Requiem
Laura Dreyfuss feat. Michael Park & Jennifer Laura Thompson Lyrics
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Remembering through a secondhand sorrow?
Such a great son and wonderful friend
Oh, don't the tears just pour
I could curl up and hide in my room
There in my bed, still sobbing tomorrow
I could give in to all of the gloom
But tell me, tell me what for
Why should I start to break in pieces?
Why should I go and fall apart for you?
Why should I play the grieving girl and lie
Saying that I miss you
And that my world has gone dark without your light?
I will sing no requiem tonight
I'm going to bed.
Come sit with me.
Cynthia.
You can't stand to be in this room for five minutes?
I'm exhausted.
You know, Larry, at some point you're going to have to start dealing
Not tonight. Please.
Just read this.
I'll keep the light on for you
I gave you the world, you threw it away
Leaving these broken pieces behind you
Everything wasted, nothing to say
So I can sing no requiem
I hear your voice, I feel you near
Within these words, I finally find you
And now that I know that you are still here
I will sing no requiem tonight
Why should I have a heavy heart?
Why should I say I'll keep you with me?
Why should I go and fall apart for you?
Why should I play the grieving girl and lie
Saying that I miss you
And that my world has gone dark without your light?
(I can see your light)
I will sing no requiem
Tonight
'Cause when the villains fall, the kingdoms never weep
No one lights a candle to remember
No, no one mourns at all
When they lay them down to sleep
So, don't tell me that I didn't have it right
Don't tell me that it wasn't black and white
After all you put me through
Don't say it wasn't true
That you were not the monster
That I knew
'Cause I cannot play the grieving girl and lie
Saying that I miss you
And that my world has gone dark
I will sing no requiem
I will sing no requiem
I will sing no requiem tonight
Oh... oh...
Oh...
Oh...
The song "Requiem" is a powerful ballad from the Broadway musical "Dear Evan Hansen." The song is sung by the main character's friend, Zoe, after the death of the titular character, Evan's, classmate, Connor Murphy. The song starts with Zoe singing about not wanting to play the "game of pretend" anymore and not wanting to feel the "secondhand sorrow" that comes from grieving Connor, whom she did not know very well. She questions why she should have a heavy heart or why she should play the role of the grieving girl and lie to say that she misses Connor when she didn't really know him. She ends the first verse by saying that she will not sing any requiem tonight.
In the second verse, Zoe remembers her past with Connor, how she felt for him and how he left her behind. She declares that she will not sing a requiem because villains don't deserve them, and Connor was no hero. She then repeats the refrain that she will not sing any requiem tonight. Through the song, Zoe evolves from feeling sadness to anger, and she ultimately refuses to put on an act.
Line by Line Meaning
Why should I play this game of pretend?
Why should I pretend that everything is fine?
Remembering through a secondhand sorrow?
I remember you, but it's not from firsthand experience.
Such a great son and wonderful friend
You were an amazing person.
Oh, don't the tears just pour
I can't stop crying.
I could curl up and hide in my room
I could just stay in my room and never leave.
There in my bed, still sobbing tomorrow
I'll still be crying when I wake up.
I could give in to all of the gloom
I could let my sadness take over.
But tell me, tell me what for
But what's the point?
Why should I have a heavy heart?
Why should I feel pain?
Why should I start to break in pieces?
Why should I fall apart?
Why should I go and fall apart for you?
Why should I let you break me?
Why should I play the grieving girl and lie
Saying that I miss you
And that my world has gone dark without your light?
Why should I pretend that things are worse than they really are just because you're gone?
I will sing no requiem tonight
I won't mourn you tonight.
I gave you the world, you threw it away
I gave you everything, but you didn't appreciate it.
Leaving these broken pieces behind you
Everything wasted, nothing to say
You left me with a mess and didn't say anything.
So I can sing no requiem
I hear your voice, I feel you near
Within these words, I finally find you
And now that I know that you are still here
I won't mourn you because I feel your presence and find comfort in these words.
Why should I say I'll keep you with me?
Why should I pretend that you're still with me?
(I can see your light)
(I can still feel your presence)
Cause when the villains fall, the kingdoms never weep
No one lights a candle to remember
No, no one mourns at all
When they lay them down to sleep
No one mourns for the bad guys, so why should I mourn for you?
So, don't tell me that I didn't have it right
Don't tell me that it wasn't black and white
After all you put me through
Don't say it wasn't true
That you were not the monster
That I knew
Don't deny what you did to me and try to say that you weren't a monster.
I will sing no requiem
Tonight
I won't mourn you tonight.
Oh...
(Pause for emphasis)
Writer(s): Benj Pasek, Justin Paul
Contributed by Lily G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.