Hare Krishna / Be In (from "Hair"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures the irreverent energy and melodic invention that made Hair a turning point in musical theater. The mix of introspection, activism, and unapologetic fun gives pianists and singers genuine material to sink into, rather than diluted show tunes. Programming selections from this songbook signals to audiences that you're offering something with real cultural weight and contemporary relevance.

These songs pulse with the optimism, urgency, and questioning that defined an era. Whether you're singing about spiritual seeking, racial identity, or the simple plea to let the sun shine in, the music has an infectious warmth beneath its edge. There's intimacy in many of these pieces, even when they're being performed with full conviction and volume.

This collection serves pianists and singers preparing audition material, recital programs, or thematic concert selections drawn from one of the most consequential Broadway scores ever written. Voice students exploring contemporary musical theater repertoire and accompanists supporting that work will find the piano/vocal/chord format essential.

• Pay attention to the rhythmic freedom implied by the pop and rock idioms throughout. These songs ask for a looser relationship to the beat than traditional musical theater; use the piano accompaniment to establish groove rather than metronomic precision.
• Balance the counterculture attitude with clear diction. The lyrics in many of these numbers are both provocative and poetic, and they deserve to land with specificity.
• The chord changes often move quickly and unconventionally. Work through the changes slowly first, then let them inform your touch and phrasing rather than fighting against them.

Select one or two standout songs to anchor a cabaret-style evening or a thematic program exploring how Broadway has engaged social issues. The breadth of this collection allows you to program contrasting moods within a single set; pair an introspective number with something celebratory. Consider using this material as a bridge between traditional musical theater study and conversations about how popular music and art music intersect.

• navigating rhythm changes between pop/rock and theatrical time signatures
• singing with idiomatic style and authenticity in contemporary musical theater
• reading chord symbols and comping patterns beyond classical harmonic analysis
• balancing lyrical clarity with groove-based accompaniment