'She Used To Be Mine' from WAITRESS

[Zamedy154]

I recently discovered this gem of a song and have FALLEN. IN. LOVE.

The Tony performance, in which Sara sings the first verse, brings me to tears about 15 seconds in. Sobbing baby on the way to work this morning. I'm a guy. I'm gay. I recently got out of a six-and-a-half year relationship. My kids are my dog and cat. Yet this song sooo speaks to me right now. It is such a beautiful gift to musical theatre. I've been wrong but I've been brave. I've made mistakes but I work so hard. I'm vulnerable and I'm naive but I'm free.   

Anyone else feel the same way? Is there another song out there that has the same effect on you? 'What I Did For Love' and 'Fly, Fly Away' also touch me, but right now this one gets me and gets me good. 

[barcelona20]

[dramagoer]

I saw Waitress last week, and wondered how this show has managed to run for two years???  The audience was asleep.

[Addipia94]

I went to Waitress 3 weeks ago and had the opposite experience, the audience seemed to love it. Could be a hit or miss depending on the audience I'm sure. 

[greenifyme2]

I went 2 weeks ago and the audience was pretty sleepy to start but really perked up when Christopher came out and stayed that way through act 2.

[Jessetenny]

I think that She Used to Be Mine is one of the best songs written for musical theatre. Up there with Defying Gravity, If I Loved You, Memory, etc. I saw the show with Jessie, Sara, Betsy and now Katharine, and they have all blown me away and made me sob.

[EllieRose2]

Love that song!  And everyone who has sung it sings it their way, which is beautiful.  I love Jessie's raw version, Sara was perfect because she wrote it, I loved Betsy's take, and Katharine sings it very pop style, which changes things up a bit.  My favorite though is when Jeremy Jordan sang it a few weeks ago at Miscast.  I love when he covers songs, check it out on Youtube.  

[Zamedy154]

Jeremy Jordan could sing the phone book and I'd listen. And watch. And drool. 

[dramamama611]

For a long time Move On from Sunday in the Park with George had that effect on me.    There are moments listening to CFA that can make me weepy....but not full out cry..it's the sentiment far more that the piece itself.

[Jessetenny]

Zamedy154 said: "Jeremy Jordan could sing the phone book and I'd listen. And watch. And drool."

AMEN

[JudyDenmark]

Not long after this song came out (when I was listening to Sara Bareilles' concept album on repeat before the actual show had opened), I had a late, exhausting night at the office and one hell of a bad case of Imposter Syndrome that day, and when it came on on my train ride home, I literally burst into tears at the first "she's imperfect, but she tries." It was by far my biggest public ugly cry since moving to NYC 15 years ago. What a song. 

It's Sara Bareilles' performance from the Today Show that's my favorite, and my biggest gut punch. It's just so REAL.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLdXVucTFSw)

Interestingly, I did not love it in the context of the show when I saw it. Probably because I had fallen so in love with Bareilles' version that I had a hard time listening to someone else sing it, especially with a heavy southern accent. (Though that was reversed when I saw the show a second time at Bareilles' "last" performance. Holy hell is she flawless.)

[macnyc]

I'm sorry, I don't understand this song. Who is Jenna singing it to?

[Jessetenny]

macnyc said: "I'm sorry, I don't understand this song. Who is Jenna singing it to?"

She is singing it to herself, its about how she lost herself and lost control over her life.

[Elegance101]

There was something so magical about Sara's performance of the song during her two runs. Maybe because the lyrics truly came from her (and when actors sing a song, they can only hope for that kind of connection with the lyrics), but Sara might be the best Jenna for that reason. I almost wish she originated the role so she could've gotten some well-deserved accolades for her performance.

[poisonivy2]

This song only has its full impact when Sara sings it IMO. I've seen Jessie, Sara and Betsy and Sara is the one who makes this one of the great 11 o'clock numbers in recent musical theater history. Jessie and Betsy have amazing voices but their versions lack the strength of character that Sara exudes.

Actually I think "She Used to Be Mine" will eventually join Rose's Turn, I'm Here, Send in the Clowns as classic 11 o'clock numbers. 

[mailhandler777]

poisonivy2 said: "This song only has its full impact when Sara sings it IMO. I've seen Jessie, Sara and Betsy and Sara is the one who makes this one of the great 11 o'clock numbers in recent musical theater history. Jessie and Betsy have amazing voices but their versions lack the strength of character that Sara exudes.

Actually I think "She Used to Be Mine" will eventually join Rose's Turn, I'm Here, Send in the Clowns as classic 11 o'clock numbers."

For me it was when Stephanie Torns sang it. She made me cry like a baby. I saw Jessie, Sara and Desi(from the tour) and no one affected me as much as Stephanie did.

[KathyNYC2]

mailhandler777 said: "poisonivy2 said: "This song only has its full impact when Sara sings it IMO. I've seen Jessie, Sara and Betsy and Sara is the one who makes this one of the great 11 o'clock numbers in recent musical theater history. Jessie and Betsy have amazing voices but their versions lack the strength of character that Sara exudes.

Actually I think "She Used to Be Mine" will eventually join Rose's Turn, I'm Here, Send in the Clowns as classic 11 o'clock numbers."

For me it was when Stephanie Torns sang it. She made me cry like a baby. I saw Jessie, Sara and Desi(from the tour) and no one affected me as much as Stephanie did."

Another vote for Stephanie from me also. 

[mc1227]

I’ve been a big fan of this show and love both Jesses and Sara renditions.  Jesse made me cry the first time I saw her perform it.  Sara was something special as well and you could hear a pin drop when both performed it as if the audience was really experiencing the songs message.  Betsy, on the other hand, did nothing for me when she performed it.  Perhaps if I had not been so moved by the first two Jenna’s, I might have felt differently.  Totally agree that the songs message is so powerful and moving and should be regarded among the greatest songs.  

[OneSingularSensation2]

EllieRose2 said: "Love that song! And everyone who has sung it sings it their way, which is beautiful. I love Jessie's raw version, Sara was perfect because she wrote it, I loved Betsy's take, and Katharine sings it very pop style, which changes things up a bit. My favorite though is when Jeremy Jordan sang it a few weeks ago at Miscast. I love when he covers songs, check it out on Youtube."

Sorry, off-thread, but just need to chime in with praise for his rendition of It's All Coming Back to Me Now... love it! (And love Miscast too!)

[poisonivy2]

You know I was reading that book The Secret Life of the American Musical and Waitress actually has several classic archetype songs:

What Baking Can Do - wonderful I Want song

It Only Takes a Taste - conditional love song

Never Gonna Leave You - Mid-act "noise" song

She Used to Be Mine - 11 o'clock number