What is the signature song from Man of La Mancha?

The signature song from Man of La Mancha is “The Impossible Dream.” The music was composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics by Joe Darion, for the 1965 Broadway musical based on Don Quixote.

In the show, Don Quixote first sings the song while keeping vigil over his armor. Its vision of pursuing an unreachable ideal captures the character’s defining belief in noble quests, even when the world sees him as deluded. The song is reprised several times, including near the musical’s finale.

A common mix-up is to confuse it with “Man of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote),” another prominent number from the score. “The Impossible Dream,” however, became the show’s principal song and an enduring popular standard. Richard Kiley performed it in the original Broadway production, and the 1972 film featured Peter O’Toole.