Top 10 Upbeat Broadway Songs with Dark Lyrics

The AIDS epidemic may seem like a dark subject for a musical. But “Rent” finds some light in the darkness, bringing stories of friendship and love to the fore. In “Light my Candle,” we witness a meet-cute between Mimi and Roger, where she asks for a light because her heat isn’t working. There’s all the tension and hope of first attraction, but the lyrics reveal a more serious subtext. They notably talk about his dead ex-girlfriend and her job at a strip club. And while Mimi is being flirtatious, she’s also suffering from addiction and needs her fix. As a recovering addict, Roger recognizes the signs, which are alluded to in the lyrics. That’s some pretty heavy stuff.

Based on the 2007 film, “Waitress” is centered on Jenna, who works in a diner and is trapped in a loveless marriage. Her controlling husband Earl takes her wages and severely mistreats her. “You Will Still Be Mine” takes place after she tells him she’s pregnant. It’s Earl’s number, an upbeat, rocky tune where he recalls the early days of their relationship. Out of context, it sounds like a romantic love song - if you ignore the odd line that hints at his egoistic nature. But when you understand the dynamic of their marriage, it's much more sinister. The lyrics could be a declaration of undying love. But in this case, they sound more like a scary promise to keep Jenna trapped.

“Little Shop of Horrors'' is a comedy rock musical that first appeared Off-Broadway in the ‘80s. It has songs by the legendary Disney musical team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. It’s also a story about a florist named Seymour who accidentally winds up with a monster plant that feeds on human flesh. The villain song “Dentist!” is one of the most extreme in the musical, yet you’d never predict how dark the lyrics are if you only heard the beat. The dentist, named Orin Scrivello, sings about his sadistic joy in causing pain to his patients, recalling how his mother predicted his future profession. He’s singing with cheerful gusto, but his cruelty is nothing to smile at.

The music of “Hamilton'' breaks the musical theater mold, as much of the story is told through rap, R&B, and hip hop style tracks. But King George’s solo is more of a traditional show tune. Jaunty and upbeat, “You’ll Be Back” has the flavor of a breakup song. The king is the unrepentant ex, informing his partner that they’re bound to come crawling back. Except he’s singing to his lost colony, and his threats go way beyond busting windows out a car. The antagonist’s manic happiness makes lines about armed battalions and murder of family members all the more disturbing. But it’s comedic too. King George might have minimal stage time, but he definitely makes an impression.

Usually portrayed as Henry VIII’s promiscuous young wife, Catherine Howard doesn’t often get the sympathy afforded to the other five queens. The British musical “Six”, which made its official Broadway debut in 2021, tackles her image problem head on. It gives each queen the chance to tell her story, in an attempt to decide who faced the most agony. Howard’s character was inspired by pop princesses like Britney Spears and Ariana Grande, and her solo fits the bill. It’s fun, catchy, and full of innuendo. But it’s also desperately sad. She sings about the men she’s known, gradually making it clear that she became trapped in a cycle of severe mistreatment. It’s darkly comedic, but we doubt anybody’s left giggling by the final refrain.

Based on the tragic opera “Madame Butterfly” and set during the Vietnam war, “Miss Saigon” is one of the heaviest musicals out there. This song sets the tone with an uncomfortable mix of hedonism, sleaze and tragedy. It begins as a group of soldiers, who are disillusioned with the war, arrive at “Dreamland”, a club and brothel. We’re notably introduced to the leading man, Chris, whose friend offers to “buy [him] a girl”. He declines, but when the proprietor of the establishment pushes forward Kim, a new girl from the country, his attention is caught. Needless to say, the subject matter is intense and disturbing, despite the track’s peppy energy.

This classic movie musical made it to Broadway in the eighties. “Sobbin’ Women” is arguably the most memorable song in the show, but it’s also quite problematic. It’s about women being abducted and forced to marry against their will. When his brothers are pining after the girls they like, Adam argues that the easiest solution is to ride down into town and carry them off by force. According to him, it was how the Romans did things, and that’s good enough. The song is pretty shocking if you listen closely to the lyrics, but the melody is infectious. You might end up having to remind yourself what they’re singing about…

One of “West Side Story’s” most underrated songs, this number marries black comedy with a catchy tune. It’s sung by the Jets, who provide tongue in cheek explanations for their delinquent behavior. There are witty lyrics and lots of physical comedy. Yet beneath the surface, the song is tragic. There’s truth to the idea that the gang are a product of their upbringing and trapped by circumstances. Maybe they just need a chance to really thrive and reach their full potential. So while the number is comedic, there’s an underlying sense of helplessness and frustration hidden underneath it. The world has placed the Jets in a box, and they can’t break free from it.

A story about murder and cannibalism was never going to be entirely lighthearted. However, the “Sweeney Todd” musical manages to inject a lot of levity into its macabre tale. In “A Little Priest” Mrs. Lovett first concocts the idea for her human pie business. The gentle waltzing melody and casual phrasing make the concept seem almost palatable in a weird, twisted way. Even Mrs. Lovett herself comes across sort of okay. The character has a certain homely charm, despite her wildly evil ways. Throughout the song, she and Todd discuss the merits of different professions as pie ingredients. Priest is fresh, Grocer is green, and the puns all help to lighten the extremely dark lyrics!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“We Both Reached for the Gun”, “Chicago”
Billy Flynn Manipulates the Deadly Story in This Vaudeville Number

“It’s the Hard Knock Life”, “Annie”
The Orphans Bemoan Their “Full of Sorrow Life”

“Lovely Ladies”, “Les Misérables”
Desperate Times Lead Fantine to Take Extreme Measures

“I See a River”, “Urinetown”
Humanity Is Doomed & It’s the Fault of the Heroes

“The Producers” began its life as a movie, but has since been adapted into a Broadway musical. It follows Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they try to create a musical flop as part of a fraudulent plan. However, the show, which is about Hitler and Nazi Germany, is so ridiculous it becomes a hit. This surprise success features a particularly shocking number called “Springtime for Hitler,” full of lively singing and dancing. It’s all kinds of offensive, with a plethora of lines praising the dictator. But like the audiences in “The Producers”, we can appreciate the song for its “so bad you can’t look away” quality. You definitely don’t want this number to get stuck in your head, though.