Hadestown, Hope, and Failure
“It's a sad song
It's a sad tale, it's a tragedy
It's a sad song
But we sing it anyway“
— Road to Hell (Reprise)
Hermes stands over a defeated Orpheus. The boy watches his lover sink back into the Underworld. He was only a few steps away from life but he doubted and looked back, breaking his contract with Hades. Eurydice must now remain in hell, and Orpheus can never go back. It's a sad song that turns out the same every time, so why sing it?