Light My Candle
Original Broadway Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a light?
I know you
You're the shivering
It's nothing
They turned off my heat
And I'm just a little
Would you light my candle?
What are you staring at?
Nothing
Your hair in the moonlight
You look familiar
Can you make it?
Just haven't eaten much today
At least the room stopped spinning
Anyway, what?
Nothing
Your smile reminded me of
I always remind people of
Who is she?
She died
Her name was April
It's out again
Sorry 'bout your friend
Would you light my candle?
Well
Yeah? Ow!
Oh, the wax, it's
Dripping! I like it, between my
Fingers, I figured
Oh, well, goodnight
It blew out again?
No, I think that I dropped my stash
I know I've seen you out and about
When I used to go out
Your candle's out
I'm illin'
I had it when I walked in the door
It was pure
Is it on the floor?
The floor?
They say that I have the best ass
Below 14th Street
Is it true?
What?
You're staring again
Oh no, I mean you do have a nice
I mean, you look familiar
Like your dead girlfriend
Only when you smile
But I'm sure I've seen you somewhere else
Do you go to the Cat Scratch Club?
That's where I work, I dance
Help me look (Yes!)
They used to tie you up
It's a living
I didn't recognize you
Without the handcuffs
We could light the candle
Oh won't you light the candle?
Why don't you forget that stuff?
You look like you're sixteen
I'm nineteen, but I'm old for my age
I'm just born to be bad
I once was born to be bad
I used to shiver like that
I have no heat, I told you
I used to sweat
I got a cold
Uh huh, I used to be a junkie
But now and then I like to
Uh huh (feel good)
Oh here it (what's that?)
It's a candy bar wrapper
We could light the candle
Oh what'd you do with my candle?
That was my last match
Our eyes'll adjust
Thank God for the moon
Maybe it's not the moon at all
I hear Spike Lee's shooting down the street
Bah humbug, bah humbug
Cold hands
Yours too
Big, like my father's
Do you wanna dance?
With you?
No, with my father
I'm Roger
They call me
They call me Mimi
The song "Light My Candle" is a duet sung by Mimi Marquez and Roger Davis in the Broadway musical, Rent. The scene takes place on Christmas Eve in Roger's apartment, where he is trying to work on a song, but is interrupted by Mimi, who comes in asking for a light for her candle. The lyrics are full of double entendres and subtle hints at deeper issues.
Mimi starts by asking, "What'd you forget?" and "Got a light?" which refers to both a lighter for her candle, but also alludes to her drug addiction. She is shivering because her heat has been turned off, and Roger offers to light her candle. The conversation becomes flirtatious, and they both reveal bits of personal information about themselves. Mimi mentions that her friend April has died, and Roger apologizes for her loss. They both sing about their past struggles with addiction and the temptation to relapse, but ultimately decide to light the candle and share a moment together.
Line by Line Meaning
What'd you forget?
Asking if the person forgot something important
Got a light?
Asking for a lighter
I know you
Recognizing someone
You're the shivering
Noticing that the person is shivering
It's nothing
Downplaying the situation
They turned off my heat
Explaning why she's cold
And I'm just a little
Saying she's feeling weak
Weak on my feet
Not feeling steady or balanced
Would you light my candle?
Asking for help lighting her candle
What are you staring at?
Asking what the person is looking at
Your hair in the moonlight
Complimenting the person's hair
You look familiar
Thinking that the person has been seen before
Can you make it?
Asking if the person can help light the candle
Just haven't eaten much today
Explaining why she's feeling weak
At least the room stopped spinning
Feeling relieved that the room is no longer spinning
Anyway, what?
Asking what the person was going to say
Your smile reminded me of
Noticing that the person has a familiar smile
I always remind people of
Saying that she reminds people of someone else
Who is she?
Asking about the person she reminds people of
She died
Saying that the person she reminds people of is dead
Her name was April
Revealing the name of the person she reminds people of
It's out again
Saying that the candle went out again
Sorry 'bout your friend
Expressing sympathy for the person's deceased friend
Well
Responding to the person's question
Yeah? Ow!
Feeling pain from the dripping candle wax
Oh, the wax, it's
Noticing the dripping wax
Dripping! I like it, between my
Admitting that she likes the sensation of hot wax on her fingers
Fingers, I figured
Realizing what the person was trying to say earlier
Oh, well, goodnight
Ending the conversation
It blew out again?
Asking if the candle went out again
No, I think that I dropped my stash
Saying that drugs were dropped
I know I've seen you out and about
Realizing that she's seen the person around
When I used to go out
Clarifying when she would see the person
Your candle's out
Noticing that the person's candle went out
I'm illin'
Saying that she's not feeling well
I had it when I walked in the door
Referring to her illness
It was pure
Saying that the drug she used to use was pure
Is it on the floor?
Asking if the drug was dropped on the floor
The floor?
Confirming that the question was about the floor
They say that I have the best ass
Referring to compliments she's received
Below 14th Street
Saying where people make those comments
Is it true?
Asking if the compliment is true
What?
Asking what the person is looking at
You're staring again
Noticing that the person is staring
Oh no, I mean you do have a nice
Trying to finish the sentence earlier but getting interrupted
I mean, you look familiar
Trying to remember where she's seen the person before
Only when you smile
Realizing that the person looks different when they smile
But I'm sure I've seen you somewhere else
Confident that she's seen the person before
Do you go to the Cat Scratch Club?
Asking if the person goes to a specific club
That's where I work, I dance
Saying that she works at that club and dances there
Help me look (Yes!)
Asking for help looking for something
They used to tie you up
Remembering something about the person
It's a living
Saying that it's just a job
I didn't recognize you
Noticing that the person looks different now
Without the handcuffs
Realizing that the person isn't wearing handcuffs now
We could light the candle
Suggesting to light the candle together
Oh won't you light the candle?
Asking again for help lighting the candle
Why don't you forget that stuff?
Telling her to forget about her problems
You look like you're sixteen
Commenting on the person's appearance
I'm nineteen, but I'm old for my age
Correcting the assumption but also stating maturity
I'm just born to be bad
Admitting to being rebellious
I once was born to be bad
Regretting past actions
I used to shiver like that
Remembering that she used to act like the person is now
I have no heat, I told you
Reminding the person why she's shivering
I used to sweat
Describing something about her past
I got a cold
Explaining why she's shivering now
Uh huh, I used to be a junkie
Admitting to past addiction
But now and then I like to
Admitting to still using drugs occasionally
Uh huh (feel good)
Saying she feels good when using drugs
Oh here it (what's that?)
Realizing something was found
It's a candy bar wrapper
Identifying what was found
That was my last match
Saying they have no more matches
Our eyes'll adjust
Suggesting that they'll get used to the dark
Thank God for the moon
Expressing gratitude for the moonlight
Maybe it's not the moon at all
Questioning if it is really the moonlight
I hear Spike Lee's shooting down the street
Hearing a rumor or fact about Spike Lee
Bah humbug, bah humbug
Saying 'bah humbug' for no specific reason
Cold hands
Noticing that the person's hands are cold
Yours too
Agreeing that her hands are cold also
Big, like my father's
Comparing the size of their hands to her father's
Do you wanna dance?
Asking if the person wants to dance
With you?
Confirming who the proposition was for
No, with my father
Jokingly changing the subject
I'm Roger
Introducing himself
They call me
Clarifying that he has a nickname
They call me Mimi
Revealing her nickname
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN D. LARSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BooRadley3400
I remember some ex girlfriend of mine lent me this cd 20 years ago. Crazy how much this reminds me of that time. Hope you’re doing well Christina.
Panda Power
Jonathan Larson looooved Daphne as Mimi. This song actually was what really got Rent some attention from the Press before RENT went to Broadway.
Erock Freedom
This is so great. I heard this years ago and I've had it in my head for days and days. Brings tears to my eyes because now I can identify with it, based on my owm experiences with relationships and addiction over the last few years.
Amazing
TheRulerofEarth
Everyone debating Mimi actresses but no one is commenting on the fact that this is the weirdest seduction song to ever hit Broadway.
Amanda Brindle
I always listened to this on pandora and I was always just like, "ok, just another song, i'll do homework." when I finally listened to the lyrics, I felt like I was intruding.
Thuy Nguy3n
I love Daphne's voice but I prefer Rosario's voice because she sounded like a young adult, but Daphne's voice is like really good
Michael Hess
Reena, Rosario and Tinashe were better
Michael Hess
Daphne was okay, Reena was good and so was Rosario she was good too but Tinashe was great
Michael Hess
Reena, Rosario and Tinashe were great and alot better than Daphne
Erza Jean
@Michael Hess Daphne's raspy voice sounds more realistic her character as a city junkie/addict, that's why Jonathan Larson kept her on the project along with Anthony.