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Rent Lyrics
(Again... Again... Again... Again... ...)
You dress me up, I'm your puppet
You buy me things, I love it
You bring me food, I need it
You give me love, I feed it
And look at the two of us in sympathy
With everything we see
I never want anything, it's easy
You buy whatever I need
But look at my hopes, look at my dreams
The currency we've spent
I love you, you pay my rent
I love you, you pay my rent
You phone me in the evening on hearsay
And bought me caviar
You took me to a restaurant off Broadway
To tell me who you are
We never-ever argue, we never calculate
The currency we've spent
I love you, you pay my rent
I love you, you pay my rent
I love you, you pay my rent
I'm your puppet
I love it
And look at the two of us in sympathy
And sometimes ecstasy
Words mean so little, and money less
When you're lying next to me
But look at my hopes, look at my dreams
The currency we've spent
I love you, you pay my rent
I love you, you pay my rent
I love you, you pay my rent
Look at my hopes, look at my dreams
The currency we've spent
I love you, you pay my rent
I love you, you pay my rent
Look at my hopes, look at my dreams
The currency we've spent
I love you, you pay my rent
I love you, you pay my rent
I love you, you pay my rent (It's easy, it's so easy)
You pay my rent (It's easy, it's so easy)
You pay my rent (It's easy, it's so easy)
I love you (It's easy, it's so easy)
(It's easy, it's so easy)
(It's easy, it's so easy)
(It's easy, it's so easy)
(It's easy, it's so easy)
(It's easy, it's so easy)
(It's easy, it's so easy)
I would have to say that this, like a lot of songs written or sung by gay people, gets a lot of weight attached tothat little fact and not much attached to the real meaning. There's never any statements of gender in the lyrics, and it could just as easily apply to homo or hetero relationships. The meaning of the lyrics and story here are about a "kept" lover, not "ZOMG Buttsex!"
+1 for the "ZOMG Buttsex!" And yes, it's a kept lover, not a rent boy/prostitute.
+1 for the "ZOMG Buttsex!" And yes, it's a kept lover, not a rent boy/prostitute.
In addition, to me the song implies that the relationship is emotionally one-sided ( "you give me love" not "you love me"), with the kept lover really wanting more of an intimate companionship (note that "when you're lying next to me" is not having sex), but they are trapped in the easy life of their limited relationship.
In addition, to me the song implies that the relationship is emotionally one-sided ( "you give me love" not "you love me"), with the kept lover really wanting more of an intimate companionship (note that "when you're lying next to me" is not having sex), but they are trapped in the easy life of their limited relationship.
Neil Tennant has said that this is sung from the perspective of a kept, younger mistress - something very much talked about in the 80s when this was written. a great song, but i always thought that it was "i'm your poppet, i love it" which i think is sweet. shame. thier best song, i would say.
jayceeNL, the emotions in a paid relationship are no less complex than the emotions in any other relationship. Maybe in that moment it's not about the money. Maybe in that moment it's important that the john doesn't think it's about the money. Especially when a kept lover is being supported ("you buy me things, you pay my rent") instead of simply paid, it gets complicated.
RedOctober, it could be about all kinds of relationships. On the other hand, it's not overfocusing on the sexuality of the singers to observe that "rent boy" is a specific term for a male prostitute with male clients, and the composer definitely knew that.
@gement The author has stated that the song is about a female call girl or mistress, not a "rent boy". Why does homosexual activity have to intrude in all aspects of life?
@gement The author has stated that the song is about a female call girl or mistress, not a "rent boy". Why does homosexual activity have to intrude in all aspects of life?
Unfortunately, few people pay attention to the "currency we've spent" line, and more the 'rent boy' bs. I came here to see what people have to say about that, and the related "hopes and dreams," but petty perceptions prevail. Anyway, regardless of gender or sexuality, if you consider the opening of every chorus, I think it conveys surrendering one's own "hopes" and "dreams" for convenience. "Look at the currency we've spent:" one spent money they had, one gave up hopes and dreams to be kept: "it's so easy."
There are a few lines that point to a sexual relationship, but I always thought that the song could be about any relationship where you're sheltered and coddled, like a parent/child one.
Your mother or father spoils you to the point where you don't have to worry about yourself. They feel that that's how to be a good parent. They know they can't be around forever, so they give all that they can while they still can, to prove that they love you, so that nobody, including you and themselves, can turn around and accuse them of not loving or taking care of you. And as their child, you get everything you want and need (ie, they pay your rent and buy you everything in the world) - except the freedom and ability to learn how to take care of yourself and others. It's something you inevitably realize as you grow up and watch your parents grow older and frailer. The worst part is that you have no clue how to take care of them, since you never even had to learn to take care of yourself, much less your parents.
this is obviously about rentboys. good, self-explanatory lyrics. the singing conveys feelings helplessness and sadness. He pays his rent and he loves him, it's so easy. "You give me love, I feed it" is also a good line.
I think it's ambiguous. OT1H there is the obvious "rent boy" reference; OTOH, it sounds like it could be equally (if not more so) about a "sugar daddy." I think the lyrics are suggesting that even relationships that aren't overtly for-pay may easily involve a certain sort of prostitution, of monetary exchange, and the theme of the song is that ambiguity.
I think it's ambiguous. OT1H there is the obvious "rent boy" reference; OTOH, it sounds like it could be equally (if not more so) about a "sugar daddy." I think the lyrics are suggesting that even relationships that aren't overtly for-pay may easily involve a certain sort of prostitution, of monetary exchange, and the theme of the song is that ambiguity.
I thought the lyric was "you give me love, I feel it." I also thought it was "puppet," but that could easily be a linguistic bias (I'm American). Regrettably, I don't have a recording...
I thought the lyric was "you give me love, I feel it." I also thought it was "puppet," but that could easily be a linguistic bias (I'm American). Regrettably, I don't have a recording of the song that I can listen to readily. Much to my embarrassment, I only have it on...get ready for this...cassette tape!
@eric_m No, it is not about "rent boys". it is about a female mistress or call girl, as the author has explained, not about homosexual coupling (which isnot sex, by the way).
@eric_m No, it is not about "rent boys". it is about a female mistress or call girl, as the author has explained, not about homosexual coupling (which isnot sex, by the way).
As the comment above states, its about someone who will love someone else for money "I love you, you pay my rent" pretty much sums it up. A very "hurt" song and you can hear in his voice the shame of what the song is about, makes this more of an iconic song.
Strange that, I thought it was about a woman too, since I was about 8 or nine years old. It only just occured to me at lunchtime (it was on the radio), it was about rent boys, how naive am I??? Must remember not to sing along too enthusiasticly next time.
@RyanTChase You are not naive. it is not about homosexual prostitutes. As the author has explained, it is about a female mistress, call girl or kept woman. Your insticts were right the first time.
@RyanTChase You are not naive. it is not about homosexual prostitutes. As the author has explained, it is about a female mistress, call girl or kept woman. Your insticts were right the first time.
It doesn't nescessarily have to be about a rent boy. It could be about anyone who isn't exactly contributing much to a relationship they have become very disillusioned with, but they stick around for the easy ride.
I can understand the idea of rent boys because of some parts of the song. However, if this song is about rent boys, how to explain "Words mean so little, and money less, when you're lying next to me"?
This sentence concerns "the two of us". So both people do not care about money during these moments. If one of them is a rent boy, especially at such moments it is the money that is important. That does not fit....
I know I'm answering this two years late, but if you're like me I check into this site about three or four times per year. So maybe you'll find my answer eventually ; ).
I know I'm answering this two years late, but if you're like me I check into this site about three or four times per year. So maybe you'll find my answer eventually ; ).
I have always considered that the real irony of the song (if that's the proper usage of irony) is that the rentboy does indeed love the man who pays his rent . . . who also may be married, with family.
I have always considered that the real irony of the song (if that's the proper usage of irony) is that the rentboy does indeed love the man who pays his rent . . . who also may be married, with family.
Note that the song doesn't say explicitly "I love you BECAUSE you pay my rent." It simply says, "I love you. You pay my rent." The two...
Note that the song doesn't say explicitly "I love you BECAUSE you pay my rent." It simply says, "I love you. You pay my rent." The two aren't necessarily related, just a statement of fact.
I've just always interpreted that the rent boy tries to convince himself it's just about money, but I imagine it takes an emotional toll. I don't know for sure, but I can't imagine you could build your life (however shaky it may be) around someone whom you have no feelings for, even if they paid you to.
So I see this lines as being the one time the rent boy "breaks the mask" and admits there is something more going on. He feels more than he would like to admit.
@jayceeNL money means nothing for the rentboy because he just won't have it. It's just stuff his 'benefactor' gives him, whatever he wants. So money means nothing as in, it doesn't matter how expensive is what he wants, he will get it eventually, as the other part can afford such things just to maintain his love. But this could apply to any kind of relationship.
@jayceeNL money means nothing for the rentboy because he just won't have it. It's just stuff his 'benefactor' gives him, whatever he wants. So money means nothing as in, it doesn't matter how expensive is what he wants, he will get it eventually, as the other part can afford such things just to maintain his love. But this could apply to any kind of relationship.
@jadyee Neil Tennant has actually explained what the song is about. The third paragraph of whitewolfbc’s reply here pretty much nails it. The “I love you” and “you pay my rent” are parallel to each other, not consequent. The younger, kept lover does indeed care for her (or his) benefactor but at the same time they’ve given up whatever plans they had for making their own way in the world in exchange for an easy life. It’s kind of beautiful and sad at the same time.
@jadyee Neil Tennant has actually explained what the song is about. The third paragraph of whitewolfbc’s reply here pretty much nails it. The “I love you” and “you pay my rent” are parallel to each other, not consequent. The younger, kept lover does indeed care for her (or his) benefactor but at the same time they’ve given up whatever plans they had for making their own way in the world in exchange for an easy life. It’s kind of beautiful and sad at the same time.