49 “I Want” Songs To Bring Out Your Inner Dreamer
Usually the second or third number in a show, the “I Want” song helps establish a character’s dreams, goals, or desires. And often times, it hints at the plot to come. These “I Want” songs are usually sung by the protagonist, but sometimes they are sung by supporting character, and sometimes they’re even sung by the antagonist. Here’s a list of our favorites!
Please note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the following links, we may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.
Altos
“Disneyland” – Smile
“Funny” – My Favorite Year
“Live Out Loud” – A Little Princess
“One Perfect Moment” – Bring It On
“Right Hand Man” – Something Rotten!
“Superhero Girl” – Starmites
“The Usher from the Mezzanine” – Fade Out – Fade In
Baritones
“Dust and Ashes” – The Great Comet
“Grow for Me” – Little Shop of Horrors
“If I Only Had The Nerve” – The Wizard of Oz
“If I Were a Rich Man” – Fiddler on the Roof
“Purpose” – Avenue Q
“Santa Fe” – Newsies
“Who I’d Be” – Shrek
Basses
“Be Prepared” – The Lion King
“Half As Big As Life” – Promises, Promises
“I Wanna Make the World Laugh” – Mack & Mabel
“I Want to Go Home” – Big
“In My Own Lifetime” – The Rothschilds
“Waitin’ For The Light to Shine” – Big River
“When the Children Are Asleep” – Carousel
Contras
“Before I Kiss the World Goodbye” – Jennie
“Buenos Aires” – Evita
“I Want the Good Times Back” – The Little Mermaid
“I Want to Go to Hollywood” – Grand Hotel
“It’s Not About Me” – The Prom
“King of the World” – Songs for a New World
“Woman” – The Pirate Queen
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Mezzo-Sopranos
“Don’t Rain on My Parade” – Funny Girl
“Ireland” – Legally Blonde
“No One Else” – Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
“Out Tonight” – Rent
“The Life I Never Led” – Sister Act
“The Movie in My Mind” – Miss Saigon
“Waiting for Life” – Once on This Island
Sopranos
“Colored Woman” – Memphis
“Green Finch and Linnet Bird” – Sweeney Todd
“In My Own Little Corner” – Cinderella
“Love, Don’t Turn Away” – 110 in the Shade
“Part of Your World” – The Little Mermaid
“Waitin’ for My Dearie” – Brigadoon
“Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” – My Fair Lady
Tenors
“Corner of the Sky” – Pippin
“I Want to Make Magic” – Fame
“One Song Glory” – Rent
“Someone Is Waiting” – Company
“The Wall in My Head” – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
“Where I Want to Be” – Chess
“Why God Why?” – Miss Saigon
Trebles/Kids
“Castle on a Cloud” – Les Misérables
“I Want to Know” – Big
“Maybe” – Annie
“One Pal” – Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical
“Up on the Fridge” – Dear Edwina
“When I Get My Name in Lights” – The Boy From Oz
“Where Is Love?” – Oliver!
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Do you know of any other great “I Want” songs?
And which of the above “I Want” songs are your favorite? We would love to hear all about it in the comments below!
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
One “I Want” song that is glaringly omitted is “Somewhere That’s Green” from Little Shop of Horrors.
True!! That is also a wonderful example of an “I Want” song. Thanks for sharing!
I think that you could put Valjean’s soliloquy from Les Mis on the list for tenors as well as On top of the world from Disney’s The hunchback och Notre Dame. They really tell the purposes of the actions taken by the characters.
Hi Kristian!! Thanks for the suggestions. I especially love that you pointed out Valjean’s Soliloquy. What a powerful example of an “I Want” Song!!