Rent - Rent lyrics
MARK
how do you document real life
when real life's getting more
like fiction each day
headlines--bread-lines
blow my mind
and now this deadline
"eviction--or pay"
rent
ROGER
how do you write a song
when the chords sound wrong
though they once sounded right and rare
when the notes are sour
where is the power
you once had to ignite the air
MARK
and we're hungry and frozen
ROGER
some life that we've chosen
TOGETHER
how we gonna pay
how we gonna pay
how we gonna pay
last year's rent
MARK
we light candles
ROGER
how do you start a fire
when there's nothing to burn
and it feels like something's stuck in
your flue
MARK
how can you generate heat
when you can't feel your feet
BOTH
and they're turning blue!
MARK
you light up a mean blaze
ROGER
with posters-
MARK
and screenplays
ROGER & MARK
how we gonna pay
how we gonna pay
how we gonna pay
last year's rent
JOANNE (on the phone)
don't screen, maureen
it's me--Joanne
your substitute production manager
hey hey hey! (did you eat)
don't change the subject maureen
but darling--you haven't eaten all day
you won't throw up
you won't throw up
the digital delay--
didn't blow up (exactly)
there may have been one teeny tiny spark
you're not calling mark
COLLINS
how do you stay on your feet
when on every street
it's 'trick or treat'
(and tonight its 'trick')
'welcome back to town'
i should lie down
everything's brown
and uh-oh
i feel sick
MARK
where is he?
COLLINS
getting dizzy
MARK & ROGER
how we gonna pay
how we gonna pay
how we gonna pay
last year's rent
BENNY (on cell phone)
allison baby--you sound sad
i don't believe those two
after everything i've done
ever since our wedding
i'm dirt--they'll see
i can help them all out in the long run
forces are gathering
forces are gathering
can't turn away
forces are gathering
COLLINS
ughhhh
ughhhh
ughhhh--i can't think
ughhhh
ughhhh
ughhhh--i need a drink
MARK
"the music ignites the night with
passionate fire"
JOANNE
maureen--i'm not a theatre person
ROGER
"the narration crackles and pops with
incendiary wit"
JOANNE
could never be a theatre person
MARK
zoom in as they burn the past to the
ground
JOANNE
hello?
MARK & ROGER
and feel the heat of the future's
glow
JOANNE
hello?
MARK (on the phone)
hello? maureen?
-you're equipment won't work?
okay, all right, i'll go!
MARK & 1/2 THE COMPANY
how do you leave the past behind
when it keep finding ways to get to
your heart
it reaches way down deep and tears
you inside out
til you're torn apart
rent
ROGER & 1/2 THE COMPANY
how can you connect in an age
where strangers, landlords, lovers
your own blood cells betray
ALL
what binds the fabric together
when the raging, shifting winds of change
keep ripping away
BENNY
draw a line in the sand
and then make a stand
ROGER
use your camera to spar
MARK
use your guitar
ALL
when they act tough--you call their
bluff
MARK & ROGER
we're not gonna pay
MARK & ROGER & 1/2 THE COMPANY
we're not gonna pay
MARK & ROGER & OTHER 1/2
we're not gonna pay
ALL
last year's rent
this year's rent
next year's rent
rent rent rent rent rent
we're not gonna pay rent
ROGER & MARK
'cause everything is rent
