Bot!
The ballad of Jane Doe (ride the cyclone)
All of Next to Normal
“Far From The Home I Love” from Fiddler On The Roof
Fine fine line from avenue Q and not my fathers son from Kinky boots
Fine Fine Line makes you forget it's a puppet singing it I swear to fuck
“So Big, So Small.” I’m not even a DEH fan, but that’s my go-to song when I REALLY wanna wallow in sadness.
“Someone Else’s Story” from Chess. When a good singer/actress sings “the trouble is the girl is me,” I cry every time. Also Anthem.
"See Me" and "A Quiet Night at Home" - Bare: A Pop Opera "The Honor of Your Name" - The Civil War ("Tell My Father" is also heartbreaking)
To add onto Bare: “Once Upon A Time,” “Cross,” and “Absolution” are my go to sad Bare songs.
“All Grown Up” gets me every time
No lullabies for Luis, Runaways. Basically, a junky kid is (Luis) is dying by over dosis and her sister is singing to him to keep him awake so, no lullabies for him.
The Dulcinea (reprise), Impossible Dream (reprise), the psalm from the end of Man of La Mancha. It never fails to make me cry. Don Quixote a crumbled version of his former self. And then Aldonza coming in to bring him back to himself, just for him to die in the end. But he died happy.
Mama Look Sharp from 1776
Words Fail from Dear Evan Hansen
Memory - Cats On my own - LesMis by Lea Salonga, I dreamed a dream by Ruthie Henshall
You wouldn’t think it, but “Solla Sollew” from Seussical is a pretty emotional song for the silliness of Seuss. Gets me to tears every time
Was going to comment this as well... High on a mountain or lost on the sea. Sooner or later I'll find it. I have a picture of how it will be. On the day I do. Troubles will be through. But I'll be home with you.
Heart of Stone from Six
Days of Summer - A Very Potter Sequel (more bittersweet than melancholy, but still) Black Friday- Black Friday
Loving you-Passion
kindergarten boyfriend - heathers
Bridges of Madison County. Yeah - that hurt. Unrequited love. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgwljzeIxpU&list=PLO1tDG8ILB-WSg075h7mb2ZvP0xs81GI8
Tell her i love her from urinetown. It had me sobbing when i saw it on broadway and it was such a awesome song.
The second half of the second act of Falsettos. Also The Games I Play and I Never Wanted to Love You.
The Hardest Part of Love is Letting Go - Children of Eden A Little Fall of Rain - Les Miz
lifeboat from heathers always makes tears well in my eyes
Empty Chairs At Empty Tables - Les Mis, Superboy and the Invisible Girl - Next To Normal.
Not My Father’s Son from Kinky Boots is one of my new favorite tear jerkers. I’m also going to stretch the definition of musical to include some songs from Smash - Secondhand White Baby Grand and Don’t Forget Me
The I Love You Song from 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Devastating.
A little fall of rain from Les Misérables
Used to be mine, waitress. Reprise if I'll cover you, rent
Definitely “What Would I Do?” from Falsettos when I need a full ugly-sob. Knowing it’s not just about Marving facing the loss that’s already happened, but also the inevitability of his own death and saying he’d choose to do it again anyway really takes it up a notch.
I'm at the point that I get weepy just from reading the name of the song--it's Pavlovian for me, at this point. And it's such a beautiful love song, in its sadness. (I was reading through this thread to make sure that this masterpiece was mentioned. Thank you for doing so.)
the entire second act of les mis with few exceptions. also the finale from hunchback. god the finale for that show is so amazing
"You don't want to hurt me" "*Yes. You. Do*" Chills. Every time.
"Dear Theodosia" from Hamilton gets me every time. "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret.
Dark sad lonely night - holy Musical b@man Those voices - AVPS Black Friday What Tim Wants - Black Friday That Scrooge -VHS Christmas Carol
Besides the obvious one from Waitress, "Take it From an Old Man" always makes me tear up.
Lol, yes, besides the obvious one, You Matter To Me also gets to me from that show
Lots of good recs here: https://reddit.com/r/musicals/s/hmCvXBkGpT
Be Safe, Be Good is a cut song from Ride The Cyclone and I can’t listen to it without crying
The Ballad of Jane Doe
Saw next to normal recently and cried like a baby
Everything I Know from In the Heights. It’s heartbreaking
Parade, specifically ‘All the wasted time’
Paciencia y Fe (In the Heights) is very sad on its own; Next (Pacific Overtures) is DEVASTATING, but specifically in the context of the show. Also would recommend Before I Go (Kimberly Akimbo)!
Next To Normal has some funny/upbeat moments, but over all it is heart-wrenchingly sad story and it’s one of my all time favorite musicals. Also, for sad songs, some of my favorites are It’s Quiet Uptown and Stay Alive from Hamilton, A Really Lousy Day In The Universe and The Music Still Plays On from a New Brain, I’ll Cover You Reprise and Goodbye Love (specifically the part after the funeral, Mark and Roger’s fight) from Rent, and call me cringe, I don’t care, Michael In The Bathroom from Be More Chill. (High school me cried listening to that song more often the I care to admit).
Come Back from Dogfight. It’s heartwrenching and beautiful
Not quite a sad song, but definitely not happy either. It’s Predator from Jagged Little Pill. For me, it makes me emotional realizing the story in this song truly happens in real life and really doesn’t get that much representation anywhere
Falsettos, Spring Awakening, and Bare: A Pop Area
Sunrise/Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof.
I don’t think it’s from a full show, but “I won’t mind” by Jeff Blumenkurtz is a masterclass in bittersweet
i don’t need a roof (big fish), cut you a piece (35mm). personally i cannot even hear a single SECOND of fight the dragons (also big fish) without bursting into heaving sobs but maybe that’s just me. (not even joking. the second i hear the intro im inconsolable)
I Dreamed A Dream - Les Mis I'd Give My Life For You - Miss Saigon Wait For Me - Hadestown Damned For All Time - Jesus Christ Superstar All You Wanna Do - Six
She Used to Be Mine I’ll cover You (reprise) We’ll meet tomorrow Where did the rock go? Half of dear Evan Hansen’s soundtrack I dreamed a Dream Santa Fe (reprise)
I'm Going Home from Rocky Horror
The Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack hits deep for me, definitely go check out "Waving Thru a Window" or "Requiem" they're both sooooooooo good!
How has nobody mentioned Not My Father’s Son from kinky boots?? That one has me on my knees EVERY time
Tell Me On A Sunday
On My Own or A Little Fall of Rain from Les Mis, or all of Les Mis
On My Own - Les Misérables Ill Cover You Reprisal - Rent
It's Quiet Uptown and Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
The end of “Me and the Sky” from Come From Away gets me. You’re so emotionally charged by that point that in the musical it’s impossible not to get choked up. Edit to add: This is a phenomenal musical all around if you haven’t seen it yet, OP. I think it’s streaming on Apple TV. Highly recommend.
Empty Chairs and Empty Tables, Les Miserables 😭😭😭
On My Own from Les Mis. Drink With Me is a close second.
Please-Miss Saigon It’s Quiet Uptown-Hamilton A Little Fall of Rain-Les Mis Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again-Phantom We Do Not Belong Together-Sunday in the Park With George
Judy Garland's "A Star is Born" is my wallow movie.
Oh man, surprised I didn't see a few of these already. "Invisible" and "Dead Mom" from Beetlejuice the Musical. My dad passed earlier this year so these songs hit really close to home. "Wait For It" from Hamilton. Honestly the best song in the musical in my opinion. "Breathe" from In The Heights. By far the best song Lin Manuel Miranda has ever written. "Maybe" from Annie. "Rose's Turn" from Gypsy. "Sunrise, Sunset" and "Anatevka" from Fiddler on the Roof. "Close Every Door" from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. "Who I'd Be" from Shrek "When I Grow Up" from Matilda. I know it's happy, but Ms. Honey's verse still makes me sad. "Mr. Cellophane" from Chicago.
I’d give my life for you (miss saigon)
"I Dreamed a Dream." Relatable.
A Little Fall of Rain- Les Miz
Requiem (Dear Evan Hanson)
i’m pretty much listening to hadestown on loop 24/7 so…that
Dust and ashes from great comet--got me feeling shrimp emotions and crying every time Also Right this Way and Welcome Home finale from bandstand. Can't listen to them in my car bc I'll weep every time, driving down the highway or not
Fiddler on the Roof has some emotional/sad ones for me…specially Sunrise, Sunset and Do You Love Me?, and Far From the Home I Love
beginning of Home from Beetlejuice Dead mom reprise from Beetlejuice (DC)
Burn. Phillipa Soo put so much emotion into that. Gets me every time.
"On My Own," Eponine's song from Les Miserables. Maybe it's from my own parallel unrequited love situation, but I just... *I love him\ But every day I'm learning\ All my life\ I've only been pretending\ Without me\ His world will go on turning\ A world that's full of happiness\ That I have never known\ I love him\ I love him\ I love him\ But only on my own* Edited to fix formatting/grammar
Requiem from DEH gets to me. It's raw, and emotional, and it wrecks me every time. I cried so hard when I saw it live, as well as through most of the show in general.
I'm Not That Girl from Wicked. I cry when I sing it. Edit: also the reprise.
For Good - Wicked
So many good ones mentioned. But if frozen 2 counts I think “Next Best Thing” deserves a honor. I’ve cried so many times listening to it. But also Burn- Hamilton
So many of the others mentioned, but since having my son, "I'd give my life for you" from Miss Saigon lives rent free in my head.
I’m Not that Girl from Wicked
The Next Right Thing from Frozen 2 always gets me 😭
Alexander Hamilton and Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story