Everything you need to know about the most beautiful song from The Sandman Season 2 soundtrack: the one Orpheus sings to Hades.
You’ve probably found yourself singing it after hearing it in episode 5 of The Sandman season 2. It gave the episode its title and was immediately praised by audiences as a successful piece of work despite the weight of the mythology behind it. The Song of Orpheus in The Sandman touched our hearts, and the reasons are clear: the piece managed to convey the intensity of the moment—Orpheus singing to Hades and Persephone to convince them to bring back to life the woman he loves, Eurydice. Of course, there are many interesting facts—from the original story rooted in Greek mythology to the songwriter behind the piece in the Netflix series. Let’s discover everything in this article.
Orpheus and Eurydice: the original Greek mythology and the comparison with the series
Orpheus is an original character from Greek mythology, and the story of his relationship with Eurydice—and what he was willing to do to bring her back to life—was portrayed quite faithfully in season 2 of The Sandman. It’s a touching story, well known to many: we even discussed it recently in connection with another Netflix series that reimagined the myth—KAOS, released in 2024, which took a number of creative liberties with the original tale.
In the original mythology, Orpheus is the son of the Muse Calliope, the muse of epic poetry, whereas his father is uncertain (the authors mentioned both the Thracian king Oeagrus and the god Apollo in this regard). The Sandman takes the creative liberty of portraying Orpheus as the son of Oneiros/Dream, but aside from that, the story we see in the series closely aligns with the original myth.
Celebrated as a masterful musician, poet, and prophet, he inherited an extraordinary gift for music: his talent was so profound that it was said his lyre could charm all living things—animals, trees, and even inanimate objects. The power of his music was not only a testament to his divine lineage but also a symbol of the transformative power of art and creativity.
The most famous tale of Orpheus is his tragic love story with Eurydice. Orpheus fell deeply in love with Eurydice, a beautiful nymph, and the two were married. However, their happiness was short-lived. Eurydice was bitten by a snake while fleeing from a satyr and died shortly after. Devastated by the loss, Orpheus decided to descend into the Underworld, the realm of the dead, to bring her back. Armed only with his lyre, he played music so sorrowful and beautiful that it moved Hades, the god of the Underworld, and his queen, Persephone, to grant him a rare favor. They agreed to let Eurydice return with him to the land of the living, but only on one condition: Orpheus must not look back at her until they had both reached the surface. That’s exactly what we see in The Sandman—a quest that culminates in the powerful scene where Orpheus sings to Hades and Persephone.
Orpheus Sings to Hades | The Sandman | Netflix Philippines
In the original Greek mythology, Orpheus’ journey into the Underworld was fraught with tension and uncertainty. After Hades and Persephone allow Eurydice to return to the living world, Orpheus leads her through the dark, twisting paths of the Underworld, his heart heavy with the fear of losing her once again. As they neared the exit, his anxiety became unbearable. Unable to resist, he turns around to make sure she is still behind him, only to see Eurydice fading away, pulled back into the Underworld forever. This moment of doubt and despair sealed her fate and left Orpheus grief-stricken and inconsolable, having lost his beloved a second time.
After losing Eurydice, Orpheus was said to have wandered the earth in sorrow, shunning the company of others and dedicating himself entirely to his music. His songs became even more poignant, filled with the pain of his loss. In some versions of the myth, Orpheus rejected the love of other women, which angered the Maenads, frenzied followers of the god Dionysus. In their rage, they attacked Orpheus, tearing him apart in a brutal frenzy. His head and lyre, however, continued to sing and play as they floated down the river Hebrus, eventually washing ashore on the island of Lesbos, where his music was said to inspire generations of poets and musicians.
The song in The Sandman: the lyrics, the author and the performer
The Song of Orpheus in The Sandman Season 2 is part of the original soundtrack, composed by British composer David Buckley. The full soundtrack was produced by WaterTower Music and is available on major streaming platforms (you can find them all here). The song is sung by the actor who plays Orpheus in The Sandman, Ruairi O’Connor — you can listen to it on the official streaming link below.
The Sandman: Season 2 Soundtrack | The Song of Orpheus – Ruairi O’Connor | WaterTower
Ruairi O’Connor sings The Song of Orpheus in Ancient Greek, an aspect that has been appreciated by everyone: Netflix provides the English translation of the lyrics in the subtitles, you can find it below.
I sing you a song of love
About my fair Eurydice
Who last night in the world above
Took my hand and married me
Eternal love we both professed
We danced until she fell upon
A serpent lying in its nest
And all at once my love was gone
I know our mortal lives are brief
And that I should be grateful
To the gods in spite of all my grief
But love has brought me here to you
To ask what no sane man would dare
And beg you to her soul restore
So she may leave and we may share
A lifetime or an hour more
The entire Underworld is shaken by the intensity of Orpheus’s song. The Eumenides are in tears—just like many of us. Even Hades acknowledges the power of Orpheus’s singing, declaring, “You are disrupting my realm.” It’s a song that superbly honors the original myth and manages to move us deeply. Many are now calling for an Emmy for this scene and this piece—and who knows, fans just might get their wish.
