Hamilton Hopeful

How does a Bennet sister, daughter of a Mrs. and a Mr., 

talented and witty, sitting pretty here in Meryton, her parent’s second child, 

grow up to defy her parents, yeah a Bennet running wild? 

The second oldest 

Bennet sister without a mister’s doing great, 

Not a date, not a man to call her own, 

and she doesn’t seem to mind her mother’s out of her mind with worry and grief. Yeah she’s stuck in disbelief-

-that her daughter is single. Not a man, not a hand that she can hold, without a plan, and her mother’s getting old.

it’s universally said a single man without a plan will be looking for a wife. 

This Bennet’s throwing away her life!

It’s like a hurricane came and devastation reigned- see the Bennets have five daughters, not a husband to their names. 

So Mrs. Bennet played matchmaker, looked for suitors or a taker for her girls-

Hey Mrs. Bennet, look who’s moved to Netherfield!

Well the word got around, they said,

“This new guy’s got it made! He’s a match, what a catch, did you hear how well he’s paid? If he wed a Bennet sister the whole town would celebrate!”

All except that second sister- she’s a rebel, what’s her name, man?

Elizabeth Bennet.

My name’s Elizabeth Bennet. And there’s a million things I haven’t done, just you wait, just you wait.

When she was ten her sister Jane, beauty plain, said she’d like to find a groom.

Sisters laughed, moment passed, now she’s alone and 22 and there’s nothing she can do, now that’s true. 

(And Lizzie’d never tell but she wants a husband too)

They all live here in Meryton, see them walking down the street.

Just a normal family: five sisters who have yet to meet a guy.

Town says “Lizzie, you gotta fend for yourself.”

She keeps on reading, not needing love, not even gonna try.

There would’ve been nothing left to do for someone less astute.

She would’ve been lonely, destitute, without a hope of love.

Her mother started schemin’, dreamin’ of a new man for her daughter-

finally a man to push the Bennet name farther.

Runnin’ with any gossip she can get her hands on. 

Here’s her daughter Lizzie- see her now as she stands with

Jane, Mary, Kitty and Lydia her family.

In this play she might meet a new man.

In this play she might meet a new man.

In this play she might meet a new man.

In this play (this play) Just you wait. 

Bennet sisters

We are waiting on the stage for you.

We’re all ready to go, there’s no need to take your time.

Oh, Bennet sisters

Took your story from the page for you.

If you see her tell Austen thanks.

Here’s the tale of Lizzie and Jane-

The world will never be the same.

Story’s right in front of you, see if you can stop us.

We’re the best matchmakers; there’s nobody who can top us. 

We moved to Netherfield, we’re here, we hope no one forgot us.

I fought for you.

I fought with you.

I trusted you.

Me, I love you.

And me, well I wrote the story.

There’s a million things you haven’t seen, but just you wait-

Pride and Prejudice. 

To make this list, songs must be EITHER an underrated song from a popular musical, or an epic song from a less mainstream musical. Add your own! This is not a comprehensive list, just the first 10 that came to mind that I feel strongly about.

1. “Big Picture” from Ordinary Days

Why it’s great: Snappy lines, bright charcters, and life revelations in a song! What’s not to like? 

Best line: “Sitting here at Starbucks drinking mediocre coffee with a professional cat sitter is all my life is going to amount to.”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V2aJwNGzmQo

2. “Monica’s Song” from Clinton the Musical

Why it’s great: Unexpected and OH SO CATCHY this song is amazing. New perspectives on well known political figures! So exciting! 

Best line: “You put a mark on my heart— and my dress”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5VpyfFLMF5A

3. “One Day” from Groundhog Day the Musical

Why it’s great: this song establishes a woman who knows what she wants, is conflicted, is OKAY WITH IT and is unwilling to compromise. so many dimensions! so great!!

Best line: “While the knights spend their nights at a bar, or a ball with some harlot- I’m not bitter, it’s just better that I ‘dont fall for all that romantic bullshit.”

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nU673wuNhhU

4. “You Gotta Die Sometime” from Falsettos

Why it’s great: Andrew Rannells is a god among men and this song is so freaking powerful. It’s raw and i’ts real and it’s true and these are things we cannot take for granted.

Best line: “At least death means I’ll never be scared about dying again.” 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I7JkxuCVLjE

5. “Candy Store” from Heathers the Musical

Why it’s great: Honey what you WAITing FO-orrrr, step into my CANDY STOREEEEE—- so much sass and so powerful and such shade, yes please.

Best line: “I like killer clothes, kicking nerds in the nose” 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BQOoTX1Nxx8

6. “How I Am” from Little Women the Musical

Why it’s great: Intricate lyrics and a great inner monologue from a very underrated character. 

Best line: tie between “life is muffins and jam” and “How can she ask me how I am? How I am is fine.” 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jmSYS9GrWXU

7. “My Petersburg” from Anastasia

Why it’s great: Derek Klena’s voice sells every second of this song. And Anastasia is phenomenal. That is all.

Best line: “Funny when a city’s all you know, even when you hate it something in you loves it so.” 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_hVaGhGLKqQ

8. “Give Way” from Dogfight

Why it’s great: Pasek and Paul harmonies and lyrics and everything in the world is right. I love it so much.

Best line: “Sparrow, sparrow, too afraid to fly. Sparrow, sparrow, to proud to try.” 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5E0WPM5DkI

9. “I’ve Been” from Next to Normal

Why it’s great: Okay maybe I love internal breakdown songs but this is a beautiful and melodic life-questioning song and it is just so amazingly sung, I mean WOW. 

Best line: “Mine is just a slower suicide”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4iGsNju-MGw

10. “Our Time” from Merrily We Roll Along

Why it’s great: underrated Sondheim, yeah!! This song gives me chills because it is both an ending and a beginning and it is freaking INSPIRATIONAL I don’t care what age you are. 

Best line: “We’re the movers and we’re the shapers- we’re the names in tomorrow's papers.”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TdhTVujRDqs

ADD YOUR OWN!!