Finale
musical rent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I Should Tell You
I Should Tell You
ROGER
I Should Tell You
I Should Tell You
I Should Tell You
Benny Wasn't Any--
ROGER
SHHH-I Know
I Should Tell You Why I Left
It Wasn't Cause I Didn't--
MIMI
I Know
I Should Tell You
ROGER
I Should Tell You
MIMI
I Should Tell You
I Love You--
ROGER
Who Do You Think You Are?
Leaving Me Alone With My Guitar
Hold On There's Something You
Should Here
It Isn't Much But It Took All Year
The lyrics to Rent's song Finale represent a pivotal moment between two characters, Mimi and Roger. The song is an emotional exchange between the two lovers as they come to terms with their feelings for each other while also addressing past traumas that have driven them apart. Mimi begins by repeating the phrase "I should tell you," as she struggles to express her love and past experiences with Roger. Roger, who is initially hesitant and dismissive, eventually opens up and tells Mimi about his reasons for leaving her.
The first verse of the song represents Mimi's attempt to confront the past and be honest with Roger about her true feelings. The repetition of "I should tell you" emphasizes her hesitation and anxiety about revealing her true thoughts. Similarly, in Roger's verse, he struggles with his own emotional baggage, admitting that he left Mimi not because he didn't love her, but because he couldn't cope with being in love with someone while battling with HIV.
The climax of the song comes after Mimi declares her love for Roger, to which he initially responds with anger and confusion. However, he quickly softens as he plays a song for her that he has been working on all year, showing that he too has been struggling with his feelings for her. The song ends with the two characters reconciling and embracing their love for each other.
Line by Line Meaning
MIMI
MIMI is feeling hesitant and uncertain as she repeats multiple times 'I Should Tell You'
I Should Tell You
MIMI is feeling like she has to confess something important to ROGER
I Should Tell You
MIMI repeats the phrase, emphasizing its importance
I Should Tell You
ROGER acknowledges that he should hear the important thing MIMI is trying to tell him
SHHH-I Know
ROGER tells MIMI to be quiet, he already knows the reason that she wants to tell him about
I Should Tell You Why I Left
ROGER is finally coming forward with the truth about why he left MIMI
It Wasn't Cause I Didn't--
ROGER starts to reveal why he left MIMI, but he can't bring himself to finish the sentence
I Know
MIMI has a feeling that she knows the reason why ROGER left
I Should Tell You
MIMI once again reiterates the importance of telling ROGER the truth
I Should Tell You
ROGER agrees that they need to be open and honest with each other
I Should Tell You
MIMI repeats again that they need to be truthful with each other
I Love You--
MIMI finally confesses that she loves ROGER, which is why all of this is so important
Who Do You Think You Are?
ROGER reacts with anger and disbelief that MIMI is telling him she loves him after everything they've been through
Leaving Me Alone With My Guitar
ROGER feels like he's been abandoned and left behind, with nothing but his music to keep him going
Hold On There's Something You
ROGER interrupts his anger to tell MIMI that there is something he needs to tell her too
Should Here
ROGER reveals that he has written a song for MIMI, which he then performs for her
It Isn't Much But It Took All Year
ROGER admits that the song isn't much, but he worked hard on it for an entire year, in an effort to express his love for MIMI
Contributed by Ella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@parvapixel
here’s lyrics if you need them:
Moo
What?
I jumped over the moon (yes)
I was in a tunnel, headed towards a warm, white light (oh my God)
And I swear Angel was there and she looked good
And she said, "Turn around, girlfriend, and listen to that boy's song"
She's drenched
Her fever's breaking
There is no future
There is no past
Thank God, this moment's not the last
There's only us
There's only this
Forget regret or life is yours to miss
No other road
No other way
No day but today
I can't control (will I lose my dignity)
My destiny (will someone care)
I trust my soul (will I wake tomorrow)
My only goal is just to be (from this nightmare)
Without you (there's only now)
The hand gropes (there's only here)
The ear hears (give in to love)
The pulse beats (or live in fear)
Life goes on (no other path)
But I'm gone (no other way)
'Cause I die (no day but today)
Without you (no day but today)
I die without you (no day but today)
I die without you (no day but today)
I die without you (no day but today)
I die without you (no day but today)
I die without you (no day but today)
I die without you (no day but today)
I die without you (no day but today)
No day but today
@froggychair2465
Rent means so much to me and this song in my opinion symbolises a lot of what the musical stands for. The idea of loss, but contrasted with the idea that we should live our lives to the fullest no matter what. Jonathan Larson was such an amazing playwright and I'm so glad his works are so famous! I love this song and this musical so much.
@WhatSayCrochet
You said this in a nutshell. It is exactly how I feel about the play as well.
@kzzxjy
Will’s reaction to Renee waking up kills me every time
@Brisingrize
Terrified and then in shock, I love it so much, I almost wonder if he doesn't know when she's gonna jump up and its a genuine getting the shite scared of him thing 😂.
But I love it so much, because it's such a genuine emotion.
@fernandabluntkrasinski9026
I cried at the end of RENT live on FOX when they showed Jonathan Larson's picture in the movie and then Angel joined her friends for the final curtain
@pbscraze
I despise Marfan Syndrome....that’s what Larson has that took his life
@Narind
This ending of the show in Broadway is so emotional. Love this cast. Angel cries in the end too.
I cry every time I watch this.
@WhatSayCrochet
When Wilson Jeremey (Angel) comes back on stage, you see that he sits next to and holds the hand of one of the actresses. Every time I see that I ask myself “were/are they together in real life?”
@knoxf.9886
This song is so incredibly powerful. Gives me chills every time.
@lucianoalonso4389
These need to bring this show back