I'll Cover You
Original Broadway Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be your shelter
Just pay me back
With one thousand kisses
Be my lover
And I'll cover you
Yeah
I'll be your tenant
Don't got much baggage
To lay at your feet
But sweet kisses I've got to spare
I'll be there
And I'll cover you
Oh
I think they meant it
When they said you can't buy love
Now I know you can rent it
A new lease you are my love
On life
All my life
I've longed to discover
Something as true as this is
Yeah
So with a thousand sweet kisses (I'll Cover you) (525,600 minutes)
If you're cold and you're lonely
With a thousand sweet kisses (I'll cover you) (525,600 moments so dear)
You've got one nickel only
With a thousand sweet kisses (525,600 minutes)
When you worn out and you're tired
With a thousand sweet kisses (I'll cover you) (525,000)
When your heart has expired
Oh
Lover
I'll cover you
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oh lover
I'll cover you (525,600 minutes)
(525,000 seasons of love)
I'll cover you
The song "I'll Cover You" is a love song from the Broadway musical Rent, written by American composer Jonathan Larson. The song is used to depict the deep love between Tom Collins, a gay man who is a computer scientist, and Angel Dumott Schunard, a young drag queen who is living with HIV/AIDS. In the song, Tom Collins offers to be a shelter and lover to Angel, and promises to cover Angel with kisses and love. He also mentions that he will take care of Angel during difficult times, even when Angel only has one nickel left.
The first verse of the song presents Tom Collins' offer to be a shelter for Angel. He tells Angel that he can live in his house and pay him back with one thousand kisses. This suggests that Tom Collins is offering unconditional love, and that he is not expecting anything in return for his kindness. The second verse talks about Tom Collins' willingness to be a tenant in Angel's house, which shows that he is open to sharing and accommodating himself in any situation. The line "I think they meant it when they said you can't buy love, now I know you can rent it" suggests that Tom Collins believes that love cannot be bought or sold, but rather it should be shared freely.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "I'll cover you" multiple times, emphasizing Tom Collins' promise to take care of Angel, no matter what challenges they may face. The song ends with Tom Collins singing "I'll cover you" repeatedly, accompanied by the ensemble.
Line by Line Meaning
Live in my house
Come live with me, I have a house for you to stay in
I'll be your shelter
I'll be your protection from anything that can harm you
Just pay me back
All I ask in return is for you to show me affection
With one thousand kisses
I want you to show me love through kisses, lots of them
Be my lover
Be my significant other, the one I have romantic love with
And I'll cover you
If you give me your love, I'll always have your back no matter what
Open your door
Let me into your life, your home and your heart
I'll be your tenant
I'll stay with you as a tenant, with respect to your home and your rules
Don't got much baggage
I don't have a lot of burdens or complications in my life
To lay at your feet
I don't have any issues that I need to bring to your attention or put on you to solve
But sweet kisses I've got to spare
But I have a lot of kisses to share with you, as my expression of love
I'll be there
I'll be present and available for you when you need me
And I'll cover you
I'll protect you and have your back at all times
I think they meant it
I believe the saying is true
When they said you can't buy love
When people say that love cannot be purchased with money
Now I know you can rent it
But I believe that you can at least rent love
A new lease you are my love
You are my new source of love that I want to rent, like a lease
On life
You give me a new lease on life, a renewed purpose for living
All my life
Throughout my entire life
I've longed to discover
I've always wanted to find
Something as true as this is
Something as genuine and real as the love we share
Yeah
An expression of agreement and enthusiasm
So with a thousand sweet kisses (I'll Cover you) (525,600 minutes)
With a thousand kisses, I will always protect you, even for every minute of the year
If you're cold and you're lonely
If you find yourself feeling cold and alone
You've got one nickel only
If you only have one nickel to your name
With a thousand sweet kisses (525,600 minutes)
I will still provide you with a thousand sweet kisses, to show my love and protection
When you worn out and you're tired
When you become exhausted and fatigued
With a thousand sweet kisses (I'll cover you) (525,000)
I'll still have your back, even when you feel worn out, for 525,000 minutes (or moments)
When your heart has expired
When your physical heart stops beating
Oh lover
A term of endearment to express love
I'll cover you
For all eternity, I'll protect and love you
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
An expression of intense emotions, such as love
Oh lover
Repeating the term of endearment, showing how much you mean to me
I'll cover you (525,600 minutes)
I'll always have your back, showing my love for 525,600 minutes, every year of my life
(525,000 seasons of love)
A reference to the song Seasons of Love and its 525,600 minutes in a year
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jonathan D. Larson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@louiesanchez7142
[ANGEL]
Alone at last
[COLINS]
He’ll be back I guarantee
[ANGEL]
I’ve been hearing violins all night
[COLINS]
Anything to do with me? Are we a thing?
[ANGEL]
Darling we’re everything
————————————————————————
Live in my house, I'll be your shelter
Just pay me back
With 1, 000 kisses
Be my lover, and I'll cover you
[COLINS]
Open your door, I'll be your tenant
Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet
But sweet kisses, I've got to spare
I'll be there, and I'll cover you
[BOTH]
I think they meant it
When they said you can't buy love
Now I know you can rent it
A new lease, you are my love
On life, be my life
———————————
[COLINS]
Girl where are you taking me?
[ANGEL]
Where ever you want to go
Weeee
[COLINS]
Alright
[ANGEL]
My wig! Hold on
————————————————————————
[BOTH]
Just slip me on, I'll be your blanket
Wherever, whatever I'll be your coat
[ANGEL]
You'll be my king, and I'll be your castle
[COLINS]
No, you be my queen, and I'll be your moat
[BOTH]
I think they meant it
When they said you can't buy love
Now I know you can rent it
A new lease you are my love
On life, oh my life
I've longed to discover
Something as true as this is
[COLINS (ANGEL)]
So with a thousand sweet kisses
(If you're cold and you're lonely) I'll cover you
With a thousand sweet kisses
(You've got one nickel only) I'll cover you
With a thousand sweet kisses
(When you're worn out and tired) I'll cover you
With a thousand sweet kisses
(When your heart has expired) I'll cover you
[BOTH]
Oh lover, I'll cover you,
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oh lover, I'll cover you
@Silvercentipede
Umm I guess not certain songs just certain lines/part of it. "What you own" is pretty cringy, like they're acting so hard done by just because they have to get a job and earn a living, and complaining about living in America (like as opposed to some other countries) at an actually wonderful time where you have far more opportunities than you used to. "I don't own emotion anymore-I rent!" Melodramatic much? 😂 Also the whiny crying way they sing "living in Americaaaaaa, at the end of the milleniaaaaa" 😂
"La Vie Boheme" is pretty cringey. The way they literally have to point out and explain WHY they are so different, artsy, cutting edge 😂
"Take me or leave me", although I do actually really like the song, is cringey with Maureen singing about how everyone is so attracted to her and can't help staring at her. I really doubt people actually say "babbbyyy" as she walks down the street lol, and her basically using this as an excuse for her abusive and awful behaviour to Joanne, and claiming its just the way she is and she can't help cheating on Joanne and acting in completely inappropriate and upsetting ways because it's "just the way she is." And it's supposed to be sexy and charming or something.
(The second half of that criticism isn't really "cringey" I guess, more just what's wrong with it)
Also "Light my Candle", again I do actually really like the song but I can't cope with "They used to tie you up" "-It's a living" "I didn't recognise you, without the handcuffs" 😂 I almost just want to wince and throw up especially the last line. Oh and "they say that I have the best ass, below 14th Street, is it true?" Also how Mimi is supposed to be this alluring, charming "manic pixie dream girl" type character when she's a freakin' heroin addicted HIV infected stripper. Nice.
But yeah I know it doesn't sound it, but I do actually really like Rent. Hell "Valley of the Dolls" is one of my favourite books and I have similar feelings about it. There's a new film out called "Last Christmas" which looks unbearably cringey and I still want to see it. You don't have to like every single part of something, or not be able to see any flaws in it, to be a fan of it, in my opinion.
Also when the songs are good, there really good in this! I absolutely adore this, the reprise of "I'll cover you", "Out tonight", "Another Day" (Especially "Another Day"!!!!) , "Will I?", "Happy New Year", and "Sante fe" and they are stuck in my head all the time ☺️
@manifestgtr
This songs two versions are probably the two most contrasting pieces in musical history.
This version...fun and uplifting
The reprise...soul ravaging....
@quackman
the human condition
@paullebon323
There are way more than 2 versions.
@manifestgtr
@Paul LeBon
There’s the first act here and the second act one after angel dies. What are the others…
@simplysavyyy
“Darling we’re everything” “my wig hold on” I love this version
@wheezergamez8621
He said my wig hold on accident because it was falling off but it's still funny
@glittergasmictj5349
This version makes me so happy 😭 Their chemistry and energy are just amazing!
@legingembrefou5981
Glittergasmic TJ honestly, I've seen it several times and I have yet to see a combo where these two character aren't perfect ♥️
@andywinslow9638
I'm so glad I got to be Angel in my play
@sweariefaerie9621
@Andy Winslow Praying for your ankles, tho. Some of Angel's moves... I could never.