Music Video

Featured In

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Greg Suran
Greg Suran
Guitar
Tim Pierce
Tim Pierce
Guitar
Adam Pascal
Adam Pascal
Vocals
Anthony Rapp
Anthony Rapp
Vocals
Jesse L. Martin
Jesse L. Martin
Vocals
Paul Bushnell
Paul Bushnell
Bass
Taye Diggs
Taye Diggs
Vocals
Dorian Crozier
Dorian Crozier
Drums
Jamie Muhoberac
Jamie Muhoberac
Keyboards
Rosario Dawson
Rosario Dawson
Lead Vocals
Tim Weil
Tim Weil
Conductor
Wilson Jermaine Heredia
Wilson Jermaine Heredia
Lead Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Jonathan Larson
Jonathan Larson
Songwriter
Rob Cavallo
Rob Cavallo
Arranger
David Campbell
David Campbell
String Arranger
Tim Weil
Tim Weil
Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Rob Cavallo
Rob Cavallo
Producer
Brian Cometa
Brian Cometa
Engineer
Dan Thompson
Dan Thompson
Engineer
Elan Trujillo
Elan Trujillo
Engineer
Ted Jensen
Ted Jensen
Mastering Engineer
Doug McKean
Doug McKean
Recording Engineer
Dan Chase
Dan Chase
Engineer
Matt Beckley
Matt Beckley
Engineer
Andrew Scheps
Andrew Scheps
Mixing Engineer

Lyrics

[Intro]
How do you document real life
When real life's getting more like fiction each day?
Headlines, bread lines blow my mind
And now this deadline, eviction or pay
Rent
[Verse 1]
How do you write a song when the chords sound wrong?
Though they once sounded right and rare
When the notes are sour, where is the power
You once had to ignite the air?
We're hungry and frozen
Some life that we've chosen
[Refrain]
How we gonna pay? How we gonna pay?
How we gonna pay last year's rent?
[Verse 2]
How do you start a fire when there's nothing to burn
And it feels like something's stuck in your flue?
How can you generate heat when you can't feel your feet
And they're turning blue?
You light up a mean blaze
With posters and screenplays
[Refrain]
How we gonna pay? How we gonna pay?
How we gonna pay last year's rent?
[Verse 3]
How do you stay on your feet when on every street, it's trick or treat
And tonight it's trick?
Welcome back to town
Oh, I should lie down
Everything's brown and uh-oh, I feel sick
Where is he?
Getting dizzy
[Refrain]
How we gonna pay? How we gonna pay?
How we gonna pay last year's rent?
[Bridge]
The music ignites the night with passionate fire
The narration crackles and pops with incendiary wit
Zoom in as they burn the past to the ground
And feel the heat of the future's glow
[Bridge]
How do you leave the past behind
When it keeps finding ways to get to your heart?
It reaches way down deep and tears you inside out
Till you're torn apart
Rent
[Bridge]
How can you connect in an age
Where strangers, landlords, lovers
Your own blood cells betray
What binds the fabric together when
The raging, shifting winds of change keep ripping away?
Draw a line in the sand and then make a stand
Use your camera to spar
Use your guitar
When they act tough, you call their bluff
[Outro]
We're not gonna pay, we're not gonna pay
We're not gonna pay last year's rent
This year's rent, next year's rent
Rent, rent, rent, rent, rent
We're not gonna pay rent
'Cause everything is
Rent
Written by: Jonathan D. Larson
instagramSharePathic_arrow_out