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.
You Okay Honey?
Jonathan Larson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Christmas bells are ringing
Christmas bells are ringing
Christmas bells are ringing
Somewhere else!
Not here
Angel
Collins
I'm afraid so
Angel
They get any money?
Collins
No
Had none to get -
But they purloined my coat -
Well you missed a sleeve! - Thanks
Angel
Hell it's Christmas eve
I'm Angel
Collins
Angel..? Indeed
An angel of the first degree
Friends call me Collins - Tom Collins
Nice tree ...
Angel
Let's get a band-aid for your knee
I'll change, there's a "Life Support" meeting at nine-thirty
Yes - this body provides a comfortable home
For the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Collins
As does mine
Angel
We'll get along fine
Get you a coat, have a bite
Make a night - I'm flush
Collins
My friends are waiting --
Angel
You're cute when you blush
The more the merry - ho ho ho
And I do not take no
for an answer, you know.
The lyrics to Jonathan Larson's song, "You Okay Honey?" tell the story of two homeless men who meet on Christmas Eve. The song begins with Christmas bells ringing, however, the homeless man in the song notes that the bells are ringing "somewhere else", highlighting the fact that not everyone gets to enjoy Christmas in the same way. The song continues with an exchange between the two main characters, Collins and Angel. Collins has just been robbed of his coat, and Angel, who introduces himself as an "angel of the first degree", offers to help him. Angel suggests they attend a meeting for people with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which both men suffer from. Despite their difficult circumstances, Angel remains upbeat and determined to make the most of the situation, insisting that they have a good time and make the most of their shared experience.
The song explores deeper themes, including the consequences of homelessness and the discrimination faced by those suffering from illnesses such as AIDS. The lyrics highlight the importance of finding human connection, even in the most challenging of circumstances. The song shows the power of kindness and compassion, and how small moments of kindness can make a big difference to people's lives. Ultimately, "You Okay Honey?" is a song about the resilience and determination of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and how we can find joy and meaning even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Christmas bells are ringing
The sound of Christmas bells can be heard in the distance
Christmas bells are ringing
The sound of Christmas bells is audible from somewhere far away
Christmas bells are ringing
The Christmas season is being celebrated somewhere
Somewhere else!
The Christmas season is not being celebrated here
You okay honey?
Asking if the person is alright
I'm afraid so
Answering that they are not okay
They get any money?
Asking if someone stole their money
No
They didn't have any money in the first place
Had none to get -
They didn't have money to give away to anyone
But they purloined my coat -
Someone stole his coat
Well you missed a sleeve! - Thanks
Informing the person who stole his coat that they left a sleeve behind and thanking the angel for their help
Hell it's Christmas eve
Expressing surprise that it's already Christmas eve
Angel..? Indeed
Collins is confirming that the person who helped him is an angel
An angel of the first degree
Saying that the person who helped him is a top-notch angel
Friends call me Collins - Tom Collins
Introducing himself as Collins, sometimes known as Tom Collins
Nice tree ...
Commenting on the Christmas tree
Let's get a band-aid for your knee
Offering to help Collins with his injury
I'll change, there's a "Life Support" meeting at nine-thirty
Offering to attend a support group meeting to help Collins
Yes - this body provides a comfortable home
Indicating that their body is a good place for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) virus to live
For the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Explaining that they have AIDS
As does mine
Collins is acknowledging that he also has AIDS
We'll get along fine
Saying that they will have a good relationship despite both having AIDS
Get you a coat, have a bite
Offering to get Collins a coat and some food
Make a night - I'm flush
Suggesting that they can have a good time together and that they have some money to spend
My friends are waiting --
Collins is reluctant to leave his friends waiting
You're cute when you blush
Teasing Collins about his reaction
The more the merry - ho ho ho
Suggesting that spending time together will be fun and festive
And I do not take no
Implying that they will have a good time together whether Collins agrees or not
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.