Till I Hear You Sing (Once More)

“Till I Hear You Sing (Once More)” from the musical *Love Never Dies* is a poignant exploration of longing and the enduring pain of lost love. The song is sung by the character of the Phantom, who is tormented by the absence of Christine, the woman he loves. The lyrics vividly capture the passage of time and the relentless ache that accompanies his unfulfilled desire to hear her voice again. The imagery of time crawling by and the Phantom pacing the floor at night underscores his restless and unending sorrow.

The song delves deep into the emotional turmoil of the Phantom, who is haunted by memories and dreams of Christine. The lines “And sometimes at night time / I dream that you are there / But wake holding nothing but the empty air” poignantly illustrate the fleeting nature of his dreams and the stark reality of his loneliness. This juxtaposition of dream and reality highlights the depth of his despair and the void left by Christine's absence.

The recurring theme of music in the song serves as a metaphor for the Phantom's connection to Christine. Her music teases at his ear, only to fade away, symbolizing the elusive nature of his longing. The final lines, “Let hopes pass, let dreams pass / Let them die / Without you, what are they for?” encapsulate the Phantom's resignation to a life devoid of meaning without Christine. His declaration that he will always feel “no more than halfway real” until he hears her sing once more underscores the profound impact of her absence on his existence.