Will I?
Original Cast Lyrics

The song "Will I?" from the Original Broadway Cast of Rent explores the fear, uncertainty and vulnerability felt by people living with HIV/AIDS during the 1980s epidemic. The repetition of the opening lines, "Will I lose my dignity, will someone care, will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare?" drives home the relentless anxiety that comes with being HIV positive when little was understood about the disease or its treatment.

The character singing the song is Roger, a musician who contracted the virus through drug use. He is haunted by the possibility of losing not just his life, but his sense of self and the respect of those around him. The lines "How can you connect in an age where strangers, landlords, lovers, your own blood cells betray?" speak to the isolation and lack of support faced by those living with HIV/AIDS.

As the song continues, the repetition of the chorus becomes increasingly frantic, echoing the fear and desperation that Roger feels. However, the final verse ends with a glimmer of hope, as Roger sings "Will I be alone? The answer is no. Will I be alright? The answer is yes." This suggests that while the fear and uncertainty of living with HIV/AIDS never truly go away, it is possible to find strength and support in the face of it.