Most Curiously Touching Songs

[Cruel_Sandwich]

By "curiously touching", I mean that they touch and affect you deeply, but for reasons unclear to you.

For me, it'd have to be "If I Were a Bell". So unbelievably touching but I don't know why. I've never seen the show and have no idea in what context this song is sung. For all I know, the entire thing could be played for laughs or something.

[BroadwayMel]

There are a few out there that kill me:

1) Your Daddy's Son (Ragtime)
2) Nobody Needs To Know (The Last 5 Years)
3) Bring Him Home (Les Miserables)
4) Flying Home (Songs For A New World)
5) I'll Cover You, Reprise (Rent)

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

1)Defying Gravity
2)For Good
3)No day but today
4)As long as your mine
5)One day more
6)Think of me
7)One song glory
I am what I am

[BertCCRI2]

There are many, but I'll mention two for the present:

"Our Children" from Ragtime, and, of more recent vintage, "The I Love You Song" from Spelling Bee, particularly at the end when Olive redefines "chimerical."

[nmartin]

When I first saw Ragtime, New Music actually made me cry. I finally decided it was a combination of the song, lighting, actors, and orchestra that affected me so much. Everything just seemed incredibly right. Wonderful moment.

[Overthemoon6]

Some Things Are Meant to Be from Little Women. Actually, I know why it touches me...

[VonTussleGirl]

"My Friend, the Dictionary." Long story.

[teh_pretty]

Goodbye Until Tomorrow from The Last 5 Years. I don't know why, but for the first few times I listened to the recording I cried at that song, and I NEVER cry at things like that.

[buffyactsing]

I never saw Ragtime, but just listening to New Music makes me cry.

[grizzabella]

There are a few that touch me, too, out of context. I guess a partial list would be: "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"(POTP)"To Each His Dulcinea"(Man of La Mancha),"If I Could Share My Life With You" (Pippin); "Day By Day"(Godspell).
All have a place in my heart.

[sally1112]

I wish I could go back to college...although funny, is so sweet and makes me miss college. I sent copies of it to my nonbroadway college friends and they all said the same thing- "That is so us..."

[apdarcey]

"i'm not that girl"

i'm not a girl, i'm not green, i'm not blonde, i'm not in love... i have no idea why it touches me the way it does.

[gavrochegirl]

Your Eyes...it is a beautiful song...it shows the true meanings of compassion and love.

[Joe The Techie]

Well...some of mine have already been said (For Good & defying gravity), but "Part of us" From Once on this island kinda gets me...I love that show

[zoran912]

"We Do Not Belong Together" from SITPWG. The first time I watched the DVD, I nearly found myself in tears. Bernadette has a way of doing that to me. I teared up when I watched her sing "Not a Day Goes By" on the Sondheim Celebration at Carnegie Hall DVD. The woman, despite her lack of classical vocal expertise, really knows how to wrench your heart out with a piece of music.

[MadeofGold]

I totally cried the first time I saw Wicked during "For Good." I was really surprised about that!

[apdarcey]

madeofgold... where in the world have you been? i miss you! love, andrew

[MadeofGold]

Awww....thanks, Andrew. My new job is slowly sucking small bits of my soul and taking away much of my internet time. Hope you're doing great!

Sorry for the tangent.

To get back on topic, another strangely moving song for me was "Human Heart" from Once on this Island. Makes me cry for some reason!

[apdarcey]

aw, glad to hear you're ok and also i love human heart too... it really gets me every time.

[wonderland]

A lot of SITPWG hits home, as it does to every artist, I'm sure, especially "Move On." I also found myself tearing up at a recent production of ACL during "At the Ballet," and I'm decidedly not a dancer, nor did my parents ever take me to anything cultural when I was a child :)

ETA: "Colored Lights" from The Rink. Geez... "and with other people's music ringing in my ears, I couldn't sing, well anything..." That's just amazing writing.

[apdarcey]

children and art is such a moving song too. and finishing the hat for me (but i know why!)

[Michael Bennett]

"I Won't Mind"
"Goodbye for Now"

Neither songs from well known musicals, but songs recorded many time by great musical theatre stars.

Also:

"Simple" from NINE
"You" from SCROOGE

[Elizabeth_DeBris]

"Sunday" from Sunday in the Park With George, and the "Tonight" quartet from West Side Story are currently the ones that get me, for unknown reasons. I have a long list of songs that get me, but I know the reasons for those...

[Overthewall]

"Anything for Him" from Kiss of the Spiderwoman. Most of that show gets me, I also think "I Don't Care Much" is really touching.

[wickedrentq]

Eh, some are probably more obvious than others, but still don't think everyone would cry/be really touched for them.

You'll Never Walk Alone-Carousel
Actions Speak Louder than Words-Tick Tick Boom(Birthday music always gets me)
Sunrise, Sunset-Fiddler
Finale-the Secret Garden
Down once more/track this murderer-Phantom movie soundtrack...everything from earned a mother's fear and loathing through the end of the whole song