These musicals seriously tackle issues such as multiculturalism, addiction, sexual orientation and HIV. Rent was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and won four Tony Awards. The scores of his shows reveal that he was an apt composer and lyricist.
One tick, tick...BOOM! song called "Sunday" is an homage to Stephen Sondheim, who supported Larson. It stays close to the melody and lyrics of Sondheim's own song of the same title but turning it from a manifesto about art into a waiter's lament.
Among the many awards he received during and after his lifetime were: the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (for Rent), the Richard Rodgers Production Award, the Richard Rodgers Development Grant, the Stephen Sondheim Award, the Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation's Commendation Award, the Tonys for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Score of a Musical for Rent, the Drama Desks for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Book, and Best Lyrics (also for Rent), the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical (again for Rent), the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical in the Off-Broadway category (another for Rent), and three Obie Awards for Outstanding Book, Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Music (yet again for Rent).
Among his many creative works are Rent, tick, tick...BOOM!, Sacrimoralimmorality (1981)with David Armstrong (retitled Saved for the one-week run on 42nd Street), Superbia, the music for J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation, numerous individual numbers, music for Sesame Street, music for the children's book cassettes of An American Tail and Land Before Time, music for Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner, and four songs for the children's video Away We Go! (which he also conceived and directed).
Larson died unexpectedly of an undiagnosed aortic dissection (aortic aneurysm), believed to have been caused by Marfan syndrome, on January 25th, 1996. It was ten days before his 36th birthday, and the night before Rent's first preview off-Broadway.
After his death, Larson's family and friends started the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation.
In 2005, a film version of his most popular production Rent was released, directed by Christopher Columbus.
In September of 2008, Rent closed after 12 successful years on broadway. One of the final shows and the finale were filmed for a limited engagement film, "Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway." The DVD and Blu-Ray disc were released was in February 2009.
Currently original cast members Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, and Gwen Stewart are performing on the farewell broadway tour of the show.
Today 4 U
Jonathan Larson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gentlemen, Our Benefactor On This
Christmas Eve
Whose Charity Is Only Matched By
Talent, I Believe
A New Member Of The Alphabet City
Avant-Garde
Angel Dumott Schunard!
ANGEL
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
COLLINS
And You Should Hear Her Beat!
ROGER
You Earned This On The Street?
ANGEL
It Was My Lucky Day Today On Avenue A
When A Lady In A Limousine Drove My Way
She Said, Dahling-Be A Dear - Haven't
Slept In A Year
I Need Your Help To Make My Neighbor's
Yappy Dog Disappear
This Akita-Evita - Just Won't Shut Up
I Believe If You Play Non-Stop That Pup
Will Breathe Its Very Last High-Strung
Breath
I'm Certain That Cur Will Bark Itself To
Death
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
We Agreed On A Fee - A Thousand Dollar
Guarentee,
Tax-Free - And A Bonus If I Trim Her Tree
Now Who Could Foretell That It Would
Go So Well
But Sure As I Am Here That Dog Is Now In
Doggy Hell
After An Hour - Evita - In All Her Glory
On The Window Ledge Of That 23RD Story
Like Thelma and Louise Did When They Got
The Blues
Swan Dove Into The Courtyard Of The
Gracie Mews
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
Then Back To The Street Where I Met
My Sweet
Where He Was Moaning And Groaning On
The Cold Concrete
The Nurse Took Him Home For Some
Mercurochrome
And I Dressed His Wounds And Got Him
Back On His Feet
Sing It
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
The lyrics of "Today 4 U" by Jonathan Larson are part of the musical "Rent," a story that explores the lives of struggling artists living in Alphabet City, Manhattan. In this song, Collins introduces the newly arrived Angel Dumott Schunard, a flamboyant drag queen, and street performer, who shares his latest gig with the group. Angel narrates how he was hired by a wealthy lady to get rid of her neighbor's noisy dog, a task that he accomplished successfully. The song's main refrain, "Today for you, tomorrow for me," encapsulates Angel's philosophy of life, which is rooted in the idea of karma and mutual aid.
At first glance, the song's lyrics may seem lighthearted and comedic, but they also communicate deeper messages about community, friendship, and selflessness. By helping the woman with the barking dog, Angel not only earns a quick buck, but he also shows compassion for both the animal and its owner, who was losing sleep over the noise. Moreover, by sharing his story with the group, Angel demonstrates his desire to connect with others and make a positive impact in their lives. The song's upbeat rhythm and catchy melody add to its optimistic tone, making it a memorable moment in the musical.
Line by Line Meaning
Gentlemen, Our Benefactor On This Christmas Eve
The person who has offered us help and support today is very generous, especially on a day as special as Christmas Eve.
Whose Charity Is Only Matched By Talent, I Believe
This person is not only very kind, but also very talented. Their skills and generosity are both impressive.
A New Member Of The Alphabet City Avant-Garde
We have a new artist in our community, someone whose work is creative and innovative and adds to the already impressive culture of our city.
Angel Dumott Schunard!
Introducing the one and only Angel Dumott Schunard, a talented and unique individual whom we respect and admire.
Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
I'll help you out today, and someday you can help me out in return.
And You Should Hear Her Beat!
Angel is a talented drummer and musician, and you would be amazed if you could hear her play.
You Earned This On The Street?
Did you get this money from begging on the street or doing some other kind of work that might be less respectable?
It Was My Lucky Day Today On Avenue A When A Lady In A Limousine Drove My Way She Said, Dahling-Be A Dear - Haven't Slept In A Year I Need Your Help To Make My Neighbor's Yappy Dog Disappear This Akita-Evita - Just Won't Shut Up
I had a great stroke of luck when a wealthy woman in a limousine asked for my help to deal with a noisy dog in her neighborhood that was keeping her up all night.
I Believe If You Play Non-Stop That Pup Will Breathe Its Very Last High-Strung Breath I'm Certain That Cur Will Bark Itself To Death
I think that if we play loud music without stopping, that dog will become so stressed that it will stop breathing or bark itself to death.
We Agreed On A Fee - A Thousand Dollar Guarentee, Tax-Free - And A Bonus If I Trim Her Tree Now Who Could Foretell That It Would Go So Well But Sure As I Am Here That Dog Is Now In Doggy Hell
We made a deal that she would pay me a thousand dollars to deal with the dog, and I'd get a bonus if I also trimmed her tree. It's amazing how well it all turned out, and the dog is gone for good.
After An Hour - Evita - In All Her Glory On The Window Ledge Of That 23RD Story Like Thelma and Louise Did When They Got The Blues Swan Dove Into The Courtyard Of The Gracie Mews
After some time, the neighbor's dog jumped out of a 23rd-story window, just like the main characters in 'Thelma and Louise' did when they felt hopeless. It landed in the courtyard of a nearby apartment complex.
Then Back To The Street Where I Met My Sweet Where He Was Moaning And Groaning On The Cold Concrete The Nurse Took Him Home For Some Mercurochrome And I Dressed His Wounds And Got Him Back On His Feet
After dealing with the dog, I went back to the street corner where I met my friend, who was hurt and in pain from sleeping on the hard ground. I helped him clean and dress his wounds so he could start to heal.
Sing It Today For You - Tomorrow For Me
Let's sing this song together and remember that we are all connected and should help one another without expectation of something in return.
Contributed by Carson B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.