Hadestown Broadway soundtrack: A complete guide to the setlist
Kritika
Welcome to Hadestown, where jazz, folk, and blues collide in a haunting retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth. Written by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and directed by Rachel Chavkin, this Tony Award-winning musical transports audiences to a world where love struggles against fate, and the road to the underworld is paved with heartbreak.
With its spellbinding score, Hadestown won 8 Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical and Best Original Score for Mitchell’s evocative compositions. The music pulses with New Orleans-inspired jazz, smoky blues, and Appalachian folk, creating a rich soundscape that echoes through the realms of gods and mortals alike.
⚡Act 1: Love in Bloom, Shadows Loom
The world above is harsh, but love offers warmth—until the bitter winds of Hadestown come calling.
Road to Hell
Hermes, our charismatic narrator, introduces the characters—Orpheus, Eurydice, and the power-hungry ruler of Hadestown, Hades—and sets the stage for fate’s tragic dance.
Any Way the Wind Blows
Eurydice, a weary traveler, dreams of security in a world that offers little mercy.
Come Home With Me
Orpheus, an idealistic musician, woos Eurydice with promises of a better life.
Wedding Song
Eurydice challenges Orpheus to prove his love is more than just words.
Epic I
Orpheus begins crafting his song—a melody powerful enough to bring spring back to the earth.
Livin’ It Up on Top
Persephone, queen of the underworld, returns for the season, celebrating life aboveground with warmth, wine, and wild revelry, despite tensions with Hades.
All I’ve Ever Known
Eurydice and Orpheus embrace love, despite their fears of an uncertain future.
Way Down Hadestown
The underworld is introduced. The first glimpse of Hades’ industrial underworld, where workers toil endlessly.
A Gathering Storm
The fates whisper warnings of trouble ahead for Orpheus and Eurydice.
Epic II
Orpheus continues his song, believing in its power to transform the world.
Chant
A layered ensemble piece juxtaposing Persephone and Hades’ strained marriage with Orpheus and Eurydice’s fragile love.
Hey, Little Songbird
Hades lures Eurydice to Hadestown with promises of stability.
When the Chips Are Down
The fates reinforce the idea that survival trumps sentimentality.
Gone, I’m Gone
Eurydice, succumbing to desperation, makes a fateful decision to go to Hadestown.
Wait for Me
Orpheus embarks on his journey to Hadestown, driven by love and his unfinished song.
Why We Build the Wall
Hades delivers his doctrine, convincing his workers that fear and isolation keep them safe—one of the most chilling moments of the show.
💔Act 2: Love Tested, Fate Decided
Hope flickers in the darkness, but the gods are not easily swayed.
Our Lady of the Underground
Persephone, the queen of Hadestown, runs an illicit speakeasy, offering rebellion in a glass.
Way Down Hadestown (Reprise)
The workers reinforce the grim reality of their existence.
Flowers
Eurydice, filled with regret, longs for the love she left behind.
Come Home With Me (Reprise)
Orpheus arrives in Hadestown, pleading with Eurydice to return.
Papers
Hades asserts his power, dismissing Orpheus as nothing more than a dreamer.
Nothing Changes
Persephone challenges Hades, rekindling the emotions that once bound them.
If It’s True
Orpheus dares to believe that one song can change everything.
How Long?
Hades and Persephone reach a breaking point in their relationship.
Chant (Reprise)
The tension between love and power reaches its peak as Orpheus and Eurydice’s fate hangs in the balance.
Epic III
Orpheus sings his masterpiece, melting Hades’ heart and earning a chance to leave with Eurydice.
Promises
Hades grants Orpheus and Eurydice a chance to leave—but with one cruel condition: Orpheus must lead, and Eurydice must follow without him looking back.
Word to the Wise
The fates whisper doubt, planting the seed of fear in Orpheus.
His Kiss, the Riot
The tragic climax, where love and trust are put to the ultimate test—Orpheus looks back, and Eurydice is lost.
Wait for Me (Reprise)
The cycle begins again, as Hermes reminds us that this is a story we will always tell.
Road to Hell (Reprise)
The final bow, a reminder that some tales are meant to be repeated as they are too powerful to fade.
🎶Musical Highlights & Signature Sounds
Tony Award for Best Original Score – Anaïs Mitchell’s hauntingly poetic compositions earned Broadway’s highest honor.
Critics' Acclaim – Songs like Wait for Me and Epic III are celebrated for their emotional depth and stirring melodies.
Modern Relevance – Why We Build the Wall eerily echoes contemporary themes of division and control.
Innovative Orchestration – The fusion of folk, jazz, and blues creates a soundscape that feels both ancient and strikingly modern.
You’ve heard the songs, now witness the myth unfold before your eyes. Hadestown is an electrifying journey of love, loss, and fate, wrapped in a score that lingers long after the final note. Don't just listen—book your tickets and take the road to hell… and back.
