Listen to all the 'Back to the Future: The Musical’ songs

The hit musical opened in the West End in 2021.

Sophie Thomas17 March, 2022, 17:45

Great scott! Back to the Future: The Musical continues to take over the West End. The seven-time Olivier Award-nominated musical is based on the 1980s film of the same name, which follows Marty McFly and Doc Brown who are transported back in time.

When the Back to the Future film first came to cinemas, audiences couldn't get over the film soundtrack which used songs such as “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode”. The Back to the Future musical includes all the chart-topping film hits, plus dozens of original songs by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard.

Before seeing Back to the Future: The Musical on stage, discover more about the songs from the Back to the Future West End musical. Here's everything you need to know about Back to the Future: The Musical. So pack your playlists with the hit songs and get ready for 1.21 gigawatts of pure theatre joy.

Back to the Future: The Musical is at the Adelphi Theatre.

Book Back to the Future: The Musical tickets on London Theatre.

"It's Only a Matter of Time"

"It's Only a Matter of Time" is the first song in Back to the Future: The Musical. The opening number introduces audiences to Hill Valley, California, a smalltown community where everyone knows one another and they'll all live happily ever after. There's references to "breaking the fourth wall" and turbo boosters — Marty McFly doesn't know anything about a DeLorean just yet.

"Got No Future"

"Got No Future" features the first reference of "The Power of Love" song. In "Got No Future", Marty McFly auditions for a school show. At first, Principal Strickland doesn't believe this is a good song to perform, and that Marty McFly is just a bum. But by the end of the musical, everyone in Hill Valley will rock out to the Pinheads.

"Wherever We're Going"

"Wherever We're Going" is a love song performed by Marty McFly and his crush, Jennifer Parker. During the musical number, Jennifer offers Marty kind words of wisdom and encourages him to keep living his dreams — could his future dreams be going back in time?

"Hello – Is Anybody Home?"

At this point in the musical, Marty McFly is still in the "real world" — 1985. Marty is sick of seeing his dad, George McFly, used by Biff Tannen. His family don't want him to audition for events and do anything that will cause embarassment, but Marty has bigger dreams than what lay in his house's four walls. By asking is anybody home, Marty wonders if anyone will actually do anything beyond their town.

"It Works"

"It Works" marks Doc Brown's spectacular musical entrance and is the first time audiences see the DeLorean. The flux capacitor works, the plutonium is there. All that's needed is to pick a date and go back in time!

"Cake"

"Cake" is the musical introduction to 1950s Hill Valley. When Marty arrives in 1955, he's now a stranger in his hometown. During the song, the Hill Valley resident see him as a newcomer, so Marty learns about the town as an outsider, a strange concept for him to wrap his head around.

"Gotta Start Somewhere"

In 1985, Goldie Wilson serves as the Mayor of Hill Valley. But in 1955, he's working in a diner and being mayor is just a pipe dream. In this gospel-infused number, Goldie sings to Marty about standing up for yourself and doing whatever you set your mind to. By the end of the song, you'll be clapping and cheering along with Goldie.

"My Myopia"

Travelling back in time is a pretty alien concept. So when Marty watches his father looking at his mother before they were together, everything becomes a bit confusing for Marty. In "My Myopia", Marty's father George sings about his feelings for Lorraine, and how he wishes they could be together. At this moment though, George is a peeping tom!

"Pretty Baby"

Things get even weirder for Marty McFly. Once he's seen his father singing about his mother, Marty is then invited into his teenage mother's room. This is the stuff that dreams are made of, right? Wrong. Marty McFly wakes up in teenage Lorraine's room and is serenaded by his mother to-be. He also picks up the nickname "Calvin Klein" based on his underwear.

"Future Boy"

Marty McFly and Doc Brown have fun in 1955, but they want to get back to the real world at some point. Being a "future boy" is a difficult concept for Marty McFly to wrap his head around though, as he doesn't believe that he'll ever exist in a normal timeline. Forget the multiverse, this is true time-travel. In "Future Boy", the pair try to work out how they'll generate the 1.21 gigawatts of energy needed to zoom forward 30 years.

"Something About That Boy"

"Something About That Boy" is the final song in Act One. In this song, Lorraine tells her schoolfriends about Marty McFly, the teenager that she fancies (Yes, Marty's mum sings about how his future son is attractive.) At the same time, school bully Biff Tannen shares his feelings for Marty, George, and the rest of his peers.

"21st Century"

In the late 20th century, scientists predicted what Y2K and the future would bring. Hovercars? Easy time-travel? Wireless internet? In "21st Century", Doc Brown imagines what future life will look like. "21st Century" has a techno feel to it, perfect for capturing the futuristic, sci-fi Back to the Future world.

"Put Your Mind to It"

George McFly needs a little pep talk to help him find the woman of his dreams — Lorraine. In this rock anthem, Marty gives George advice for impressing women. Throughout the song, Marty uses the line "You can do anything if you put your mind to it" — a nod to Doc Brown's teaching.

"For the Dreamers"

Doc Brown may be a mad scientist, but he's not always crazy and bursting with ideas. In "For the Dreamers", he reflects on his past and what happened to him in 1955.

"Teach Him a Lesson"

Biff Tannen bullies in 1955 and in 1985 — it's the Back to the Future circle of life. In this number, Biff aims to teach Marty McFly a harsh lesson. Before the prom, Biff and his friends scheme an evil idea to get rid of Marty so that Biff and Lorraine can dance together.

"Deep Divin'"

Back to the Future: The Musical is partly set in a high school, so of course there's a prom. And in this musical, the prom theme is "Enchantment Under the Sea". See all the high schoolers boogie the night away in "Deep Divin'".

"Earth Angel"

As Back to the Future: The Musical sees two characters — Marty McFly and Doc Brown — sent back in time from the 1980s to the 1950s, it’s no surprise that the show uses 1950s songs too. Back to the Future: The Musical features the 1954 song "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) in the prom scene towards the end of Act Two.

"Earth Angel" is a song by American doo-wop group, The Penguins, and it reached number five in the US music charts. "Earth Angel" sets the prom scene up, but everything changes when Marty McFly rocks up to the event and takes to the mic.

"Johnny B. Goode"

Chuck Berry’s 1958 song, “Johnny B. Goode” is one of the most iconic tracks used in both the Back to the Future film and Back to the Future: The Musical. Similar to the film, Marty McFly sings "Johnny B. Goode" at the high school prom, bringing much-needed entertainment and joy to the night. Marty McFly has other things on his mind at the prom night though — he needs to make sure his parents fall in love so that he can enter the real world again.

"Johnny B. Goode" offers a moment of light relief during the show though, and the cast perform a rocking routine which you need to see on stage.

The Clocktower

Marty and Doc have to get back to 1985 somehow! They've planned the time: 10.04pm on November 12, 1955. They've planned the setting: the courthouse clockface. Now it's time to travel in style.

"The Clocktower" music plays during this epic visual sequence, which sees the pair struggle to execute their plan and drive the DeLorean to 1985. "The Clocktower" instrumental is excellent background music by itself, but when you see "The Clocktower" sequence on stage, you'll marvel at the magic of theatre. We won't spoil anything here, you'll have to see Back to the Future: The Musical to find out.

"The Power of Love"

Think of Back to the Future and you'll probably hum the Huey Lewis and the News song, "The Power of Love" to yourself. You’ll have to wait until the end of the musical to hear “The Power of Love” live, as Back to the Future features the song in a celebratory ending moment. There's cool backing vocals, there's dance routines, and by the end of the song, all the audience are up on their feet!

Did you know that "The Power of Love" was written specifically for the Back to the Future film? “The Power of Love” received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, but eventually lost out to Lionel Richie's "Say You, Say Me." Regardless, "The Power of Love" remains a high-energy crowdpleaser, and once you hear the Back to the Future: The Musical version, you'll listen to it on repeat.

Doc Returns"

"Where we're going, we don't need roads" says Doc Brown in this Back to the Future: The Musical song. See Marty McFly and Doc Brown time-travel in style, complete with explosions and a car sequence that beggars belief.

"Back in Time"

Huey Lewis and the News are best known for "The Power of Love." This wasn't their only Back to the Future song though — they also sung "Back in Time." In the musical, Marty McFly and Doc Brown sing "Back in Time" for the show's final number. Stay in this sci-fi world for as long as possible by hanging around to the very end of the show. You're always at Hill Valley whenever you're seeing Back to the Future: The Musical.