Top 20 Broadway Songs That Make Us Ugly Cry

Wistful and deceptively cute, this song hits unexpectedly hard. Its innocent lyrics, simple tune, and earnest performances from older and younger actors alike create a surprisingly moving number. Imagining their life ahead, the children express their longing for the freedom and possibility of adulthood. They vow to be strong enough to shoulder life’s struggles and face monsters. Meanwhile, Miss Honey, like many grown ups, feels the loss of innocence and carries the reality of what adulthood actually is. It’s all very bittersweet. More likely than not, you’ll be brought to tears remembering what it was like to be young and full of hope for the future. If that one doesn’t get you, “Quiet” definitely will, though.

This number engages with the seriously heavy theme of social injustice in America. Traditionally performed by a baritone, it has a somber melody that resonates and stirs up all sorts of emotions. Its message is a moving call to action that empowers listeners to speak out against different forms of inequality, including racism, classism, and xenophobia. While the musical takes place in the twentieth century, these are fights that are still being fought. Coalhouse’s invocation is both motivating and a sad reminder of the long enduring history of inequality in the so-called “land of the free.” Within the context of the musical and Coalhouse’s narrative arc, it’s an emotional moment that precedes a tragic end.

Layers and layers of meaning define this sorrowful ballad which also happens to be among Bernadette Peters’ signature songs. Captivating and bittersweet, the tune embodies heartbreak, regret, love, and loss. It’s performed twice in Sondheim’s chronologically reversed musical, first amid Frank and Beth’s divorce as she expresses her feelings about her husband in the wake of his infidelity. Later, it’s reprised at the couple’s marriage. What should be a happy moment for the two is haunted by their future divorce. The second performance recalls how heartbreaking the first is, and brings us to tears all over again.

The late 19th-century based rock show contains one tragic event after another accompanied by emotionally charged songs. We’ll certainly pull out a tissue or two during “Left Behind.” But “Those You've Known” has us using the whole pack. Performed towards the end of the musical, the number shows Melchior mourning the loved ones he’s lost and vowing to keep their memories alive. The ghosts of his past schoolmates kick the number off, with their three voices soon weaving together to create something melancholic and haunting. When they leave, Melchior is left to sing alone. With themes of loss and death, this song is an emotional gut-punch.

It’s no surprise this pick is emotionally charged. After all, it’s from a show inspired by true events relating to the attacks on September 11. This number in particular shows the characters' attempt to return to normal life following the tragedy. Although it’s difficult to articulate what, something about their world is irrevocably changed. The specifics are different for each person, but the pain is universal. The heartwrenching tune evokes feelings of uncertainty, grief, and fear, emotions many of us have likely experienced in the wake of a disaster. It creates a poignant moment that has us mourning for those whose lives were changed by the historic event.

Two songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first Broadway show work together to create a moment in remembrance of a character who passes. They depict the residents of Washington Heights learning of and then mourning the loss of Claudia, an older woman in the neighborhood who many refer to as “Abuela.” Together, the community members pay tribute to her, repeating “alabanza,” or “praise,” in her honor. Their voices soon come together to create an emotive chorus. For many reasons, this moment brings us to tears. From loss of life to the power of community ties, many of life’s quintessential truths are highlighted in powerful fashion here.

Soulful, heartfelt, and serious, this musical number addresses the impact of anti-Black racism and the ongoing struggle for equality. It takes place primarily during a march protesting segregation and is performed primarily by “Motormouth” Maybelle, accompanied by a determined group of demonstrators. While the musical is set in 1962, the sad fact is this song’s message about discrimination resonates today. The soaring, gospel-style tune is done the most justice when led by someone with a powerful voice like Toneisha Harris, Jennifer Hudson or Queen Latifah. If the context and the lyrics don’t make your eyes well up, their performances surely will.

Stephen Sondheim’s mashup of a musical subverts stereotypical happy endings with a depressing yet honest second act. The penultimate number perfectly embodies the message that’s at the core of the show and is guaranteed to make us tear up. Despite what traditional fairy tales would have you believe, morality is more gray than black-and-white. At the same time, you can’t go through life pretending your choices don’t impact others, because they do. Relationships matter, and in the end it’s like the song says: “no one is alone,” even if it may feel like you are. These complicated themes are perfectly expressed by the poetic lyrics, and the beautiful yet eerie melody is capable of reducing even the most stoic among us into a blubbering mess.

Celie’s story captivates both on the page and the stage, and this song comes at a pivotal point in her development. After years of suffering harm and abuse, Celie finally finds strength and esteem within herself. She realizes she doesn’t need to rely on outside validation – instead, she can love herself and appreciate what she has. The empowering tune brings us to tears as it builds musically, symbolizing Celie’s growing confidence. Her determination to overcome obstacles and take control of her life is inspiring. More optimistic than some of the other songs on this list, “I’m Here” is truly moving.

One of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s best known show tunes has a surprisingly somber context. In the musical, it’s first performed after a tragedy occurs. Nettie sings the song to her cousin Julie, who’s just experienced a great loss. She offers Julie solidarity, helping her find the courage to get through hard times. The epic melody is as uplifting as the lyrics that encourage listeners to “walk on.” Sometimes, a little support is all it takes for someone who’s struggling to finally let go. Tears of sadness, hope, and relief are all perfectly acceptable responses to this historic number.

Peter Pan is a character loved by many, and this musical explores the wonderfully sweet story of the family who provided author J.M. Barrie with his inspiration for the now iconic tale. Throughout the musical, we see shades of the characters and stories we’ve all come to know in Sylvia and her children. Though there are indeed many happy times, this tale isn’t without tragedy. Appearing near the end of the musical, “Neverland (Reprise)” is a heart-wrenching song during which Sylvia stands up from her sick bed and leaves with Peter Pan to live forever in Neverland.

It’s hard to be the outcast in school, especially when your only friend decides to swallow a computer chip activated by Mountain Dew that sings, dances and tells him how to become more popular without you - wait, what? As strange as it sounds, that’s exactly what Michael experiences when his friend Jeremy ingests a “super quantum unit intel processor” computer chip and starts taking its advice to completely change his life and get the girl he wants. Michael is then left alone to panic in a bathroom at a party, coming to terms with the fact that he now has no one else to hang out with. The song might have an upbeat quality, but there’s an underlying sadness to it that’s incredibly relatable.

Romance isn’t always as simple as boy meets boy. There are first romances, breakups, sexuality realizations, children, disease, heartbreak, death and yes... love. Throughout the story of “Falsettos,” Marvin and his boyfriend Whizzer have basically weathered it all and the journey has had quite the impact on their lives - both in good ways and bad. With this song, Marvin looks back and reflects, wondering whether it was all worth it and if he would have done it all the same if he’d known the outcome ahead of time. Ultimately, he decides that the answer is “yes”, because otherwise how would he have known what love really was? Okay… pass the tissues, please!

Who doesn’t know the Wicked Witch of the West? In this fantastic musical, we meet Elphaba, the girl before the witch and her wicked ways. She’s green-skinned, shunned by her peers, ignored by her father and never given a fair chance in life no matter how hard she tries. Her history might not excuse her later actions, but with more context, we can’t exactly fault her for turning out the way she did. Still, no matter how wicked she might seem, this song reveals that there’s some good in her that she never let go of. It’s a celebration of true friendship and love between her and Glinda - the good witch - and how they’ve changed each other’s lives ‘For Good”.

Diana isn’t your typical suburban housewife. She is a woman living with bipolar disorder and psychosis, which manifests as her dead son singing and joining in on her musical numbers from the grave. While juggling these mental health issues, Diana is just trying to take care of her family, who won’t even say his name. It all comes to a head in this fight told through a rock song. As she struggles to put all her feelings and pain into words to express how alone she feels, she begs her husband to tell her if he feels the same way. Even though she’s surrounded by family, Diana is alone, with only her ghostly son to give her comfort.

Evan is an awkward kid who pretends to have been good friends with someone who’s taken their own life to get the love, attention and friendship he has always wanted. When the family of the victim inevitably finds out, Evan tries to explain all the reasons he did what he did, but words truly fail him - because not even the performer can sing the whole song. Instead, it comes out more as crying and pleading than anything else, as the family - and audience - struggle with how they should feel. "So Big/So Small," "Requiem," and "You Will Be Found" are other numbers that bring tears to our eyes. However, out of the show’s many heart-wrenching songs, “Words Fail” takes the cake.

Jenna is a waitress trapped in an abusive marriage, attempting to save money so that she and her unborn child can have a fresh start together. Unfortunately, her husband Earl finds her secret savings and takes them all, leaving her with nothing to show for all her hard work. It is at this emotional moment that Jenna delivers this moving song - a sweetly sad lament about all the pieces of her life that she’s lost control of. The ‘she’ Jenna sings of is herself and the pain in her voice is sure to resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or hopelessness. Though heart-wrenching, the song reminds us we don’t have to be perfect to deserve happiness.

“Les Mis” has no shortage of songs that get the waterworks going, like "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” “A Little Fall of Rain,” or “I Dreamed a Dream.” At the end of the musical, after Jean Valjean embraces death, the faces of those we’ve lost are seen and join together in a chant. Starting at barely a whisper and building gradually, the battle song of the youth is heard once more. The sheer power of that many voices unified is extremely moving, raising with such conviction that we can’t help but join in - through fits of sobs, of course. Ultimately, this is a song about the triumph of the human spirit, and makes us want to stand up and march, fueled by raw emotion.

“Hamilton” quickly worked its way into the ears and hearts of the masses with its unique combination of singing and rapping, which it uses to recount the life of Alexander Hamilton and the foundation of the United States of America. Rather than just repeating the facts, this musical introduced us to the founding fathers and those around them as real people with aspirations, dreams and flaws, with heartbreaking songs like“It’s Quiet Uptown” and “Stay Alive (Reprise).” The number that really calls for tears, though, is "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story." At the very end of the show, we’re left with this final song reminding us that everything eventually fades away... unless, that is, there’s someone left to tell our story.

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

“Some Things Are Meant to Be,” “Little Women”
The Sisters’ Imaginative Day Is Darkened by the Inevitable

“The I Love You Song,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
This Song Deserves an Entire Therapy Session

"How Could I Ever Know?," “The Secret Garden”
Sometimes Being Haunted By a Ghost Is Scary, Other Times It’s Tragic

“Telephone Wire”/”"It Was Great to Have You Home...", “Fun Home”
Heart-wrenching, Melodic, & Utterly Unforgettable

"Not My Father's Son," “Kinky Boots”
Bonding Over Issues with Their Fathers

The characters in Jonathan Larson’s Broadway show are living in fear of losing their dignity, as expressed during the sombering "Will I?" That song gets us, but “I’ll Cover You (Reprise)” destroys us. Home is something we all yearn for, but it can be hard to find amongst mental illness, HIV, hatred, disinterest and a complete lack of money. “Rent” is depressing, yes, but it also manages to highlight how important finding those small moments of hope can be. Hope, and a home, can be found in a person or a coat or a single moment of warmth. Honestly, it’s hard to explain how painful the death of Angel is in this musical, but one need only listen to this heartbreaking reprise to understand.