Do moms have more fun? They certainly seem to in musical theatre! Mother characters have been graced with some absolutely fabulous songs by theatre songwriters over the years (deservedly so– moms rock!). Below are 50 of my favorite musical ‘mom songs’ from the past thirty years or so. We’ll say 1990-ish to present for the sake of limiting scope (I assume most folks know older standards like “Getting to Know You”, “Rose’s Turn” and even “I Dreamed a Dream” by now). I honestly could have added many more songs from the past and present. All of the pieces below would make fabulous audition, concert and recital selections. Enjoy, and please feel free to comment with your favorite ‘mom songs’ below!
P.S. Need more musical theatre song suggestions? Check out my professional repertoire guides here.
1. “Days and Days” from Fun Home (2015)
Music by Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics by Lisa Kron | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
2. “All That Matters” from Finding Neverland (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Eliot Kennedy & Gary Barlow | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[“Sylvia’s Lullaby” is also lovely!]
3. “When There’s No One” from Carrie: The Musical (1988/2012)
Music by Michal Gore; Lyrics by Dean Pitchford | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[“I Remember How Those Boys Can Dance”, “Eve Was Weak” & “Evening Prayers” are all haunting and high drama mother-daughter duets]
4. “Your Daddy’s Son” from Ragtime (1998)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[A real showstopper for black actresses. Of course, I could also listen to Audra and Brian sing “Wheels of a Dream” and “Sarah Brown Eyes” all day, any day]
5. “I Don’t Need a Roof” from Big Fish (2013)
Music & Lyrics & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[A gorgeous and wistful solo from a fabulous score overall. Also check out “Two Men In My Life” and the shockingly great cut song “Magic in the Man”]
6. “I Miss the Mountains” from Next to Normal (2009)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Or how about “You Don’t Know”, “Did I See This Movie”, “The Break” or the fabulous 11 o’clock number “So Anyway”]
7. “I’d Give My Life for You” from Miss Saigon (1991)
Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg; Lyrics by Alain Boubil & Richard Maltby Jr. | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[A powerful choice for performers of Asian descent. Other Saigon stunners: “I Still Believe”, “The Movie in My Mind”, “Now That I’ve Seen Her” & the added song “Maybe”]
8. “Smiling” from Jagged Little Pill (2019)
Music & Lyrics by Alanis Morissette & Michael Farrell | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[This is one of two original songs Alanis Morissette wrote for the otherwise jukebox score. Mary Jane also sings the pre-existing song “Uninvited”.]
9. “Let Go” from Mrs. Doubtfire (2021)
Music & Lyrics by Karey Kirkpatrick & Wayne Kirkpatrick | Sheet Music: TBA
10. “So Big / So Small” from Dear Evan Hansen (2016)
Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
11. “Losing Roberto” from Death Takes a Holiday (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Maury Yeston | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
12. “Will You?” from Grey Gardens (2006)
Music by Scott Frankel; Lyrics by Michael Korie | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[“Another Winter in a Summer Town” & “Around the World” are also wonderful numbers]
13. “Back to Before” from Ragtime (1998)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Possibly my all-time favorite ‘mom song’, but let’s also not forget the poignant “Goodbye, My Love” & the emotional duet “Our Children”]
14. “Fable” from The Light in the Piazza (2005)
Music & Lyrics by Adam Guettel | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[“Dividing Day” is also a low-key stunner!]
15. “She Used to Be Mine” from Waitress (2016)
Music & Lyrics By Sara Bareilles | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Don’t sleep on “What Baking Can Do” or “Everything Changes” either]
16. “Mama Will Provide” from Once On this Island (1990)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Sung by Asaka, ‘Mother of Earth’. Also check out “The Human Heart” sung by Erzulie, Goddess of Love]
17. “Tina’s Mother” from Ruthless! (1992)
Music by Marvin Laird & Joel Paley | Sheet Music: see full score
[“Angel Mom” & “I Will Never Be That Way Again” are also a hoot– as is the mother-daughter duet “Parents and Children”]
18. “Days of Plenty” from Little Women (2005)
Music by Jason Howland; Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[“Here Alone” is also fabulous– there’s much more in this great score than the highly memeable “Astonishing”, folks!]
19. “Warning” from Bare (2004)
Music Damon Intrabartolo; Lyrics by Jon Hartmere | Sheet Music: see full score
[Great piece about a mother coming to terms with her son’s sexuality. Teenager Ivy’s “All Grown Up” could also apply.]
20. “Stop, Time” from Big (1996)
Music by David Shire; Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
21. “Come to My Garden” from The Secret Garden (1991)
Music by Lucy Simon; Lyrics Marsha Norman | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Of course there’s also the now-iconic “How Could I Ever Know?”]
22. “My House” from Matilda (2013)
Music & Lyrics by Tim Minchin | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Sung by Miss Honey– who ultimately adopts Matilda]
23. “Like Your Son” from The Man in the Ceiling (2017)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
24. “The Road Ends Here” from John & Jen (1995)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Sheet Music: see full score
[There are also Jen’s other great numbers “Welcome to the World”, “Old Clothes”, “Just Like You”, “Smile of Your Dreams” & “That Was My Way”]
25. “I Got Four Kids” from Caroline, or Change (2004)
Music by Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics by Tony Kushner | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Or how about Caroline’s showstopping “Lot’s Wife” and the poignant “Underwater”]
26. “A Home for You” from Bat Boy (2001)
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe | Sheet Music: see full score
[“Three Bedroom House” is also one of my favorite musical theatre duets period]
27. “Almost Real” from The Bridges of Madison County (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Also check out the lovely “What Do You Call a Man Like That?”, “To Build a Home” & “Always Better”— what a score!]
28. “The Music Still Plays On” from A New Brain (1998)
Music & Lyrics by William Finn | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Throw It Out”]
29. “Enough” from In the Heights (2008)
Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[A great, driving choice for a Latinx performer]
30. “I’m Breaking Down” from Falsettos (1992/2016)
Music & Lyrics by William Finn | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Don’t forget “Tina’s Song” & “Holding to the Ground”]
31. “(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs” from Hairspray (2002)
Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[One of the most infectiously fun ‘villain songs’ ever. Velma & Edna’s duet reprise of “Big, Blonde and Beautiful” in the film version is a lot of fun too]
32. “Hello, Darling” from Kimberly Akimbo (2022)
Music by Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire | Sheet Music: TBA
33. “As I Love You” from Diana (2021)
Music by David Bryan; Lyrics by Joe DiPietro | Sheet Music: TBA
[Or Diana’s “I Will”, “Underestimated”, “Pretty, Pretty Girl”, “Simply Breathe” & “If (Light the World”— this ‘people’s princess’ loves power ballads! Oh, and Queen Elizabeth’s “An Officer’s Wife” plus Camilla’s “I Miss You Most on Sundays”]
34. “Tuesdays, Thursdays” from Far from Heaven (2013)
Music by Scott Frankel; Lyrics by Michael Korie | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[“Autumn in Connecticut” & “Heaven Knows” are also gorgeous– a fabulous ‘legit’ show score overall]
35. “What They Never Tell You” from It Shoulda Been You (2015)
Music by Barbara Anselmi; Lyrics by Brian Hargrove & Jill Abramovitz | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[There’s also “Where Did I Go Wrong” & the amusing mom-duet “Nice”]
36. “Look With Your Heart” from Love Never Dies (2010)
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Glenn Slater | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[There’s also Christine’s more widely known title song “Love Never Dies”— which might sound familiar to some]
37. “Slipping Through My Fingers” from Mamma Mia! (1999)
Music & Lyrics by Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulveas | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[An ABBA song first of course, but we’ll count it along with the tremendous “The Winner Takes It All”]
38. “Change Don’t Come Easy” from Memphis (2009)
Music by David Bryan; Lyrics by Joe DiPietro | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
39. “I Know Where I’ve Been” from Hairspray (2002)
Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[A powerful civil rights anthem for black performers. ‘Mama’ Motormouth Maybelle’s commanding “Big, Blonde and Beautiful” is also essential listening]
40. “Parents Lie” from Freaky Friday (2016)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[This is technically sung by a daughter in her mother’s body, but que sera sera! Also check out “After All of This and Everything”]
41. “Always Starting Over” from If/Then (2014)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Or how about “What If?”, “You Learn to Live Without”, “What the F**k?”, or “Here I Go”]
42. “The Letter” from Billy Elliot (2005)
Music by Elton John: Lyrics by Lee Hall | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
43. “Our Only Daughter” from A Catered Affair (2008)
Music & Lyrics by John Bucchino | Sheet Music: see full score
[Other earworms sung by Aggie: “Married”, “Vision” & Married (Reprise)]
44. “Your Texas” from Giant (2012)
Music & Lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[“Stranger” is also fabulous]
45. “You’ll Be In My Heart” from Tarzan (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Phil Collins | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Originally from the 1999 animated film, but the Broadway version is even better]
46. “My Most Beautiful Day” from Tuck Everlasting (2014)
Music by Chris Miller; Lyrics by Nathan Tysen | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
47. “Mother’s Day” from Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Or how about the more upbeat and driving “Island”]
48. “Waiting” from The Addams Family (2010)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Don’t forget Morticia’s “Just Around the Corner” and her quirky cut song “Second Banana”]
49. “Without a Word” from A Tale of Two Cities (2009)
Music & Lyrics by Jill Santoriello | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Lucie’s “You’ll Never Be Alone” & “Never Say Goodbye” are also gorgeous]
50. “He’s My Boy” from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2017)
Music by Dan Gillespie Sells; Lyrics by Tom MacRae | Sheet Music: Concord Theatricals
51. “Never Get Married” from Honeymoon in Vegas (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
52. “Elaine’s Lecture” from Almost Famous (Broadway; 2022-23)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Cameron Crowe & Tom Kitt | Sheet Music: TBA
[There’s also Elaine’s “He Knows Too Little (And I Know Too Much)” & “Listen to Me”]
53. “Tahiti” from Mr. Saturday Night (Broadway; 2022)
Music by Jason Robert Brown; Lyrics by Amanda Green | Sheet Music: TBA
54. “No Reason” from Beetlejuice (Broadway; 2019-20, 2022-23)
Music by Eddie Perfect | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
BONUS FILM & TV SHOW SONGS:
- “Evil Like Me” from Descendants
- “Mother Knows Best” from Tangled
- “All is Found” from Frozen II
- “Fairytale Life (The Wish)” from Disenchanted
- “Hang the Moon” from Smash/Bombshell
- “I’ve Always Never Believed in You” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
- “Face Your Fears” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
- “After Everything I’ve Done for You” from Crazy Ex Girlfriend
- “Maybe This Dream” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
- “The Miracle of Birth” from Crazy-Ex Girlfriend
- “First Penis I Saw” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
- “Where’s the Bathroom?” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
- “Its Over, Isn’t It?” from Steven Universe
Need more musical theatre song suggestions? Check out my professional repertoire guides here.