Happy New Year
Original Broadway Cast Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

How long till next year?

Three and half minutes

I'm giving up my vices
I'm going back, back to school
Eviction or not
This week's been so hot
That long as I've got you I know I'll be cool
I couldn't crack the love code, dear
'Til you made the lock on my heart explode
It's gonna be a happy new year
A happy new year

Coast is clear
You're supposed to be working
That's for midnight
Where are they?
There isn't much time

Maybe they're dressing
I mean what does one wear that's apropos
For a party, that's also a crime?

Chips, anyone?

You can take the girl out of Hicksville
But you can't take the Hicksville out of the girl

My riot got you on TV
I deserve a royalty

Be nice you two
Or no god awful champagne

Don't mind if I do
No luck?

Bolted plywood, padlocked with a chain
A total dead end

Just like my ex-girlfriend

Honey? I know you're there
Please pick up the phone
Are you okay?
It's not funny
It's not fair
How can I atone?
Are you okay?
I lose control but I can learn to behave
Give me one more chance, let me be your slave
I'll kiss your Doc Martens, let me kiss your Doc Martens
Your every wish I will obey

That might be okay
Down girl
Heel, stay
I did a bit of research
With my friends at legal aid
Technically, you're squatters
There's hope
But just in case

Rope

We can hoist a line

To the fire escape

And tie off at

That bench

I can't take them as chums

Start hoisting wench

I think I should be laughing
Yet I forget, forget how to begin
I'm feeling something inside
And yet I still can't decide
If I should hide or make a wide open grin
Last week I wanted just to disappear
My life was dust
But now it just may be a happy new year
A happy new year

Bond, James Bond

And Pussy Galore in person

Pussy, you came prepared

I was a boy scout once
And a brownie
Until some brat got scared

Aha! Moneypenny, my martini!

Will bad champagne do?

That's shaken, not stirred

Pussy, the bolts

Just say the word

Two minutes left to execute our plan

Where's everyone else?

Playing Spiderman

Ironic close up, tight
On the phone machine's red light




Once the Boho boys are gone
The power mysteriously comes on

Overall Meaning

The song "Happy New Year" from the Original Broadway Cast features a group of friends who have been evicted from their apartments and are attempting to break into a vacant penthouse to celebrate the New Year. As the clock ticks down to midnight, they reflect on their past year, make resolutions, and hatch a plan to get into the penthouse. The lyrics are poignant and witty, reflecting the struggles of young adults trying to make their way in the world.


The opening line, "How long till next year?", sets the tone of the song, with a sense of anxiety and urgency palpable from the start. The line "I'm giving up my vices, I'm going back, back to school" shows a sense of determination to improve oneself, while the line "Coast is clear, you're supposed to be working" shows the characters' penchant for mischief and rebellion. The characters' love lives are also explored, with the line "I couldn't crack the love code, dear, 'til you made the lock on my heart explode" showcasing the power of love to change a person's life.


Line by Line Meaning

How long till next year?
The person wants to know how many minutes are left until the new year starts.


Three and half minutes
There are only three and half minutes left until the new year starts.


I'm giving up my vices
The person has decided to stop their bad habits or addictions.


I'm going back, back to school
The person is planning to resume their education.


Eviction or not
The person does not care about being evicted from their place of residence.


This week's been so hot
The week has been unpleasant in some way.


That long as I've got you I know I'll be cool
The person will be okay as long as they have the company of someone specific.


I couldn't crack the love code, dear
The person could not understand the meaning of love.


Til you made the lock on my heart explode
The person fell in love with someone they were trying to understand.


It's gonna be a happy new year
The person is looking forward to a happy new year.


Coast is clear
No one is around to see what the person is about to do.


You're supposed to be working
The person is asking someone else about their job.


That's for midnight
Drink that someone has offered should be saved until midnight.


Where are they?
The person is asking where other people are.


There isn't much time
The person acknowledges that time is running out for something to happen.


Maybe they're dressing
The person offers a possible explanation for why other people are not around. They might be getting dressed.


I mean what does one wear that's apropos
The person is wondering what is appropriate to wear to a party.


For a party, that's also a crime?
The person is questioning if it's okay to have a party where something illegal is happening.


Chips, anyone?
The person asks if anyone wants to eat chips.


You can take the girl out of Hicksville
The person is saying that even though someone has left the place where they grew up, some of the habits they learned there still remain.


But you can't take the Hicksville out of the girl
The person is emphasizing that it's impossible to completely forget where one is from.


My riot got you on TV
Something that the person has done or caused has made someone else famous and appear on TV.


I deserve a royalty
The person feels entitled to receive money or some reward for what they've done.


Be nice you two
The person is telling two other people to be nice to each other.


Or no god awful champagne
The person is threatening to take away someone else's bad-quality champagne.


Don't mind if I do
The person accepts an offer someone else has made.


No luck?
The person is asking if someone else has had any success with their plan.


Bolted plywood, padlocked with a chain
The person is describing an obstacle in the form of a boarded-up barrier.


A total dead end
The person is saying that their plan has come to a stop because there is no way to proceed.


Just like my ex-girlfriend
The person is comparing the dead end they've reached with their previous failed relationship.


Honey? I know you're there
The person is trying to communicate with someone they know.


Please pick up the phone
The person is requesting that someone on the other end of the line answers the phone.


Are you okay?
The person is checking if someone else is doing alright.


It's not funny
The person is not amused by something.


It's not fair
The person believes that something is unjust.


How can I atone?
The person wants to make up for something wrong that was done in the past.


I lose control but I can learn to behave
The person admits they have difficulty controlling themselves but also believes that they can change their behavior.


Give me one more chance, let me be your slave
The person is asking for another opportunity to prove themselves and promises to obey someone else completely.


I'll kiss your Doc Martens, let me kiss your Doc Martens
The person is promising to show extreme submission to someone else in a humorous way.


Your every wish I will obey
The person is offering to always do exactly what someone else asks of them.


That might be okay
Someone has decided that a previous suggestion might be acceptable.


Down girl
The person is telling someone else to calm down or stop being so enthusiastic.


Heel, stay
The person is pretending to be commanding a dog to stay still.


I did a bit of research
The person has conducted some investigation to learn more information.


With my friends at legal aid
The person got help from some friends who work in the legal field.


Technically, you're squatters
According to the law, the person and their group have been occupying a space unlawfully.


There's hope
The person is optimistic that there might be some way for themselves and their friends to stay where they are.


But just in case
The person is taking some preparation to deal with the possibility of being forced to leave the space.


Rope
The person has thought of a practical tool that will help them get over an obstacle.


We can hoist a line
The group has planned to use a rope to climb up to a higher level.


To the fire escape
The group plans to use the fire escape as their route of escape and entry.


And tie off at
The group will use the rope to tie off something at a certain point.


That bench
The person specifies where they plan to tie off the rope.


I can't take them as chums
The person does not like or respect someone else; they are not friends.


Start hoisting wench
The person wielding the rope has ordered someone else to start pulling it to climb.


I think I should be laughing
The person feels like they should be happy about something right now.


Yet I forget, forget how to begin
The person does not know exactly how to interpret their current situation even though they feel like they should.


I'm feeling something inside
The person is experiencing an emotion that is not entirely clear to them.


And yet I still can't decide
The person is uncertain about what they should do next.


If I should hide or make a wide open grin
The person is debating if they should hide their unease or smile widely even though they might not feel like it.


Last week I wanted just to disappear
The person wished to vanish from their life last week.


My life was dust
The person felt like their life was meaningless, worthless, or dull.


But now it just may be a happy new year
The person is starting to feel optimistic that the new year will turn out well for them.


Bond, James Bond
The person references the famous persona of James Bond.


And Pussy Galore in person
The person mentions a famous character named Pussy Galore from a James Bond film.


Pussy, you came prepared
The person compliments someone named Pussy for having the correct tools or equipment for their plans.


I was a boy scout once
The person implies that they have experience and knowledge about similar situations from their past.


And a brownie
The person is saying that they were also in a group for young girls called the Brownies.


Until some brat got scared
The person stopped being in the Brownies due to someone else's fear.


Aha! Moneypenny, my martini!
The person mentions another character from James Bond and references a drink, implying that they are feeling playful or excited.


Will bad champagne do?
The person is asking if lower quality or unsafe champagne will be sufficient for their needs.


That's shaken, not stirred
The person is requesting their drink to be made in a specific way.


Pussy, the bolts
The person tells someone named Pussy which bolts they should take note of.


Just say the word
The person is volunteering to do something for someone else if they give the command.


Two minutes left to execute our plan
The person is aware that they only have two minutes to carry out their plan.


Where's everyone else?
The person is asking where other participants of the plan are.


Playing Spiderman
The person provides an explanation for the absence of other people, saying they might be playing a video game or pretending to be Spiderman.


Ironic close up, tight
The camera has zoomed in to provide a closer view of what is happening in an ironic or humorous manner.


On the phone machine's red light
The light on the answering machine is illuminated, indicating that there is a message.


Once the Boho boys are gone
After the free-spirited individuals have left or are out of the picture,


The power mysteriously comes on
electricity or the capability to animate something suddenly becomes available without explanation.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jonathan D. Larson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@johnnybgood9144

It's gonna be a Happy New Year 2023(thinking positively)

@ericdraven_9481

Happy New Year to my fellow Rentheads. (:

@Emoblackguy2349

Happy New Year!!! When I tell you that RENT saved my life, I’m not exaggerating. This musical is the reason why I look forward to living each day.

@ericdraven_9481

@@Emoblackguy2349 It helped me through some dark times so I completely relate.

@phinp4947

almost a year later on new years eve and I'm listening to it again

@agentstarmora

Happy new year from 2023!

@RobertFerro3

Happy new year!

@skvllbody25

Happy New Year!

@Ava-kt8vo

Happy Poo Year

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