Top 10 Broadway Songs That Make Us Ugly Cry

Do you hear the people sing these Broadway songs that make us ugly cry? We’ll be looking at happy songs, heartfelt confessions of love or death ballads - any type of tune, really, just so long as it sent us running for that box of tissues. We’re only considering musicals that had an actual on Broadway run and only including 1 song per musical. MsMojo ranks the most tear-jerking Broadway songs. Which Broadway song makes you ugly cry? Let us know in the comments!

List rank and entries:
10: “Neverland (Reprise)”
9: “Michael in the Bathroom”
8: “What Would I Do?”
7: “For Good”
6: “She Used to be Mine”
5: “Words Fail”
4: “Do You Hear the People Sing? (Reprise) / Finale”
3, 2 & 1: ?

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[kil]

“Oh my God, what’s wrong, are you okay?!”
Me, sobbing: She put herself back in the narrative.

[luisdiegovaldiviaturpo]

When Eliza says "the orphanage", that breaks my heart.

[em]

Honestly, act two of any musical ever is sure to make me cry.

[GeronimoFly]

There is no song sadder than It's Quiet Uptown for someone who has lost a child.

[kayseacamp]

First time I heard Used To Be Mine on Spotify I had to pull over. I was crying so hard because I too suffered from an abusive relationship and was still trying to figure “who” I was after leaving that relationship. Hands down that song has been the most profound song in my whole life.

[alexmullins]

Val Jean’s death in Les Mis wrecks me every time. The line “to love another person is to see the face of God” just gives me chills.

[whateveryouhearditwasntme]

I watched Hamilton on stage, and I was holding in tears when Eliza screamed right after stay alive reprise

[sadlystuckinreality]

Empty Chairs At Empty Tables absolutely DESTROYS me

[sinnamonroll]

The World Was Wide Enough (from Hamilton) gets me every time.
"He aims his pistol at the sky, WAIT-"
It just... breaks my heart.

[MaureenThropp]

Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Phantom of the Opera
Someday - Hunchback of Notre Dame
Without You - Rent
When You Believe - Prince of Egypt
and
It's Quiet Uptown - Hamilton

[jippy]

"The orphanage..."

Damn you Hamilton, you won't use orphan children to coax me into crying


"In their eyes I see you, Alexander"


DAMNIT!!

[lwhite]

"I'm Here" from The Color Purple is heartbreaking! A woman, who is abused and neglected all her life, finally realizes her beauty. Cynthia Orivo kills this song!!

[yklsshyler]

Evan though Dear Evan Hansen is on this list, I feel like "So Big / So Small" needs to be mentioned. "Is there another truck coming in the driveway? a truck that will take mommy away" is the line that broke me. T_T

[jessicamarshall]

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables just makes me ugly cry.

As does Satisfied from Hamilton because Angelica loves Eliza so much and I love that. Also The Movie In My Mind from Miss Saigon. And Alabanza from In The Heights.

Tbh there’s probably one song in every musical that makes me cry.

EDIT: I feel betrayed that Atención/Alabanza is only an honourable mention. It broke me when I saw it performed live.

[tatianae]

Every song in Les Mis. It's literally the miserable musical

[ChocolateTeapot]

Basically the whole of Hamilton makes me cry. There are certain phrases in most of the songs that set me off. In It's Quiet Up Town it's when Alexander says "and I pray...that never used to happen before".

[its_mi.]

In defense of the Wicked Witch in the original movie, a house falls on her sister, killing her. She wants her sisters magical shoes, a family heirloom. Then, the girl, whose very house killed her sister, gets to walk off with the shoes that should rightfully be hers... Tbh I'd be pissed too

[jjh]

Les Miz had so many. “Bring Him Home” and “I Dreamed a Dream” just gut me each time.

[markmh]

"For Good" -- the greatest female duet in Broadway history.

[rachelsyrup]

"It's Quiet Uptown" from Hamilton RUINS me.








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