There Is Life Outside Your Apartment
John Tartaglia Lyrics
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Princeton!
[PRINCETON]
Yeah.
[BRIAN]
Listen, buddy, nobody's seen ya for two weeks. What's up with that?
[PRINCETON]
I went to work for a temp agency, and they fired me for being too
depressing on the phone. I maxed out my cards. I'm two months
behind in rent. I totally messed up my personal life. Oh, and Brian --
I still haven't found my purpose!
[BRIAN]
All right. Get off your ass and stop worrying! Everyone's getting
together to mess around the city today.
[PRINCETON]
Have fun.
[BRIAN]
When I say "everyone", that includes you!
(sung)
There is life outside your apartment
I know it's hard to conceive,
but there's life outside your apartment,
and you're only gonna see it if you leave.
There is cool shit to do,
but it can't come to you.
And who knows, dude,
you might even score!
There is life outside your apartment,
but you've got to open the door!
(spoken)
[PRINCETON]
No, thanks, I'm staying in.
[BRIAN]
Don't tell me I gotta force you.
[PRINCETON]
Sorry!
[BRIAN]
All right everyone! He's resisting!
(Christmas Eve, Trekkie Monster, Gary and Nicky pick Princeton
up and drag him outside)
(sung)
[ALL BUT PRINCETON]
There is life outside...
there is life outside...
there is life outside...
there is life outside...
your apartment!
There's a pigeon squashed on the street.
[CHRISTMAS EVE]
Eww.
[BRIAN]
There's a girl passing by
[NICKY]
No, I think it's a guy
[ALL BUT PRINCETON]
And a homeless man who only wants
to buy something to eat!
Sorry! Can't help you!
(they enter the subway)
[ALL BUT PRINCETON]
We could go to the zoo!
[TREKKIE MONSTER]
Pick up girls at NYU!
[BRIAN]
We could sit in the park smoking pot!
[CHRISTMAS EVE]
Or not!
[ALL BUT PRINCETON]
There is life outside your apartment
[PRINCETON]
Well, I guess I'll give it a shot!
(*gunshot*, everyone screams and runs)
[ALL]
There is life outside your apartment
I know --
(*loud jackhammer* -- they cover their ears and swear)
There is life outside your apartment
(they look up in horror)
[OFFSTAGE VOICE]
I'm gonna jump!
[ALL]
Don't do it!
[OFFSTAGE VOICE]
Okay!
[ALL]
There is cool shit to do
but it can't come to you
So come on --
(*car screeches to a halt*)
[OFFSTAGE VOICE]
Get out of the way asshole!
[PRINCETON]
Fuck you!
[ALL]
There is life outside your apartment!
Oh, you never know what's around the bend.
You could win the lotto or make a friend...
(Lucy enters, the guys eye her and turn to Princeton)
[GUYS]
Take her home to see your apartment...
[LUCY]
Do you want to feel special?
[GUYS]
Special!
[LUCY]
I can see that you do.
[GUYS]
Ooooh-wah!
[LUCY]
Well, I can make you feel... special
if you let me feel you.
[GUYS]
She'll feel you!
[LUCY]
Where's your pad?
[PRINCETON]
Not too far!
[GUYS]
We could call you a car!
[PRINCETON]
We'll be fine, thank you! See ya!
[CHRISTMAS EVE]
Hope you don't get gonorrhea!
[ALL]
There's life outside your apartment...
[PRINCETON AND LUCY]
But now it's time to go home!
[GROUP]
There is life outside your apartment...
[PRINCETON]
It's time to go home!
[GROUP]
There is life outside your apartment...
[LUCY]
I can make you feel special...
[GROUP]
There is life outside your apartment...
[ALL]
But now it's time to go home
[TREKKIE MONSTER]
For porn!
The song “There Is Life Outside Your Apartment” by John Tartaglia is from the Broadway musical Avenue Q. The song begins with Brian asking Princeton why he has not been seen for two weeks, to which Princeton responds that he had been fired from his job, he had maxed out on his credit cards, his personal life was a mess, and he still had not found his purpose. Brian then encourages Princeton to come out with everyone else to enjoy life, and tells him that there is cool stuff to do outside his apartment, and that he might even score. The chorus then emphasizes the concept of life outside the apartment, but that one has to leave the apartment to experience it.
Throughout the song, there are numerous references to specific activities and things that happen outside the apartment. For example, they reference a pigeon squashed on the street, a girl passing by, and a homeless man looking for something to eat. When they go to the subway, one character suggests going to the zoo, while another suggests picking up girls at NYU, while Brian suggests sitting in the park and smoking pot.
This song highlights a common theme throughout the musical, which is that the characters are struggling to find their purpose and meaning in life. The song encourages taking risks and experiencing new things, even if it means going outside one’s comfort zone.
Line by Line Meaning
There is life outside your apartment
Your entire world is not limited to the four walls of your apartment
I know it's hard to conceive
I understand that the thought of leaving your comfort zone can be daunting
But there's life outside your apartment
There are experiences to be had and things to see beyond your living space
And you're only gonna see it if you leave
You will only be able to enjoy and experience these things if you physically leave your apartment
There is cool shit to do, but it can't come to you
There may be unique and fun things to do outside of your apartment, but they require effort to experience
And who knows, dude, you might even score!
By venturing outside, you may have the chance to experience romantic connections or exciting opportunities
No, thanks, I'm staying in
I don't currently feel like leaving my apartment and would rather stay inside
Don't tell me I gotta force you
I don't want to have to coerce you to leave your apartment, but it's important to do so
There is life outside...
Reiterating the theme that life is not restricted to one's apartment
There's a pigeon squashed on the street
Observing unfortunate and possibly sad sights that are only viewable outside
And a homeless man who only wants to buy something to eat!
Interacting with people and recognizing the struggles and hardships they face outside of one's own experiences and desires
There is life outside your apartment
The chorus repeating the importance of seeking experiences beyond one's apartment
I can make you feel special, if you let me feel you
An offer seen from the following line as possibly having ulterior motives
It's time to go home
Everything must come to an end, including the experiences and time outside of one's apartment
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: JEFF MARX, ROBERT LOPEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind