His vocals can be found on the original cast recording and the film soundtrack for Rent, the revival CD for You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and his solo album entitled Look Around.
La Vie Boheme B
Anthony Rapp Lyrics
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Yes, and by next week I want you to be
Pookie?
And you should see
They've padlocked your building
Benny called the cops
That fuck
They don't know what they're doing
The cops are sweeping the lot
But no one's leaving
They're just sitting there mooing
Yeah
To Dance
No way to make a living, masochism, pain, perfection
Muscle spasms, chiropractors, short careers, eating disorders
Film
Adventure, tedium, no family, boring locations
Dark rooms, perfect faces, egos, money, Hollywood and sleaze
Music
Food of love, emotion, mathematics, isolation
Rhythm, feeling, power, harmony, and heavy competition
Anarchy
Revolution, justice, screaming for solutions
Forcing changes, risk, and danger
Making noise and making please
To faggots, lezzies, dykes, cross dressers too
To me, to me
To you, and you and you, you and you
To people living with, living with, living with
Not dying from disease
Let he among us without sin
Be the first to condemn
La vie Bohème
La vie Bohème
La vie Bohème
Anyone out of the mainstream (La vie Bohème)
Is anyone in the mainstream? (La vie Bohème)
Anyone alive with a sex drive (La vie Bohème)
Tear down the wall, aren't we all? (La vie Bohème)
The opposite of war isn't peace
It's creation
La vie Bohème
Viva la vie Bohème
The song "La Vie Boheme" by Anthony Rapp is a celebration of a bohemian lifestyle. The lyrics are full of references to different forms of art, such as dance, film, music, and anarchy. The first part of the song portrays the chaos and uncertainty in the life of the bohemians. They are packing to move out of their building, which has been padlocked, and there are riots on Avenue B. Benny, who is apparently a despised authority figure, has called the cops. However, the bohemians don't want to leave and are sitting there in defiance, "mooing".
The next part of the song contains descriptions of the different art forms and the struggles that come with them. In dance, there is no way to make a living and it involves masochism and pain. Film involves adventure, but also boredom and egos. In music, there is heavy competition, but also powerful emotions. Anarchy involves revolution and risk. The lyrics invoke a sense of solidarity with these different struggles, acknowledging that all art forms require sacrifice and dedication.
The last part of the song is a call for acceptance and unity. The bohemians celebrate all forms of sexual identity and reject the mainstream society that marginalizes them. They reject the idea of sin and condemnation, instead embracing a bohemian lifestyle that values creativity and human connection. The song ends with a chant of "La vie Bohème", a declaration of this way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Are we packed?
Have we packed our belongings?
Yes, and by next week I want you to be
Yes, and I want you to be done with it by next week.
Pookie?
An affectionate name (possibly for a pet).
And you should see
You would be surprised to see.
They've padlocked your building
The owner has locked the door of your building.
And they're rioting on Avenue B
There are riots on Avenue B.
Benny called the cops
Benny has called the police.
That fuck
Indicates disapproval or anger towards Benny.
They don't know what they're doing
They are clueless or incompetent.
The cops are sweeping the lot
The police are searching the area.
But no one's leaving
No one is evacuating the premises.
They're just sitting there mooing
They are inactive, like cows.
No way to make a living, masochism, pain, perfection
The lifestyle of an artist is difficult, filled with pain, sacrifice, and the pursuit of perfection.
Muscle spasms, chiropractors, short careers, eating disorders
The artistic lifestyle can result in physical ailments, short careers, and unhealthy eating habits.
Adventure, tedium, no family, boring locations
Filmmaking can be exciting but also boring, and may not allow for time with family.
Dark rooms, perfect faces, egos, money, Hollywood and sleaze
Filmmakers face the pressure to look perfect and have big egos, while needing a lot of money to make it in the industry where there is also a sleazy side.
Food of love, emotion, mathematics, isolation
Music is a powerful expression of love and emotion that involves both art and science and often involves spending time alone or in isolation.
Rhythm, feeling, power, harmony, and heavy competition
Music involves having a sense of rhythm and feeling, and requires power and harmony, while also having a lot of competition in the industry.
Revolution, justice, screaming for solutions
Anarchy involves striving for revolution and justice by shouting for solutions to the problems in society.
Forcing changes, risk, and danger
Anarchy involves taking risks and putting oneself in danger to bring about change.
Making noise and making please
Being an anarchist involves making a lot of noise and what pleases you.
To faggots, lezzies, dykes, cross dressers too
To people who are not heterosexual or who dress differently from societal norms.
To me, to me
To myself.
To you, and you and you, you and you
To many other people.
To people living with, living with, living with
To people who live with a certain condition.
Not dying from disease
Despite living with a disease, they are not dying from it.
Let he among us without sin
Whoever is without fault.
Be the first to condemn
Be the first to show disapproval.
La vie Bohème
The bohemian way of life.
Anyone out of the mainstream (La vie Bohème)
Those who are not conforming to society's norms.
Is anyone in the mainstream? (La vie Bohème)
Is anyone conforming to society's norms?
Anyone alive with a sex drive (La vie Bohème)
Everyone who has a sex drive.
Tear down the wall, aren't we all? (La vie Bohème)
Let's break the barriers that divide us, since we are essentially all the same.
The opposite of war isn't peace
Peace is not simply the absence of war.
It's creation
Creating something positive is the way to achieve peace and harmony.
Viva la vie Bohème
Long live the bohemian way of life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jonathan Larson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind