“
The heart may freeze, or it can burn. The pain will ease and I can learn. There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as, my last.
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical)
“
Forget Regret, or life is yours to miss
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other path, no other way, no day but today.
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
The opposite of war isn't peace, it's creation.
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
VIVA LA VIE BOHEME!
”
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Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
I'm more of a man then you'll ever be, I'm more of a woman then you'll ever get.
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my 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 my destiny. I trust my soul, my only goal is just to be.
There's only now, there's only here. Give into love, or live in fear. No other course, no other way.
NO DAY but TODAY
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
Give in to love or live in fear.
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
I'd be happy to die for a taste of what Angel had. Someone to live for. Unafraid to say I Love You.
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
No other road, no other way, no day but today.
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
When you’re dying in America, at the end of the millennium, you’re not alone
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
but i know blue only blue lonely blue without you
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
She always said how lucky were to be friends... but it was us baby who were the lucky ones
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
Just don't let go or you may drown.
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
What binds the fabric together when the raging, shifting, winds of change keep ripping away?
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
There is no future, there is no past, I live this moment as my last
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
In these dangerous times, where it seems that the world is ripping apart at the seams, we all can learn how to survive from those who stare death squarely in the face every day and [we] should reach out to each other and bond as a community, rather than hide from the terrors of life at the end of the millennium.
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
Measure your life in love.
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
The tick-tick-booms are softer now. I can barely hear them, and I think if I play loud enough, I can drown them out completely.
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
It won't work
I look before I leap
I love margins and discipline
I make lists in my sleep
Baby what's my sin?
Never quit-I follow through
I hate mess-but I love you
What to do with my impromptu baby
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
We always just miss New York. I watched it with this neighborhood. When I moved here everyone was mourning SoHo of the seventies, Tribeca of the eighties, and already ringing the death knell for the East Village. Now people romanticize the Alphabet City of Jonathan Larson. We all walk in a cloud of mourning for the New York that just disappeared.
”
”
Stephanie Danler (Sweetbitter)
“
Give in to love, or live in fear
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
How you do you leave the past behind when it keeps finding ways to get to your heart?
It reaches way down deep and tears you up till you're torn apart.
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
How do you know when it's time to let go?
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
What does it take
To wake up a generation?
”
”
Jonathan Larson (tick, tick ... BOOM!)
“
And when you're living in America
At the end of the millennium
You're what you own
So I own not a notion
I escape and ape content
I don't own an emotion -
I rent
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
525,600 minutes, 525,600 moments so dear, 525,600 minutes, how do you measure, measure a year
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
~No Day, But Today~
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
Cages or wings, which do you prefer? Ask the birds...
”
”
Jonathan Larson, from "Louder than Words"
“
The opposite of war isn't peace; it's creation.
”
”
Jonathan Larson
“
Louder than words
Why do we play with fire?
Why do we run our finger through the flame?
Why do we leave our hand on the stove
Although we know we're in for some pain?
Oh, why do we refuse to hang a light
When the streets are dangerous?
Why does it take an accident
Before the truth gets through to us?
Cages or wings
Which do you prefer?
Ask the birds
Fear or love, baby?
Don't say the answer
Actions speak louder than words
Why should we try to be our best
When we can just get by and still gain?
Why do we nod our heads
Although we know
The boss is wrong as rain?
Why should we blaze a trail
When the well worn path
Seems safe and so inviting?
How as we travel, can we
See the dismay
And keep from fighting?
Cages or wings?
Which do you prefer?
Ask the birds
Fear or love, baby?
Don't say the answer
Actions speak louder than words
What does it take
To wake up a generation?
How can you make someone
Take off and fly?
If we don't wake up
And shake up the nation
We'll eat the dust of the world
Wondering why, why
Why do we stay with lovers
Who we know, down deep
Just aren't right?
Why would we rather
Put ourselves through Hell
Than sleep alone at night?
Why do we follow leaders who never lead?
Why does it take catastrophe to start a revolution?
If we're so free, tell me why?
Someone tell me why
So many people bleed?
Cages or wings?
Which do you prefer?
Ask the birds
Fear or love, baby?
Don't say the answer
Actions speak louder than
Louder than, louder than
Louder than, louder than
Cages or wings?
Which do you prefer?
Ask the birds
Fear or love baby?
Don't say the answer
Actions speak louder
Louder than, louder than, ooh
They speak louder
Louder than, louder than, ooh
Actions speak louder than
”
”
Jonathan Larson (tick, tick ... BOOM!)
“
THERE’S SOMEONE tae see you, sir,” Mrs. Larson said, as Jonathan attempted to sit up. “One of your servants, I believe. From Eiloch Hill.” She muttered something about evil spirits and motioned for the man to enter. He
”
”
Michelle Willingham (Undone by the Duke (Secrets in Silk, #1))
“
But Larson was also more than even his combined, prolific creative output. While he was known for leaving parties to go home and fix songs, he would also charm the ladies, attend New York’s most exclusive nightclub, and obsessively follow the New York Mets. He was the man who called his friends in the middle of the day to play Frisbee, sent cards on every possible occasion, and hosted generous holiday meals. An awkward introvert who wanted to be a star. A self-confident composer who knew how good his work was - and how terrified he was of never being able to make a living from it. A broke waiter who produced some of the most advanced demo recordings of his day. A ladies’ man who became one of the gay community’s most important straight allies in the 1990s, as his work spread a message of tolerance around the world. A man who composed fun, catchy songs but rarely listened to music for pleasure as an adult. A performer who wanted to be Billy Joel but wrote lyrics like Harry Chapin. A driven creative who took as few shifts as possible to focus on his music, turning poverty into creativity: a simple 4th of July party meant a hand-coloured collage for an invitation, and Larson’s annual Peasant Feast pot-luck meals at Christmas were the season’s highlight for all attending. A passionate progressive who would be endlessly disappointed that RENT could still cause controversy after so many years.
”
”
J. Collis (Boho Days: The Wider Works of Jonathan Larson)
“
Cages or Wings?
- Which do you prefer?
Just ask the birds.
”
”
Jonathan Larson, from "Louder than Words"
“
December 24, 9pm Eastern Standard Time. From here on in, I shoot without a script. See if anything comes of it, instead of my usual shit.
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
Why are entire years strewn on the cutting room floor of memory? When single frames of one magic night forever flicker in close up on the 3D Imax of my mind
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
I've gotta get out of here
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
Trusting desire, starting to learn
Walking through fire without a burn
Clinging a shoulder, a leap begins
Stinging and older, asleep on pins
”
”
Jonathan Larson (Rent: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Musical―Complete Libretto and Oral History)
“
I don't own emotion, I rent
”
”
Jonathan Larson