You'll See is the eleventh song from the Broadway musical RENT, composed by Jonathan Larson. It is sung by Benjamin Coffin III, Mark Cohen and Roger Davis in the movie, and Benjamin Coffin III, Mark Cohen, Roger Davis, Tom Collins and Angel Dumott Schunard in the musical.
Plot[]
Benny comes to Mark and Roger's apartment for the rent. Knowing they're broke, Benny tells them that they won't have to pay if they convince Maureen to cancel her protest, and talks about his dream of building a cyber studio and being rich.
Differences between stage and film versions[]
In the original stage version the song was placed in between “Today 4 U” and “Tango: Maureen” and Benny argues with Mark and Roger, presumably, in the apartment. In the film adaptation this was placed right after “Rent” and before “One Song Glory” with Benny, Mark, and Roger just outside the apartment.
Lyrics[]
BENNY:
Hey you bum - yeah, you, move over
Get your ass off that Range Rover
MARK
That attitude toward the homeless is just what
Maureen is protesting tonight.
Close up: Benjamin Coffin the third
Our ex-roommate who married Alison Grey, of the Westport Greys
Then bought the building, in hopes of starting a cyber-studio.
BENNY:
Maureen is protesting
Losing her performance space
Not my attitude
ROGER:
What happened to Benny
What happened to his heart
And the ideals he once pursued
BENNY:
The owner of that lot next door
Has a right to do with it as he pleases
COLLINS:
Happy birthday, Jesus!
BENNY:
The rent
MARK:
You're wasting your time
ROGER:
We're broke
MARK:
And you broke your word
This is absurd
BENNY:
There is one way you won't have to pay
ROGER:
I knew it!
BENNY:
Next door, the home of Cyberarts, you see
And now that the block is re-zoned
Our dream can become a reality
You'll see, boys
You'll see, boys
A state of the art, digital, virtual interactive studio
I'll forego your rent and on paper guarantee
That you can stay here for free
If you do me one small favor
MARK:
What?
BENNY:
Convince Maureen to cancel her protest
MARK:
Why not just get an injunction or call the cops?
BENNY:
I did, and they're on standby
But my investors would rather
I handle this quietly
ROGER:
You can't quietly wipe out an entire tent city
Then watch 'It's a Wonderful Life' on TV!
BENNY:
You want to produce films and write songs?
You need somewhere to do it
It's what we used to dream about
Think twice before you pooh-pooh it
You'll see, boys
You'll see, boys
You'll see the beauty of a studio
That lets us do our work and get paid
With condos on the top
Whose rent keeps open our shop
Just stop the protest
And you'll have it made
You'll see or you'll pack
ANGEL:
That boy could use some Prozac
ROGER:
Or heavy drugs
MARK:
Or group hugs
COLLINS:
Which reminds me - we have a detour to make tonight
Anyone who wants to can come along
ANGEL:
Life Support's a group for people coping with life
You don't have to stay too long
MARK:
First I've got a protest to save
ANGEL:
Roger?
ROGER:
I'm not much company you'll find
MARK:
Behave
ANGEL:
He'll catch up later
He's just got other things on his mind
You'll see boys
MARK & COLLINS:
We'll see boys
ROGER:
Let it be boys!
COLLINS:
I like boys
ANGEL:
Boys like me
ALL:
We'll see
ROGER:
What happened to Benny
What happened to his heart
And the ideals he once pursued
BENNY:
The owner of that lot next door
Has a right to do with it as he pleases
ROGER:
Happy birthday, Jesus!
BENNY:
The rent
MARK:
You're wasting your time
ROGER:
We're broke
MARK:
And you broke your word
This is absurd
BENNY:
There is one way you won't have to pay
ROGER:
I knew it!
BENNY:
Next door, the home of Cyberarts, you see
And now that the block is re-zoned
Our dream can become a reality
You'll see boys
You'll see boys
A state of the art, digital, virtual interactive studio
I'll forego your rent and on paper guarantee
That you can stay here for free
If you do me one small favor
MARK:
What?
BENNY:
Convince Maureen to cancel her protest
MARK:
Why not just get an injunction or call the cops?
BENNY:
I did, and they're on standby
But my investors would rather
I handle this quietly
ROGER:
You can't quietly wipe out an entire tent city
Then watch 'It's a Wonderful Life' on TV!
BENNY:
You want to produce films and write songs?
You need somewhere to do it
It's what we used to dream about
Think twice before you pooh-pooh it
You'll see, boys
You'll see, boys
You'll see the beauty of a studio
That lets us do our work and get paid
With condos on the top
Whose rent keeps open our shop
Just stop the protest
And you'll have it made
You'll see or you'll pack
BENNY:
Joy to the world
COLLINS:
Benny still has a key?
MARK:
Benny owns the building
BENNY:
Hey you bum - yeah, you, move over
Get your ass off that Range Rover
MARK
That attitude toward the homeless
That's exactly what Maureen is protesting tonight.
BENNY:
Maureen is protesting
Losing her performance space
Not my attitude
She's not right about the people living in that empty lot, she's right about losing her home for those angry little protest skits
ROGER:
What happened to Benny
What happened to his heart
And the ideals he once pursued
BENNY:
And the owner of that lot next door
Has a right to do with it as he pleases
COLLINS:
Happy birthday, Jesus!
BENNY:
The rent
MARK:
You're wasting your time
ROGER:
We're broke
MARK:
And you broke your word
This is absurd
BENNY:
There is one way you won't have to pay
ROGER:
I knew it!
BENNY:
Next door, the home of Cyberarts, you see
And now that the block is re-zoned
Our dream can become a reality
You'll see, boys
You'll see, boys
A state of the art, digital, virtual interactive studio
I'll forego your rent and on paper guarantee
That you can stay here for free
If you do me one small favor
MARK:
What?
BENNY:
Convince Maureen to cancel her protest
MARK:
Why not just get an injunction or call the cops?
BENNY:
I did, and they're on standby
But my investors would rather
I handle this quietly
ROGER:
You can't quietly wipe out an entire tent city
Then watch 'It's a Wonderful Life' on TV!
BENNY:
You want to produce films and write songs?
You need somewhere to perfect it
It's what we used to dream about
Think twice before you reject it
You'll see, boys
You'll see, boys
You'll see the beauty of a studio
That lets us do our work and get paid
With condos on the top
Whose rent keeps open our shop
Just stop the protest
And you'll have it made
You'll see or you'll pack
ANGEL:
That boy could use some Prozac
ROGER:
Or heavy drugs
MARK:
Or group hugs
COLLINS:
Which reminds me - we have a detour to make tonight
Anyone who wants to can come along
ANGEL:
Life Support's a group for people coping with life
COLLINS:
We don't have to stay long
MARK:
First I've got a protest to save
ANGEL:
Roger?
ROGER:
I'm not much company you'll find
MARK:
Behave
ANGEL:
He'll catch up later
He's just got other things on his mind
You'll see, boys
MARK & COLLINS:
We'll see, boys
ROGER:
Just let it be, boys!
COLLINS:
I like boys
ANGEL:
Boys like me
ALL:
We'll see
|
Rent Songs |
|---|
| Act I Tune Up 1 • Voice Mail • Tune Up 2• Rent • You Okay Honey? • Tune Up 3 • One Song Glory • Light My Candle Voice Mail 2 • Today 4 U • You'll See • Tango: Maureen • Life Support • Out Tonight • Another Day • Will I? On The Street • Santa Fe • I'll Cover You • We're Okay • Christmas Bells • Over The Moon • La Vie Boheme I Should Tell You • La Vie Boheme B |
| Act II Seasons of Love • Happy New Year • Voice Mail 3 • Happy New Year B • Take Me or Leave Me • Seasons of Love B Without you • Voice Mail 4 • Contact • I'll Cover You (Reprise) • Halloween • Goodbye Love • What You Own Voice Mail 5 • Finale • Your Eyes • Finale B |