Top 30 Best Musical Finale Songs
Ending on a strong note. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the greatest closing numbers in musical theater history.
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00:00When you're gone who remembers your name? Who keeps your flame? Who tells your story?
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest closing numbers
00:12in musical theater history. We're dealing with the endings to some great shows,
00:16so a spoiler alert is in effect.
00:18A cat is not a dog.
00:25Number 30. Spread the Love Around. Sister Act the Musical.
00:29All things being even, here's what I believe in, nothing matters more than love.
00:37Their methods might be different, but by the end of Sister Act,
00:41both Mother Superior and Dolores find that they have more in common than they initially realized.
00:47When all's said and done, both just want to spread a little love around,
00:51and music is an ideal way to get their mutual message across.
01:08The grand finale is as heavenly as it is funky,
01:11with an entire chorus of nuns decked out in glittery habits performing for the pope.
01:21This number combines the glitz of a Las Vegas show with the rousing spirit of a gospel choir.
01:33Whether you're a churchgoer or not, it's hard not to clap along and then break out in applause.
01:39Number 29. Raise You Up, Just Be. Kinky Boots.
01:54Capping off a stellar soundtrack written by Cyndi Lauper,
01:57Raise You Up, Just Be is the epitome of a spectacular finale.
02:08The characters reunite at a footwear show in Milan as they celebrate what makes each of them
02:14so special. We're treated to some of the flashiest costumes, a fabulous catwalk from the angels,
02:20and the entire cast dancing in killer heels.
02:24Plus, the song's message of being kind to yourself and others will likely resonate with audiences everywhere.
02:42With an uplifting moral hook, catchy music, and a spirited performance,
02:57you'll still be dancing long after the curtain call. Now that's how you send off an audience.
03:12Number 28. Finale, Come From Away.
03:27This poignant show tells the true story of just some of the hundreds of people whose flights
03:32were grounded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland on September 11, 2001. The bonds
03:36they built with the locals are celebrated in an epilogue taking place 10 years later.
03:42The finale reprises Welcome to the Rock, the song which introduced us to that town.
03:56They sing of how Gander has become a second home to the passengers and the people of the town
04:00their second family. It's a eulogy and a celebration, a welcome and a goodbye.
04:12Number 27. For Now, Avenue Q. The magic of vulgarity and puppets come together in this
04:20parody of Sesame Street, which tackles adult issues and the disappointments of real life.
04:25For all its irreverence, the show ends on a pretty optimistic but bittersweet note.
04:29For now we're happy, if not overjoyed, and we'll accept the things we cannot avoid.
04:38Reworking the show's anthem about life being terrible, the finale is very much like the
04:42rest of Avenue Q. It's kind of funny and kind of dark when you think about it.
04:54For Now is a reminder that everything is fleeting. That includes the good stuff as
04:58well as the bad. So what's the takeaway? Well, it's that life goes on until it doesn't.
05:09Number 26. Happiness, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
05:14Like its source material, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown isn't exactly driven by plot,
05:31but is heavy on character, atmosphere and charm. The ending is appropriately simple
05:37while also being profound as the Peanuts gang reflects on the little things in life
05:41that make them happy. With a soothing melody and pleasant lyrics, Happiness is a song that
06:02can appeal to audiences of all ages, reminding us that even during bleak times, you can still
06:07find a silver lining. Charlie Brown may be a blockhead, but he ultimately learns that making
06:33the most out of what life gives you is the key to being a good man, thus earning Lucy's respect.
06:45Number 25. 17 Reprise, Heather's The Musical.
06:49Listen up folks, war is over. Brand new sheriffs come to town.
06:54We are done with acting evil. We will lay our weapons down.
06:59Following a rather explosive altercation with JD, Veronica pleads with her classmates to show
07:05each other more kindness. In this final number, she urges them to leave their hate and prejudices
07:11behind and focus on the joys of being young and free while they can.
07:29Starting softly as an intimate moment between two friends, the song builds into a celebration
07:35as the students get behind Veronica's message and embrace being free spirited teens.
07:41This reprise is one to appeal to all audiences, whether they're 17 or 70,
07:58and it reminds us that no matter how old we are, we should always strive to make life beautiful.
08:12Number 24. Finale, In The Heights.
08:30Lin-Manuel Miranda's first masterpiece, In The Heights, is a touching tale that cuts to the core
08:35of what it means to follow your dreams, lean into your family, and figure out where your home is.
08:51This is all perfectly encapsulated by the Latin-inspired hip-hop finale sung by Usnavi
08:57and the cast. With gentrification taking over, the residents of Washington Heights prepare to leave.
09:03But after a beautiful mural is revealed, Usnavi realizes what home means to him. Thus,
09:09he vows to continue sharing the hundreds of stories from his neighborhood.
09:14And Miranda himself has since adhered to that promise by bringing
09:17In The Heights to international audiences.
09:33Number 23. The Song Of Purple Summer, Spring Awakening.
09:43The teens of this musical tragedy have seen way too much. They're only just beginning to grasp
09:48their place in the world, but confusion, despair, and death are all around them. Feeling they've
09:53been failed by the adults in their lives, the ensemble sings of the future they will inherit.
09:57Their time is coming.
10:03The song of purple summer is their coming-of-age statement. The lyrics invoke images of nature,
10:12rebirth, and the natural order of things. As the young characters join together,
10:16singing in harmony, the repeated chorus almost starts to feel like a chant.
10:33Number 22. Home, The Wiz.
10:46In this updated version of The Wizard Of Oz, with an R&B and pop-inspired score performed
10:51by an African-American cast, Dorothy sums up everything she's learned in one powerful song.
10:56Home is the culmination of all the trials she has had to face,
11:00saying goodbye to her new friends. She realizes that home is where she belongs,
11:04but she needed to go through the perils of Oz to realize it.
11:21Some incredible singers have taken on the song over the years because it works so well out of
11:26context. Home is about something everyone can relate to.
11:36Number 21. Finale Ultimo, The Impossible Dream Reprise, Man Of La Mancha.
11:57In musicalizing Miguel de Cervantes' novel about the old man who believed he was a knight,
12:02the show sets the story of Don Quixote inside a story about the author himself.
12:06Cervantes himself is a character, on trial during the Spanish Inquisition.
12:11His fellow prisoners, having watched the show within a show,
12:14salute Cervantes with Don Quixote's anthem.
12:26The Impossible Dream is by far the most famous song from the show.
12:31It reminds us of hope and honor in a world where both are in short supply.
12:35But watching the author, who's come to represent Don Quixote himself,
12:39serenaded by his fellow prisoners, reminds us that his dream is not dead.
12:44Number 20. Nowadays Hot Honey Rag, Chicago.
12:59At the end of this candor and ebb musical, Roxy Hart and Velma Kelly have beaten their
13:04murder raps, but their 15 minutes of fame are up.
13:06However, they're not willing to give up on show business just yet.
13:09The feuding jazz babies of the Cook County Jail decide to pair up in a double act.
13:14The result is a dazzling closer.
13:16["Not All in Heaven Now-a-Days"]
13:24Nowadays is great enough with its body style and suggestive lyrics,
13:28but the Hot Honey Rag is a bit more than that.
13:30Originally staged by the legendary Bob Fosse,
13:33if it doesn't have you rooting for these two murderesses, nothing will.
13:44Number 19. You'll Never Walk Alone Reprise, Carousel.
13:49["The World Belongs to Me Now-a-Days"]
13:55You'll Never Walk Alone Reprise, Carousel.
13:58["The world belongs to you as much as to the next fella, so don't give it up"]
14:06Facing this musical on Ferenc Molnar's 1909 play Lilium,
14:10Rodgers and Hammerstein decided that their adaptation needed a happier ending.
14:15The finale takes place during Louise's graduation,
14:18where Billy is finally successful in his last attempt at redemption.
14:22["And don't be afraid of the dark"]
14:29["Believe him, darling"]
14:30Led by Dr. Selden, the characters sing this beautiful final tune together
14:35as Billy ascends to heaven.
14:37The lyrics reportedly came easily to Hammerstein,
14:40but finding a suitably rousing melody apparently took Rodgers a little longer.
14:45["I love you, Julie. No, I loved you"]
14:56Admittedly, the ending is rather outdated and has plenty of issues.
15:01Nevertheless, You'll Never Walk Alone has transcended Carousel
15:05to become a universal symbol of hope.
15:15["Forever"]
15:29["We need sunlight"]
15:33["First of all, we need sunlight"]
15:44["You can't sit here in the dark"]
15:48When Next to Normal opened on Broadway,
15:50its groundbreakingly honest depiction of mental illness caused quite a stir.
15:55The show took the immense responsibility of tackling such a heavy topic in its stride, though,
16:00and made sure to end on a message of hope, much like our last entry.
16:04["Day after day"]
16:08["We'll find the will to find our way"]
16:13Diana leaves the family so that she and Dan
16:16can each begin to process their own grief.
16:19He's devastated, but is finally able to reconcile with the past.
16:32Meanwhile, Natalie comes to terms with the situation, too,
16:36and Gabe is also relieved of his otherwise dark role,
16:39as the family unites to sing this moving melody about new beginnings.
16:54Number 17.
16:56King of Pride Rock Circle of Life Reprise.
16:58The Lion King.
17:10Beauty and the Beast was the first in Disney's long line of enchanting Broadway productions,
17:16ending on a high note.
17:18["Beauty and the Beast"]
17:30However, it was The Lion King that redefined
17:33just how ambitious and spectacular a Broadway show can be.
17:37Like the 1994 animated feature it's based on,
17:40this musical commences and closes with the triumphant Circle of Life,
17:44both literally and figuratively bringing the story full circle.
18:04As jaw-dropping as the opening number is,
18:07the finale packs an even greater punch,
18:09since we formed such a strong connection with our heroes.
18:19Seeing the entire cast reunite as Simba and Nala's cub is presented
18:24is the ultimate celebration of unity, destiny, and, of course, life.
18:38Number 16.
18:39Finale for Good Reprise.
18:41Wicked.
18:42["Wicked"]
18:55Reminding us that the events seen in Wicked are actually a flashback,
18:58the finale picks up with a familiar melody and lyrics from the opening number.
19:03["Goodbye"]
19:07The citizens of Oz are still celebrating the apparent demise of the Wicked Witch,
19:12but this time it's interjected with melancholy
19:14as Glinda reflects upon the loss of her friend.
19:17Sharing one final song, the pair sings in stunning harmony,
19:21creating a powerful dissonance from the joyous crowds.
19:25["I'll have them chaaaaaange"]
19:32["Wicked"]
19:35However, their tune is drowned out by the ensemble,
19:38reminding us that it was the labels of Good and Wicked
19:41that ultimately determined these characters' fates.
19:44["Wicked"]
19:54Number 15.
19:56Flying Away Finale.
19:57Fun Home.
19:58In this adaptation of the graphic novel,
20:00author Alison Bechdel is represented in three different times of her life
20:04by three different actors.
20:05Her childhood self, college-aged self, and adult self form a trio for its final song.
20:10Coming to terms with her father's death and all she might never know about him,
20:14she remembers playing airplane with him.
20:22The three Alisons' voices soar and layer over each other,
20:25but come together in harmony, like three spirits becoming one.
20:28Flying Away is a reminder that even in the tragedy of it all,
20:32there were moments with her troubled father that still remain perfect in her memory.
20:36["I can see all of Pennsylvania"]
20:41Number 14.
20:42Tomorrow is a Latter Day.
20:44The Book of Mormon.
20:45["Don't worry little body, know this much is true,
20:52tomorrow is a latter day, and I am here for you"]
21:01As much as this satirical musical makes fun of the Mormon religion,
21:05and religion in general,
21:06it also encourages people to never let go of their faith,
21:10as long as they're channeling it towards something positive.
21:13["There's true things that's far ahead,
21:16the only latter day that matters is tomorrow,
21:22the skies are clearing and the sun's coming out,
21:25it's a latter day tomorrow"]
21:28Tomorrow is a Latter Day is a surprisingly optimistic number,
21:31motivating us to work towards a better world by doing good to others.
21:36As for what the future holds for our protagonists,
21:39it's entirely possible people will be preaching the Book of Arnold one day.
21:42["Let Arnold come in"]
21:49The teachings may be out there,
21:51but it's the message that really counts.
21:54In addition to being clever and hilarious,
21:56this is a life-affirming show tune that leaves us feeling hopeful exiting the theater.
22:02Number 13.
22:03Being Alive.
22:04Company.
22:05["There was something we wanted to say,
22:08but life was busy so long"]
22:11Fleshing out the ending of this musical was no easy feat for Stephen Sondheim.
22:16In fact, he first went through three other potential finale songs,
22:20including a much darker one called Happily Ever After.
22:23["Happily ever after, someone to need you too much,
22:29someone to read you too well"]
22:31But they didn't work for various reasons,
22:33so he's said to have somewhat begrudgingly settled on Being Alive.
22:38["Someone to hold you too close,
22:45someone to hurt you too deep"]
22:50Nevertheless, after reflecting on relationships throughout the show,
22:54this is the moment where Bobby's cynicism fades away.
22:58Thus, the character finally comes to terms with what he really wants.
23:02["Somebody sit in my chair and ruin my sleep
23:06and make me aware of being alive, being alive"]
23:16It might not be as upbeat as some of the other songs on our list,
23:19but it's a powerful ending that hits us right in the feels.
23:28["Alive, alive"]
23:37Number 12.
23:38Anatevka, Fiddler on the Roof
23:40["What do we leave? Nothing much, only Anatevka"]
23:48Tevye the Milkman is a Jewish man caught between the traditions he's always lived with
23:52and the modern world.
23:54As he watches and comes to terms with cultural progress,
23:57He and his fellow villagers are expelled from their homes by the Russians.
24:00Anatevka is their solemn goodbye to the only home they've ever known.
24:21While it may not look like much, now that they're being pushed out,
24:24it suddenly feels like the entire world.
24:26But the song also reminds us that history told them they must always
24:30be ready to look for a new home when they're pushed out of their old one.
24:33It's just a place.
24:35And our forefathers have been forced out of many, many places at a moment's notice.
24:41Maybe that's why we always wear our hats.
24:56After being shown some compassion by Christine,
25:07the Phantom accepts her happiness lies elsewhere and frees Ral.
25:11As the two leave together, we see the tear-jerking contrast of their love song
25:16set against the Phantom's loneliness.
25:18The soft build-up of the music conveys his despair,
25:21and the emotive melody leaves us all choked up.
25:27As the tune hits its crescendo,
25:35we can almost feel the Phantom's overwhelming sorrow.
25:57Yet, the enigmatic finale shrouds him in mystery once more
26:03as he suddenly disappears from sight.
26:05It may not be the grandest ending, but it definitely leaves a major impact.
26:18Number 10.
26:19Climb Every Mountain Reprise, The Sound of Music.
26:31While this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is known for its joyous and family-friendly music,
26:36the finale features a drama that would be just as at home in a spy thriller.
26:40Maria, Captain Von Trapp, and the Von Trapp children
26:42make a narrow escape from the Nazis at a music festival.
26:46Helped along by some friends, including the nuns at Maria's former abbey,
26:49they make a daring and desperate escape to safety in Switzerland.
26:53As they escape, the nuns form an angelic chorus.
27:17Their tear-ringing reprise of Climb Every Mountain closes the show,
27:20and leaves the audience with a reminder of the importance of following your dreams.
27:46Number 9. Sunday, Sunday in the Park with George.
27:50Stephen Sondheim's musical is not just about the creation of the painting
27:54A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat,
27:58it's about how art can make the artist and their subjects immortal.
28:15At the end of Act 1, his subjects return for the final number,
28:19where they recreate a tableau of the painting.
28:21Full of shapes, color, light, it's all about images.
28:31And for the second act finale, the subjects return to help Georges' grandson,
28:35who's experiencing an artistic crisis.
28:37Seurat's mistress, who could not stay with him in their lifetime,
28:40manages to express her love for Seurat by inspiring his grandson,
28:44creating a haunting, beautiful finale which stays with viewers
28:47long after the final note and image fade.
29:00Number 8. Finale B, Rent.
29:02There is no future, there is no past. Thank God this moment's not the last.
29:17At the heart of this musical is a message about living life in the now,
29:21as any day could be your last.
29:33This moral is only made more meaningful knowing that creator Jonathan Larson
29:39died before Rent made it off-Broadway.
29:41The finale perfectly embodies the show's underlying themes
29:45as Mimi pulls through and everyone celebrates.
29:49Although Finale B combines several prior songs,
29:52it still stands out as a wholly unique number that leaves every listener uplifted.
29:57And the final appearance from the deceased angel is especially joyous.
30:18Rent is such a powerful story that, at the end of an early off-Broadway production,
30:24it actually left one young audience member saying,
30:27Thank you, Jonathan Larson.
30:29It seemed like an eternity until this young voice spoke out.
30:35Thank you, Jonathan Larson.
30:37Number 7. One Reprise, A Chorus Line.
30:48One singular sensation.
30:52A lot of popular stories seem to be about aspiring artists seeking superstardom.
30:57This long-running musical shines a spotlight on Broadway's unsung heroes, however.
31:02The chorus.
31:03One singular sensation.
31:06Every little step she takes.
31:10One thrilling combination.
31:13A Chorus Line centers on several individuals who all stand out with colorful personalities.
31:19When everyone's brought together for the final number, though,
31:22they all blend into each other as one singular sensation.
31:36The fact that all the dancers are wearing matching outfits
31:38only makes it harder to distinguish one person from another.
31:41As toe-tapping as the finale might be,
31:44it's also kind of melancholy considering that all of these talented performers
31:48will forever be part of an ensemble, never shining as stars.
31:52Such is the nature of showbiz.
32:02Number 6. The Flesh Failures, Let the Sunshine In, Hair.
32:12Touching on peace, sexual freedom, and hippie subculture,
32:20this controversial rock musical did such an exceptional job at encapsulating the 60s
32:25that many of the songs would become anthems used for protesting the Vietnam War.
32:30The finale in particular is a tragic yet inspiring anti-war number
32:35that still resonates in today's political climate.
32:42As a young free spirit prepares to ship out in a military uniform,
33:01his fate is sealed with a swan song.
33:04The grim fate of this character gives the song the sentiment
33:06of something you'd hear at a funeral.
33:08At the same time, the soulful choir injects a hopeful and even blissful essence
33:13that encourages us to let the sunshine in.
33:33Number 5. Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story, Hamilton.
33:37Let me tell you what I wish I'd known. When I was young and dreamed of glory.
33:44You have no control. Who lives, who dies, who tells your story.
33:50As the curtain closed on In the Heights,
33:52it seemed like Lin-Manuel Miranda had forever topped himself.
33:56He somehow managed to reach even greater heights with Hamilton, however,
34:00which continues to enthrall audiences from beginning to end.
34:07Who lives, who dies, who tells your story.
34:17The play depicts Alexander Hamilton as a founding father
34:20who doesn't want to miss his shot at going down in history.
34:24Ironically, his ill-fated duel with Aaron Burr would overshadow many of his achievements.
34:29And when my time is up, have I done enough?
34:33Will they tell my story? Oh, I can't wait to see you again.
34:42The finale, which is primarily helmed by Hamilton's widow,
34:46not only explores Hamilton's life,
34:48but also contemplates the concept of time and how history portrays us all.
34:52We all live, we all die,
34:54but the story plays out much differently depending who tells it.
34:59Who lives, who dies, who tells your story.
35:12Number 4. Children will listen, Into the Woods
35:15Look, tell him the story of how it all happened, be father and mother.
35:19You'll know what to do. Alone?
35:23It goes without saying that most fairy tales carry moral teachings.
35:27In Into the Woods, the general lesson is that actions have consequences.
35:32Hold him to the light now. Let him see the glow.
35:40This song sees the cast reunite one final time,
35:43as the characters reflect upon what they've lost and what they've learned.
35:47Careful the things you say. A young maiden.
35:51Children will listen. A sad young lad.
35:54Careful the things you do. A childless baker.
35:58Children will see.
36:00It's a hauntingly beautiful tune that encourages its audience
36:03to always lead by example.
36:05The bittersweet ending marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
36:10Careful the path they take. Wishes come true. Not free.
36:18Importantly, it also demonstrates Stephen Sondheim's genius by bringing us full circle.
36:28The baker starts to tell his baby of the events that led to this moment,
36:32all while we, the captivated audience, watch on.
36:39Number 3. You Can't Stop the Beat, Hairspray
36:47Every song in Hairspray is a treasure,
36:56but the composers saved their absolute best song for last.
37:00Simply put, You Can't Stop the Beat is everything you could possibly
37:03want out of a grand finale. For starters,
37:06it makes impeccable use of the entire ensemble, with each major player getting a solo or duet.
37:18It also wonderfully sums up the show's overarching themes of acceptance
37:26and embracing the changing times.
37:40With infectious instrumentals and energized lyrics,
37:44the whole finale is like a party you never want to end.
37:47While the song itself may come to a close, the catchy melody will never leave your head.
37:53You literally can't stop the beat.
38:04Number 2. Rose's Turn, Gypsy
38:07It could just be one of the most iconic songs in all of musical theater,
38:23but would you believe that it almost never existed?
38:26According to Sondheim, the track came about when choreographer Jerome Robbins ran short
38:31of time to stage a ballet that had originally been meant to signify Rose's breakdown.
38:38To replace it, Sondheim penned a song featuring bits and pieces from earlier numbers.
38:52And so, the protagonist finally abandons all pretenses,
38:56as an overflow of emotions pour out of her through this fiery showstopper.
39:07An emotionally charged number, it's held as one of the best musical soliloquies of all time,
39:18and is all but guaranteed to earn its leading lady a well-deserved standing ovation.
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39:53Number 1. Do You Hear the People Sing Reprise? Les Miserables
40:10Les Miserables is musical theater at its most epic, and calls for an especially
40:16magnificent final curtain. This finale starts off on a slow, heartbreaking note,
40:21as Jean Valjean reunites with Cosette one last time.
40:44Accompanied by Fantine and Eponine, Valjean ventures to the afterlife,
40:48where a choir of other departed souls are waiting for him. Building and building with
40:53each passing verse, this production number encompasses a sense of loss while also being
40:58victorious. Do You Hear the People Sing demonstrates that even when people die,
41:14the ideals they fought for live on. Outside of the show, it's taken on a second life as
41:20a political anthem that many use as a form of protest. One musical finale always gets
41:37a standing ovation from you. Let us know in the comments.
41:51Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
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