'She Used To Be Mine' from WAITRESS

I recently discovered this gem of a song and have FALLEN. IN. LOVE.

The Tony performance, in which Sara sings the first verse, brings me to tears about 15 seconds in. Sobbing baby on the way to work this morning. I'm a guy. I'm gay. I recently got out of a six-and-a-half year relationship. My kids are my dog and cat. Yet this song sooo speaks to me right now. It is such a beautiful gift to musical theatre. I've been wrong but I've been brave. I've made mistakes but I work so hard. I'm vulnerable and I'm naive but I'm free.

Anyone else feel the same way? Is there another song out there that has the same effect on you? 'What I Did For Love' and 'Fly, Fly Away' also touch me, but right now this one gets me and gets me good.

Updated On: 4/24/18 at 02:43 PM

I saw Waitress last week, and wondered how this show has managed to run for two years??? The audience was asleep.

Love that song! And everyone who has sung it sings it their way, which is beautiful. I love Jessie's raw version, Sara was perfect because she wrote it, I loved Betsy's take, and Katharine sings it very pop style, which changes things up a bit. My favorite though is when Jeremy Jordan sang it a few weeks ago at Miscast. I love when he covers songs, check it out on Youtube.

For a long time Move On from Sunday in the Park with George had that effect on me. There are moments listening to CFA that can make me weepy....but not full out cry..it's the sentiment far more that the piece itself.

Not long after this song came out (when I was listening to Sara Bareilles' concept album on repeat before the actual show had opened), I had a late, exhausting night at the office and one hell of a bad case of Imposter Syndrome that day, and when it came on on my train ride home, I literally burst into tears at the first "she's imperfect, but she tries." It was by far my biggest public ugly cry since moving to NYC 15 years ago. What a song.

It's Sara Bareilles' performance from the Today Show that's my favorite, and my biggest gut punch. It's just so REAL. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLdXVucTFSw)

Interestingly, I did not love it in the context of the show when I saw it. Probably because I had fallen so in love with Bareilles' version that I had a hard time listening to someone else sing it, especially with a heavy southern accent. (Though that was reversed when I saw the show a second time at Bareilles' "last" performance. Holy hell is she flawless.)

macnyc said: "I'm sorry, I don't understand this song. Who is Jenna singing it to?"

She is singing it to herself, its about how she lost herself and lost control over her life.

This song only has its full impact when Sara sings it IMO. I've seen Jessie, Sara and Betsy and Sara is the one who makes this one of the great 11 o'clock numbers in recent musical theater history. Jessie and Betsy have amazing voices but their versions lack the strength of character that Sara exudes.

Actually I think "She Used to Be Mine" will eventually join Rose's Turn, I'm Here, Send in the Clowns as classic 11 o'clock numbers.

mailhandler777 said: "poisonivy2 said: "This song only has its full impact when Sara sings it IMO. I've seen Jessie, Sara and Betsy and Sara is the one who makes this one of the great 11 o'clock numbers in recent musical theater history. Jessie and Betsy have amazing voices but their versions lack the strength of character that Sara exudes.

Actually I think "She Used to Be Mine" will eventually join Rose's Turn, I'm Here, Send in the Clowns as classic 11 o'clock numbers."

For me it was when Stephanie Torns sang it. She made me cry like a baby. I saw Jessie, Sara and Desi(from the tour) and no one affected me as much as Stephanie did."

Another vote for Stephanie from me also.

EllieRose2 said: "Love that song! And everyone who has sung it sings it their way, which is beautiful. I love Jessie's raw version, Sara was perfect because she wrote it, I loved Betsy's take, and Katharine sings it very pop style, which changes things up a bit. My favorite though is when Jeremy Jordan sang it a few weeks ago at Miscast. I love when he covers songs, check it out on Youtube."

Sorry, off-thread, but just need to chime in with praise for his rendition of It's All Coming Back to Me Now... love it! (And love Miscast too!)