Can someone tell me the exact meaning of the song "What You Own" from the musical Rent?

Question

I am doing an introduction to the song for a concert tomorrow night and I would like to know the exact meaning of the song. if anyone could help me it would be appreciated. Thanks so much!!

Answer 1

Like any song, regardless of context, there is always room for interpretation. For me, I think the song defines a moment of clarity for someone. IN a world we we all strive to "fit in" and to "make a name for ourselves", we all reach a point where we realize that in the end, the most important thing that defines you is WHO you are, not WHAT you are. It also speaks about true friendship - not only do we, as a collective, get wrapped up in our own worlds, we tend to take for granted those who stand beside us and help us through it all.



This song recognizes the importance of friendship and, as it relates to the story, it's the moment where Mark and Roger realize that they need each other to be who they want to be.



MARK

Don't breathe too deep.

Don't think all day

Dive into work,

Drive the other way

That drip of hurt.

That pint of shame

Goes away. Just play the game

You're living in America

At the end of the millenium

You're living in America

Leave your conscience at the tone

And when you're living in America

At the end of the millenium

You're what you own



ROGER

The filmmaker cannot see



MARK

And the songwriter cannot hear



ROGER

Yet I see Mimi everywhere



MARK

Angel's voice is in my ear



ROGER

Just tighten those shoulders



MARK

Just clench your jaw 'til you frown



ROGER

Just don't let go



BOTH

Or you may drown

You're living in America

At the end of the millenium

You're living in America

Where it's like the Twilight Zone

And when you're living in America

At the end of the millenium

You're what you own

So I own not a notion

I escape and ape content

I don't own emotion - I rent



MARK

What was it about that night



ROGER

What was it about that night



BOTH

Connection - in an isolating age

For once the shadows gave way to light

For once I didn't disengage



MARK

Angel - I hear you - I hear it

I see it - I see it

My film!



ROGER

Mimi I see you

I see it - I hear it - I hear it

My song!



MARK

Alexi - Mark

Call me a hypocrite

I need to finish my own film

I quit!



ROGER

One song - glory

Mimi

Your eyes



BOTH

Dying in America

At the end of the millenium

We're dying in America

To come into our own

And when you're dying in America

At the end of the millenium

You're not alone

I'm not alone

I'M NOT ALONE!!



You're what you own...so powerful when you think about it.

Answer 2

This is my favourite music!!!!!!!!!! It's bassically the important characters Mark and Roger, making a song approximately how America at that factor in time was once beginging to turn out to be overly materialistic and the way there is rather not anything you'll do approximately it, so the nice factor to do is play alongside. "That drip of harm, That pint of disgrace, Goes away, Just play the sport." In the tip of the music, the "You're no longer on my own" side, it is bassically announcing that "There's alot occurring on the earth, and we are not able to give up it. Keep your peers colse, and recognize that you are no longer on my own on the earth." While the characters are all convalescing from Angel's loss of life, and Roger's pissed off with Mimi, all people bassicall realizes that theres no rationale to give up dwelling your existence. k, that wuz the lengthy deffinition you could proablby uncover in like, a broadway encylopedia or somthing werid like that. To placed it effortlessly, we are living in a factor in time whilst individuals are ranked through what they have got (what you possess), as a substitute then who they're as a character, and the way in which they are living their lives. At this factor, Mark and Roger observe that there is not any preventing it, and the nice factor two do is play alongside, and but your peers r continually going two be there, even if the relaxation of the sector is not. Wow, that wuz lengthy, sorry I wasted it slow. i am gonna move now.

Answer 3

I'm not sure of the exact meaning but the song comes when Mark is trying to decide if he should work for the tabloid company and Roger is going to Santa Fe. They are both singing about where they are now and comparing it to the year before when all their friends were together and they were a family, and they aer both saying that now all that are are what they own, and for both of them its not much.