Finale
Entire Company Lyrics
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Christmas bells are ringing
Christmas bells are ringing
How time flies
When compassion dies
No stocking, no candy canes
No gingerbread, no safety net
No loose change, no change, no
Santa Claus is coming
'Cause Santa Claus ain't coming
No room at the Holiday Inn again
Well, maybe next year or when
December twenty-fourth, ten p.m.
Eastern standard time
I can't believe a year went by so fast
Time to see, what we have time to see
Turn the projector on first shot roger
With the fender guitar he just got out of hock
When he sold the car
That took him away and back
I found my song
He found his song
If he could just find Mimi
I tried you know I tried
Fade in on mark
Who's still in the dark
But he's got great footage
Which he's cut together
To screen tonight
In honor of Benny's wife
Muffy, Alison
Pulling Benny out of the east village location
Then again, maybe we won't screen it tonight
I wonder how Alison found out about Mimi?
Maybe a bird told her or an angel
I had a little hunch you could use, a little 'flow
Tutoring again? Negative
Back at you? No, no you, no
I rewired the ATM at the food emporium
To provide an honorarium to anyone with the code
The code, well
A N G E L
Yet robin hooding isn't the solution
The powers that be must be undermined
Where they dwell in a small exclusive
Gourmet institution
Where we overcharge the wealthy, clientรยจle
Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe
With a private corner banquette in the back
We'll make it yet, we'll somehow get to Santa Fe
But you'd miss New York before you could unpack
Mark, Roger, anyone? Help
Maureen?
It's Mimi, I can't get her up the stairs
No, she was huddled in the park in the dark
And she was freezing and begged to come here
Over here, oh, god
Got a light, I know you, you're shivering
She's been living on the street
We need some heat
I'm shivering
We can buy some wood and something to eat
I'm afraid she needs more than heat
I heard that
Collins will call for a doctor, honey
Don't waste your money on mimi, me, me
Hello-911? I'm on hold
Cold, cold, would you light my candle
Yes, we'll, oh God, find a candle
I should tell you
I should tell you
I should tell you
I should tell you
I should tell you
Benny wasn't any
Shh, I know
I should tell you why I left
It wasn't, 'cause I didn't
I know, I should tell you
I should tell you
I should tell you, I love you
Who do you think you are?
Leaving me alone with my guitar
Hold on there's something you
Should here
It isn't much but it took all year
The song "Finale" by John McDaniel is a powerful and emotional closing number to the musical "Rent." The lyrics begin with the repetition of "Christmas bells are ringing," setting the scene for the holiday season. However, the lyrics quickly take a darker turn as they illustrate the struggles and hardships faced by the characters throughout the year. The lines "No stocking, no candy canes, no gingerbread, no safety net" highlight the poverty and lack of support experienced by many of the characters.
As the song progresses, each character reflects on their individual journeys throughout the year. Mark is still "in the dark," struggling with his identity and creative pursuits. Roger has found his song but is still searching for Mimi. Maureen and Joanne have reconciled and are working on their relationship. Collins mourns the loss of his lover, Angel. Benny's betrayal is revealed, and the group must come together to help Mimi, who has been dealing with drug addiction and living on the streets.
The song ends with the powerful line "Who do you think you are, leaving me alone with my guitar," a symbol for the characters' resilience and determination to keep pushing forward despite their struggles.
Overall, "Finale" serves as a poignant and raw reflection of the challenges faced by the characters in "Rent" and the power of community and love to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
Christmas bells are ringing
The holiday season has arrived and people are in good cheer
How time flies
Time seems to pass very quickly
When compassion dies
When empathy is lost or not present
No stocking, no candy canes
The usual holiday decorations and treats are absent
No gingerbread, no safety net
The sense of security that comes with the holiday season is absent
No loose change, no change, no
There is no money to spare or give
Santa Claus is coming
The hope that things will get better is still present
'Cause Santa Claus ain't coming
Despite the hope, things are not likely to get better
No room at the Holiday Inn again
No place to celebrate or stay
Well, maybe next year or when
Hope for better circumstances in the future
December twenty-fourth, ten p.m.
The night before Christmas
Eastern standard time
The time zone in which the events are taking place
I can't believe a year went by so fast
The speed with which time has passed is surprising
Time to see, what we have time to see
Time to take stock of the present moment
Turn the projector on first shot roger
Begin the slideshow with the first image
With the fender guitar he just got out of hock
Using the guitar he just retrieved from pawn
When he sold the car
Took this action to retrieve the guitar
That took him away and back
The car represented his sense of freedom and ability to travel
I found my song
The singer has found their artistic or personal voice
He found his song
Another character has found their artistic or personal voice
If he could just find Mimi
The character is in search of someone important to them
I tried you know I tried
The artist has put in effort towards finding this person
Fade in on mark
The focus of the story is shifting to another character, Mark
Who's still in the dark
Mark is left out of some aspect of the story or information
But he's got great footage
Despite this, Mark has gathered valuable visual material
Which he's cut together
He has edited this footage into a coherent form
To screen tonight
This edited footage will be shown to an audience
In honor of Benny's wife
The screening is dedicated to Benny's spouse
Muffy, Alison
Other characters are mentioned in relation to Benny or the screening
Pulling Benny out of the east village location
Attempting to help Benny move from his currently negative situation or place
Then again, maybe we won't screen it tonight
There is some uncertainty about whether the screening will occur
I wonder how Alison found out about Mimi?
The artist is questioning how another character discovered information about Mimi
Maybe a bird told her or an angel
Speculating about the source of the information
I had a little hunch you could use, a little 'flow
The artist is offering their intuition or energy
Tutoring again? Negative
The singer is declining a tutoring offer
Back at you? No, no you, no
The artist is turning down another offer or request
I rewired the ATM at the food emporium
The singer has manipulated the ATM machine at a grocery store
To provide an honorarium to anyone with the code
This action benefits others who know the code
The code, well
Referencing the security measure necessary to access these funds
A N G E L
The code necessary for access to the funds at the ATM
Yet robin hooding isn't the solution
The artist acknowledges that their actions are not a complete solution to the problem
The powers that be must be undermined
A broader societal change is necessary to truly address the issues at hand
Where they dwell in a small exclusive
The location of those in power is described as privileged and limited
Gourmet institution
Referencing a high-end establishment
Where we overcharge the wealthy, clientรยจle
The business model is to take advantage of wealthy customers
Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe
The artist suggests a plan for a new business venture
With a private corner banquette in the back
Including a specific design element in this proposed restaurant
We'll make it yet, we'll somehow get to Santa Fe
The artist expresses optimism about the possibility of success
But you'd miss New York before you could unpack
Acknowledging that leaving the city they are currently situated in would be difficult
Mark, Roger, anyone? Help
The singer is asking for assistance from others nearby
Maureen?
Referencing a character who may be able to help
It's Mimi, I can't get her up the stairs
A person named Mimi needs assistance with mobility
No, she was huddled in the park in the dark
Explaining the condition in which Mimi was found
And she was freezing and begged to come here
Mimi was in desperate need of warmth and shelter
Over here, oh, god
The singer is helping to move Mimi to a better location
Got a light, I know you, you're shivering
The artist is concerned about Mimi's wellbeing and comfort
She's been living on the street
Mimi has been homeless and exposed to the elements
We need some heat
It is necessary to provide warmth for Mimi's survival
I'm shivering
The singer is also feeling the cold
We can buy some wood and something to eat
The plan is to acquire the necessary supplies to create a warm environment
I'm afraid she needs more than heat
There are deeper issues at play which need to be addressed
I heard that
Acknowledgement of the statement
Collins will call for a doctor, honey
A character named Collins is taking action to help Mimi's health
Don't waste your money on mimi, me, me
The artist suggests not using resources on their own well-being in this moment
Hello-911? I'm on hold
The artist is attempting to seek emergency assistance
Cold, cold, would you light my candle
The singer is requesting help with creating warmth
Yes, we'll, oh God, find a candle
Assuring the singer that they will be able to find what they need
I should tell you
The artist is preparing to disclose something important
I should tell you
Repeating the importance of disclosing information
I should tell you
Further stressing the need for disclosure
I should tell you why I left
The singer is explaining their past actions to someone else
It wasn't, 'cause I didn't
Clarifying that their departure was not due to negative feelings
I know, I should tell you
Continuing to express the need for disclosure
I should tell you
Another instance of emphasizing the need for disclosure
I should tell you, I love you
The important information being disclosed is that the singer loves the listener
Who do you think you are?
The artist is challenging the listener's behavior or actions
Leaving me alone with my guitar
The listener has caused the artist to feel isolated or abandoned
Hold on there's something you
The singer has something to share with the listener
Should here
Emphasizing the importance of the upcoming information
It isn't much but it took all year
The artist is sharing a gift or message that meant a lot to them and required significant effort to create
Lyrics ยฉ EMI Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Walt Disney Music Company, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TERENCE OLIVER BLANCHARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ProfessorKenneth
One of the best shows. I was 9 when this ended. I'm 47-48 now and I'm still getting watery eyes...lol.. Terri, (Priscilla ) her tears are definitely real.
@miami8089
I was 8 when this aired. It was by far favorite show at that time. Was sad to see it end. Remember it like yesterday
@jaycee330
Are you from the UK, how would you compare it with the final episode of Man About the House?
@CesarHernandez-mi3kv
Me as well. I was 9 lol
Long time ago
@sweetipie1995
Yes her tears look real seemed like she was only one who was sad about leavingโค
@VeenaMichelle
I was born 10 days after the final episode aired. So I was watching from My mom's tummy
@nitinbhakta4787
Three's Company is my favorite sitcom of all time. I still miss the cast. How time flies. I still vividly remember watching the final episode. I actually missed watching the final episode when it originally aired on September 18, 1984. I actually happened to catch the rerun in 1988 on a Saturday afternoon in July when school was out in summer. Truly, a sad ending. I still watch the sitcom on YouTube, and I continue to laugh to this day. The best show ever.
@pablobeltran3028
yeah, me too ... from the Phiippines... and now there's only Janet left...
@greggd2027
This scene.. I haven't seen it since it aired in 1984. I was a young teenager at the time. My family watched Three's Company together for years and always looked forward to the new episodes. I distinctly remember all of us in the living room watching this scene.. and all of us sniffling. I wish there were more quality shows these days
@philaman1972
I remember watching the finale when it first aired back in 1984; I was 12. Currently, '3s Company' airs in perpetuity on 'Pluto TV' and I have caught this episode more than once when eating dinner. Needless to say, it moves me to tears every time because it's genuine.