A guide to all the songs in 'The Great Gatsby'

Learn about the songs from Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen's score, including "New Money", "For Her", and "Second-Hand Suit".

Julia Rank2 July, 2025, 23:00

F Scott Fitzgerald’s evergreen 1925 novel The Great Gatsby is filled with music and dancing and the Broadway musical, now playing at the majestic London Coliseum, features music and lyrics by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen and a book by Kait Kerrigan. In addition to musical theatre and jazz, the score also features pop and hip-hop influences, making it a thoroughly modern take on the classic tragedy. The sweeping romantic ballads and lively ensemble numbers have been lushly arranged for a full orchestra.

Jamie Muscato and Frances Mayli McCann star as mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and poor-little-rich-girl Daisy Buchanan, leading a cast who sing and dance up a storm. Learn more about the songs of the show that comprise the party of the summer. Don’t miss out before the green light shines for a final time on 7 September.

Book The Great Gatsby tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

“Roaring On”

It’s 1922 and our narrator Nick Carraway, a veteran of the Great War, has left his home in Minnesota to move to New York City. It’s the epicentre of hedonism and everyone’s invited. Unable to afford accommodation in Manhattan, Nick rents a cottage in the grounds of a Long Island mansion owned by an elusive millionaire. He receives an invitation to a party from his landlord, signed Jay Gatsby.

“Absolute Rose”

Nick’s cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom live across the bay. She compares Nick to “A bud preparing to bloom” and introduces him to her friend Jordan Baker, a female golfer and “confirmed bachelor”. It’s clear that Daisy and Tom’s marriage is unhappy.

“New Money”

At Gatsby’s party. Jordan explains the difference between old and new money to Nick. Old money continues to quietly accrue, while new money is “Young, rich and wild / Revelled, reviled”. All sorts of rumours circulate about their absent host. Their fellow guests include a crowd of gangsters.

“For Her”

Gatsby invites Nick to his private study and confides that going to war, amassing a fortune, and throwing extravagant parties were all to impress Daisy, his lost love. He asks Nick for help in bringing them back together and promises to be eternally grateful. Nick is reluctant to get involved as Daisy is married.

“Valley of Ashes”

In the down-at-heel Valley of Ashes, gas station owner George Wilson, who receives regular shipments of bootlegged liquor from Gatsby’s associate Meyer Wolfsheim, sings about his dissatisfaction with his life and his marriage to his wife Myrtle to the billboard of an advertisement for spectacles.

“Second-Hand Suit”

Tom pulls in at the garage to get gas and it’s clear to everyone except George that he and Myrtle are having an affair. Myrtle resents her life of poverty: she had her doubts when George proposed and it’s transpired that “His dreams were all a mirage / And now I live above a garage”. She met the wealthy and powerful Tom by chance and had no qualms about breaking her marriage vows.

“For Better or Worse”

Daisy is disillusioned with her marriage – it’s perfectly acceptable for her husband to have affairs but she would lose everything if she were to do the same. She recalls her lost love and wonders what would happen if they met again.

“The Met”

Tom takes Nick (who was under the impression they were going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and Myrtle to the Manhattan apartment of Myrtle’s sister Catherine. Tom hits Myrtle when she taunts him about Daisy, and Nick, disgusted by Tom’s brutality, gives Gatsby a call.

“Only Tea”

Nick invites Daisy to tea, the plan being that Gatsby will casually drop in. However, it’s the moment that Gatsby has been waiting for for five years and he goes to town with the finest refreshments and decorations.

“My Green Light”

Gatsby and Daisy are finally reunited. The “green light” is a symbol of his continual devotion. They rekindle their relationship. It’s time for the interval.

“Shady”

Wolfsheim and Jordan warn Nick against getting too friendly with Gatsby and his ilk. A certain amount of aloofness is required to stay afloat.

“Better Hold Tight”

Nick and Jordan’s relationship continues to develop even though they wouldn’t usually be attracted to each other. Jordan proposes marriage to Nick.

“Past is Catching Up with Me”

Gatsby plans a party that will recreate the one at which he met Daisy in Louisville. The combination of love and unlimited wealth that he can offer will surely make her leave Tom for him, won’t it?

La Dee Dah With You

For the party, Gatsby hires dancer Gilda Gray, a real-life performer who popularised the “shimmy”. He and Daisy dance together while Tom talks to Wolfsheim.

“Go”

Overwhelmed by emotion, Daisy tells him that she’s ready to elope with him but Tom interrupts. It’s agreed that Tom will drive Nick and Jordan to the Plaza Hotel, with Daisy and Gatsby following behind.

“Made to Last”

Tom mocks Gatsby, who retaliates by telling him that Daisy never loved him. Daisy becomes more reluctant to leave Tom after the revelation that Gatsby’s wealth comes from bootlegging alcohol.

“For Better or for Worse” (Reprise)

Daisy reveals that she is thoroughly disillusioned by marriage.

“One-Way Road”

Myrtle reveals that she is pregnant with Tom’s baby and sets off to the Plaza Hotel to confront Tom and Daisy – she’s sure that Tom will leave Daisy now and she’ll get the chance to experience the rich life. However, she is hit by a car and killed before she makes it there.

“God Sees Everything”

Nick and Jordan know that it’s Gatsby’s yellow Rolls-Royce that killed Myrtle. Jordan wants to keep quiet and a saddened Nick ends their relationship. Tom tells George that Gatsby’s car was responsible for Myrtle’s death.

“For Her” (Reprise)

Gatsby is willing to take the blame and believes that Daisy will wait for him. He takes a swim, during which George arrives and shoots Gatsby and then himself.

“New Money” (Reprise)

All sorts of rumours circulate following Gatsby’s death – and none of his hanger-ons will be paying their respects at the funeral.

“Beautiful Little Fool”

Daisy reflects on the birth of her daughter and tells Nick that she hopes that her child will be satisfied with being a charming and decorative object with no independent dreams or ambitions of her own. Such things haven’t brought her mother any happiness.

“Finale: Roaring On”

Nick prepares to leave New York and reflects on all the mess he and his friends have made. He looks back at Gatsby’s mansion one last time and thinks he can still see Gatsby in silhouette.