In 2004, Michele played "Shprintze" and "Chava" in the Broadway revival of the musical Fiddler on the Roof. Regionally, she has appeared in the title role in The Diary of Anne Frank.
Since the age of 14, she played the role of Wendla in Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's musical version of Spring Awakening since early workshops; following it up to the Broadway production. Around the same time the show was set to go to Broadway, she was given the role of Eponine in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables. She chose to remain with Spring Awakening, which debuted on Broadway December 10, 2006. Michele was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance in Spring Awakening, as Lead Actress in a Musical.
On May 18, 2008, Michele left Spring Awakening with co-star Jonathan Groff and was replaced by former Wendla understudy Alexandra Socha. She performed in a reading of Sheik and Sater's new musical, Nero, in July 2008 at Vassar College, also featuring Idina Menzel and Michael Arden. On August 8, 9 and 10, 2008, Michele portrayed Eponine in the Hollywood Bowl's Les Misérables concert.
Michele can be heard on the original Broadway cast recordings of Ragtime and Spring Awakening, as well as the 2003 revival recording of Fiddler on the Roof.
Michele starred in the Fox television show Glee, where she played the star female singer of a high school glee club, Rachel Berry. The pilot aired on May 19, 2009, and the show aired on Thursday nights on FOX. The show ended after 6 seasons on March 20, 2015.
Lea Michele will be making her public debut as Fanny Brice in Broadway’s Funny Girl on September 6th, 2022
Mama Who Bore Me
Lea Michele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama who gave me
Mama, the angels
Who made me so sad
Mama who bore me
Mama who gave me
No way to handle things
Mama, the weeping
Mama, the angels
No sleep in Heaven
Or Bethlehem
Some pray that one day (one day)
Christ will come a-callin' (callin', light)
They light a candle
And hope that it glows
And some just lie there, cryin'
For Him to come and find them
And when He comes
They don't know how to go (mama)
Mama who bore me (mama who bore me)
Mama who gave me (mama who gave me)
Mama, the Angels, mama (no way to handle things)
Who made me so bad
Mama, the weeping (mama, the weeping)
Mama, the angels, mama (mama, the angels)
No sleep in Heaven
Or Bethlehem
In the song Mama Who Bore Me by Lea Michele, the lyrics tell a story about a young woman struggling with the absence of a mother figure in her life. The lines "Mama who bore me, Mama who gave me" suggest the presence of a mother, but it becomes clear that she is not fulfilling the role of a caregiver. The desperation and sadness of the singer is apparent in the following lines: "No way to handle things, Who made me so sad" and "Mama, the weeping, Mama, the angels, No sleep in Heaven, or Bethlehem." These lyrics further emphasize the singer's lost and lonely feelings.
The second verse touches on the idea of prayer and the hope of some people for salvation. The lines "Some pray that, one day, Christ will come a-callin', They light a candle, and hope that it glows" highlight the religious longing for guidance and direction. However, the lines that follow speak to the doubts and confusion that can accompany faith; "And some just lie there, crying for him to come and find them, But when he comes, they don't know how to go." The last two lines of the song repeat the same lyrics as the opening and emphasize the continued longing and sadness of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama who bore me
The mother who physically gave birth to me
Mama who gave me
The mother who provided for me and raised me
No way to handle things
Lacking the skills or experience to deal with life's challenges
Who made me so sad
Unclear, possibly indicating past trauma or struggles
Mama, the weeping
The mother who expresses her sadness and grief
Mama, the angels
The mother who protects and cares for her child like an angel
No sleep in Heaven, or Bethlehem
No respite from life's difficulties, even in idyllic or holy places
Some pray that, one day, Christ will come a-callin'
People place their hope and faith in the possibility of divine intervention
They light a candle, and hope that it glows
Using symbolic gestures and hoping for a positive outcome
And some just lie there, crying for him to come and find them
Feeling helpless and waiting for someone or something else to fix their problems
But when he comes, they don't know how to go
Not having the necessary tools or guidance to move forward, even with divine intervention
Mama who bore me
Reiteration of the opening line, emphasizing the role of the mother in shaping one's life
Mama who gave me
Reiteration of the second line, further emphasizing the importance of maternal influence
No way to handle things
Repetition of the earlier line, underscoring the struggles and difficulties faced in life
Who made me so bad
Possible continuation of the previous thought, or implying a negative self-image
Mama, the weeping
Repetition of the fifth line, emphasizing the role of the mother in expressing emotions
Mama, the angels
Repetition of the sixth line, highlighting the protective and nurturing aspects of motherhood
No sleep in Heaven, or Bethlehem
Reiteration of the earlier line, expressing a sense of hopelessness and despair
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steven Sater, Duncan Sheik
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind