Theatre
By Numbers
Hadestown By Numbers: Every song in the stage musical
Here’s your breakdown of every song on the Hadestown soundtrack
If Hadestown isn’t already on your radar, we’d like to correct that immediately Anaïs Mitchell’s thoughtful, folky retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth has one of the best scores in the West End, managing to be both intimate and epic, with songs that will set your foot tapping and others that might move you to tears. Whether you’re planning a trip to the Lyric Theatre or you just want to dive deeper into this rich soundtrack, we’ve got you covered. Here’s your guide to every song in Hadestown.
‘Road to Hell’
In the show’s opening number, Hermes welcomes the audience to the show and introduces us to some of the key players. Our story begins on a railway line, in an indiscriminate time and place – this is an old, old tale, and as Hermes sings, it’s time to tell it again. We meet the Fates, Persephone, Hades and messenger god Hermes, our narrator. Hermes also introduces us to our main characters, Orpheus and Eurydice – and warns us that whilst this is a love story, it’s also a tragedy. In this order of introduction, we meet the gods first, and then the men, reminding us of the divide between the two groups.
Key lyric: “It’s a sad song, but we’re gonna sing it anyway”
‘Any Way The Wind Blows’
The Fates and Hermes now introduce us to the harsh world of Hadestown, where a young girl called Eurydice struggles to get by and feed herself. There’s no summer to be hard anymore – only harsh winter winds. Eurydice explains that all she can do is try to get by day to day.
Key lyric: “People turn on you just like the wind/Everybody is a fair weather friend”
‘Come Home With Me’
Orpheus falls in love with Eurydice at first sight, immediately propositioning marriage. Eurydice is sceptical, but Hermes vouches for Orpheus, encouraging Orpheus to tell Eurydice about his new composition. It’s a melody that, when finished, will bring spring again.
Key lyric: “A song so beautiful/It brings the world back into tune”
‘Wedding Song’
Eurydice teases Orpheus, asking him how he means to provide enough for them to have a wedding, let alone a marriage. Orpheus responds that when he sings his finished song, the newly renewed world will provide for them. This call and response between the two of them continues until Eurydice finds herself falling in love with Orpheus in return – especially when he proves that his music can make flowers bloom.
Key lyric: “Lover when I sing my song/All the trees gonna sing along”
‘Epic I’
Hermes tells Orpheus that the melody that came to him is from a very old song, a tale about Hades and Persephone. When Hermes reminds Orpheus of the story, he’s able to sing it on his lyre. He delivers a melodic version of the myth, telling of the unorthodox marriage between the daughter of a goddess and the ruler of the underworld, and how it once created the seasons.
Key lyric: “Hades and Persephone/Remember how it used to be/Their love that made the world go ’round?”
‘Livin’ It Up On Top’
Persephone finally arrives on the train out of the underworld, ready to bring spring again. She’s a breath of fresh air, injecting energy and life into the cold world of Hadestown, even as Hermes accuses her of being late. The people in the town are overjoyed at Persephone’s return, and a party is thrown to celebrate the prosperity she brings with her.
Key lyric: “Let’s not talk about hard times/Pour the wine, it’s summertime!”
‘All I’ve Ever Known’
Surprised to find herself in love with Orpheus, Eurydice reflects on how used she’s become to being alone and providing for herself. Orpheus has shown her how the world might be, and she can’t go back to how her life was before. Orpheus joins her duet to pledge his eternal love.
Key lyric: “All I’ve ever known is how to hold my own/But now I wanna hold you, too”
‘Way Down Hadestown’
Spring is over – the train is here, and it’s time for a reluctant Persephone to return to Hell. She and Hermes explain the poor quality of life way down there, as the music imitates a New Orleans jazz funeral. Eventually Hades arrives to collect his wife, and the Fates whisper about the fact that he seemingly owns everything – a fact that interests Eurydice.
Key lyric: “You either get to hell or to Hadestown/Ain’t no difference anymore!”
‘A Gathering Storm’
Orpheus laments that Hades came for Persephone too soon – Eurydice reminds him that nothing in the world of Hadestown works as it should. As time passes, Orpheus struggles to finish his song, and Eurydice struggles for food and firewood.
Key lyric: “Finish it quick/The wind is changing”
‘Epic II’
Orpheus continues working on his song, delivering the next instalment of Hades and Persephone’s story. Hades is king of everything beneath the earth, but he feels bereft without Persephone, and jealousy prompts him to call her home early when she leaves.
Key lyric: Hades is king of oil and coal
‘Chant’
Down in Hell, Hades and Persephone argue – she doesn’t like the workhouse he’s turned Hell into, and he wishes she could learn to appreciate the safety and security of their home. Above them, Eurydice laments how long it seems to be taking Orpheus to finish his song. She longs for warmth and food, tired of battling the winds. Meanwhile, Orpheus keeps working away at his song, convinced that their problems will be solved if the gods remember the song of their love.
With Eurydice searching for safety at all costs, and Hades searching for someone to appreciate the gilded cage he’s built, what happens next feels inevitable.
Key lyric: “Lover, what have you become?/Coal cars and oil drums/Warehouse walls and factory floors/I don’t know you anymore”
‘Hey Little Songbird’
Hades meets Eurydice and promises to provide for her if she follows him down to the mine. Tired of waiting for Orpheus and seduced by the prospect of being taken care of, Eurydice considers accepting his offer.
Key lyric: “I want a nice, soft place to land/I wanna lie down forever”
‘When The Chips Are Down’
Ultimately, Eurydice doesn’t want to starve to death. She accepts her ticket to Hadestown. As she makes her choice, the Fates ask her how she’s going to handle her rock bottom situation – what can you do when the chips are down?
Key lyric: “Nobody’s righteous/Nobody’s proud/Nobody’s innocent/Now that the chips are down”
‘Gone, I’m Gone’
Eurydice insists that her heart will always belong to Orpheus, but right now she has to listen to her starving, tired body. The Fates remind the audience not to judge Eurydice’s choice – none of us can know that we wouldn’t take the same deal in her situation.
Eurydice’s journey into the underworld of her own free will is a deviation from the original myth, in which she dies after being bitten by a snake. Here, Eurydice isn’t the victim of an unexpected death, but a character with agency, who makes a heartbreaking choice to save her own skin.
Key lyric: “You can have your principle/When you’ve got a belly full/But hunger has a way with you”
‘Wait For Me’
When Orpheus comes looking for Eurydice, Hermes delivers the bad news. Orpheus insists on going after her, and despite his best instincts, Hermes tells Orpheus that there is another way to get to Hadestown without a train ticket – the long way round, on foot. Orpheus sets out on the treacherous walk, ignoring Hermes’ warnings and the taunts of the Fates, asking Eurydice to wait for him and believe that he’s coming.
Key lyric: “Who are you to think that you can walk a road that no one ever walked before?”
‘Why We Build The Wall’
A thinly-veiled critique of modern American politics, Act One’s closing number sees Hades addressing his workers, including Eurydice, and asking them to repeat his doctrine. His circular logic reminds the audience that Hades ultimately doesn’t stand for anything or anyone except himself.
Key lyric: “The enemy is poverty/And the wall keeps out the enemy/And we build the wall to keep us free/That’s why we build the wall”
‘Our Lady Of The Underground’
Act Two opens with a look into Persephone’s life below the earth – she’s running a speakeasy behind Hades’ back, partying with fellow revellers. She reveals that drinking helps her deal with her misery at being stuck underground in Hades’ unpleasant world. This song is also an opportunity for Persephone to introduce the audience to the band.
Key lyric: “Tell my husband to take his time/What the boss don’t know/The boss won’t mind”
‘Way Down Hadestown (Reprise)’
Eurydice signs her deal with Hades and becomes one of his workers. She quickly realises that she’s traded more than her life with Orpheus, though – everyone in Hadestown is anonymous and goes unnamed, and their version of freedom doesn’t look very free. She soon finds herself starting to lose any memory of her life before.
Key lyric: “Your place on the assembly line/Replaces all your memories”
‘Flowers’
The consequences of Eurydice’s choice hit home to her – she realise that she’s signed her life and identity away. She laments her decision as she tries to hold onto her fast-fading memories of Orpheus.
Key lyric: “You, the one I left behind/If you ever walk this way/Come and find me lying in the bed I made”
‘Come Home With Me (Reprise)’
Orpheus makes it to Hell and finds Eurydice. Her memories of their life together begin to return and she marvels at the journey that Orpheus has undertaken for her. However, when he optimistically insists he can bring them both home again, she is frustrated and disbelieving.
Key lyric: “I called your name before”
‘Papers’
Hades is alerted to Orpheus’ presence and accuses him of trespassing. Persephone tries to vouch for him, but Hades doesn’t want to hear it. Orpheus stands his ground and insists that he’ll be taking Eurydice home with him, however Hades reveals that Eurydice is technically his property – and that she signed the deal herself.
Key lyric: “These are workin’ people, son/Law-abiding citizens/Go back to where you came from/You’re on the wrong side of the fence”
‘Nothing Changes’
The Fates taunt Orpheus a cappella-style, telling him that all his efforts to free Eurydice will be in vain.
Key lyric: “Why make trouble, why make scenes?”
‘If It’s True’
Orpheus laments the futility of the task before him, feeling that his efforts and words are ineffectual. However, the workers hear him, and his words move them. Also moved is Persephone, who overhears and wants to help. As Orpheus sings on, he convinces himself – and inadvertently the workers – to stand up and fight.
Key lyric: “I believe we’re stronger than they know/I believe that we are many/I believe that they are few”
‘How Long?’
Persephone decides to go to her husband and plead Orpheus’ case. She tells him that the love between Orpheus and Eurydice reminds her of what she and Hades once had. Hades feels that Orpheus’ love for Eurydice threatens his own absolute power, which he can’t help clinging to.
Key lyric: “Give them a piece, they’ll take it all/Show them a crack, they’ll tear down the wall”
‘Chant (Reprise)’
Hades becomes aware of the fact that Orpheus is inciting unrest among the workers. He confronts Orpheus, telling him how easy it is to lose the woman you love – bitterly comparing the state of his own marriage to Orpheus and Eurydice’s situation. As the workers go on chattering, Hades once again lauds his new way of life, praising the world of machinery he’s created. Feeling that his control on that world is slipping, however, he threatens Orpheus’ life.
Key lyric: “If we’re free, tell me why we can’t even stand upright”
‘Epic III’
Orpheus sings his song to Hades, reminding him of his love story with Persephone, and the melody that once encapsulated that love. The love song then becomes a confrontation, as Orpheus asks Hades where that love struck young man went, and how he became what he is now. As the song continues, Hades and Persephone take up the melody.
Key lyric: “Where is your pleasure? Where is your youth?/Where is the man with his arms outstretched?/To the woman he loves”
‘Promises’
Orpheus and Eurydice resolve to leave. Eurydice tells Orpheus if she only has bread and warmth, there’s nothing else she could want beside him. She asks Orpheus to lead her into the light, and to let the workers follow behind.
Key lyric: “Don’t promise me fair sky above/Don’t promise me kind road below/Just walk beside me, love/Any way the wind blows”
‘Word to the Wise’
Hades deliberates over whether to let Eurydice go. He was genuinely moved by Orpheus’ song, and knows to keep Eurydice captive would be cruel. He also knows it would make a martyr of her and lead to further unrest. However, to let her go would undermine his authority and give his workers more reason to clamour for their own freedom. The Fates explain his dilemma.
Key lyric: “Damned if you don’t/Damned if you do/Whole damn nation’s watching you”
‘His Kiss, the Riot’
Feeling the danger of Orpheus’ request, Hades comes to a conclusion: he will let them go, but he will put conditions on their escape. He hopes that doubt will undermine Orpheus’ heroism.
Key lyric: “But all alone his blood runs thin/And doubt comes, doubt comes in”
‘Wait for Me (Reprise)’
After Hermes delivers news of the test that Hermes has set up for them, Orpheus and Eurydice fear it’s a trap. They decide to try nonetheless.
They set off, with Hermes warning the audience about the corrupting power of doubt. The workers urge Orpheus to show them how the world could be, and prove to them that there’s hope of a better life. Moved by Hades decision, Persephone leaves for spring, but agrees to give their marriage another try in the fall.
Orpheus and Eurydice walk, and she calls to him to wait for her – she’s right behind him, and she’ll follow him all the way home.
Key lyric: “I’ll tell you where the real road lies/Between your ears, behind your eyes/That is the path to Paradise/Likewise, the road to ruin”
‘Doubt Comes In’
As Orpheus walks, the Fates narrate how the doubt is beginning to take over his mind. He can no longer hear Eurydice, and he begins to fear that he’s been tricked into leaving her behind in Hell. As the pressure mounts and he is unable to quiet the doubt in his mind, he does what we have known all along he’s going to do – he turns.
Eurydice gasps. They look at each other. Orpheus realises his mistake – and she vanishes.
There are many interpretations of this myth, and many reasons for the turn have been put forward. Hadestown seems to show how Orpheus’ self-doubt curdles into madness as he walks. As the audience, we’re frustrated with him – but as the musical reminds us throughout, none of us can know exactly how we’d react in these situations until we’re faced with them ourselves.
Key lyric: “Why would he let me win?/Why would he let her go?/Who am I to think that he wouldn’t deceive me just to make me leave alone?”
‘Road to Hell (Reprise)’
Hermes reminds us that this is an old story – and this is how it ends. We’ve known that from the start. None of us really know why this is how the story had to end, or how Orpheus was able to get so close only to let it all slip through his fingers. But even though we know this story is a tragedy, we’ll keep telling it – and we’ll keep hoping for a different ending.
The train pulls up. Persephone has arrived. Spring is here again.
Key lyric: “’Cause here’s the thing/To know how it ends/And still begin to sing it again/As if it might turn out this time/I learned that from a friend of mine”
‘We Raise our Cups’
Persephone raises a toast to Orpheus and says goodnight to the audience, before the curtain falls.
Key lyric: “Wherever he is wandering/Alone upon the earth/Let all our singing follow him/And bring him comfort”
Hadestown is currently playing at the Lyric Theatre – find tickets here
