Christmas Bells

Rent
1996 Original Broadway Cast

Veja a versão em português desta canção no site Musical em Bom Português

[calcium-is-good]

coming back to this song as my insatiable love for RENT is starting up again; god this song was so difficult to sing, and so so fun to perform! i wish it was on spotify so thanks for putting this on youtube!

[Jeremy-sttu]

Absolutely love how each story here is tied together with the “and it’s beginning to snow”

[elisapaulovich]

2:29: “She said would you light my candle…” (Roger and Mark gossiping about Mimi!!!!)
3:00: Maureen?”
(HIS REACTION KILLS ME EVERY TIME LMAO HELP-)

[okayslacker]

I watched In The Heights last night….so much Jonathan Larson influence in Lin Manuel Miranda’s work. It warms my heart to know that Larson lives on Broadway yet

[DBlairMusic]

Let’s be honest, this is the best track on the album

[uhohlemonster]

This is the best Rent song. Period. And yet it isn't on Spotify or practically anywhere else! UGH

[internetuser]

Out of all the songs I insist are my favorite from this musical, this is the one that lives rent free in my head. No sleigh bells, no Santa Claus.

[catrasauce]

Been listening to this song almost every Christmas
Gonna check off the years every time I listen
2019 ✓
2020 ✓
2021 ✓
2022 ✓
2023 ✓
2024 ✓
2025
2026
2027
HONEST LIVING HONEST LIVING!

[talentedfailuree]

"And it's beginning to snow" and "i should tell you" floats in my head 24/7

[DelynniaWoitt]

How does this only have 1 comment!! It's literally the most genius song ever. It's complex and difficult and the timing is so much fun to learn. You literally can listen to it a hundred times and hear something new everytime!!

[christinaperez]

I feel like this one is one of the most beautiful pieces on the whole set. Truly. And not to mention it ends with "JO ANN....WHICH WAY TO THE STAGE?!?!" Reminding us we havent even met Maureen yet. 😮😅
I think the CHRISTMAS BELLS interludes in general get overlooked and easily dismissed. ❤ i love em

[Animeworld]

I will forever be bitter that they took this off Spotify so I can’t have this version in my Christmas playlist

[introusas]

this is the "one day more" of rent

[StellarAvenger]

I wish they kept this in the movie version.

[remiholm]

Five Homeless people:
Christimas bells are ringing
Christimas bells are ringing
Christimas bells are ringing
On TV - at Saks


Squeegeeman:
Honest living, honest living
Honest living, honest living
Honest living, honest living


All Five Homeless:
Can't you spare a dime or two
Here but for the grace of God go you
You'll be merry
I'll be merry
Tho merry ain't in my vocabulary
No sleighbells
No Santa Claus
No yule log
No tinsel
No holly
No hearth
No


Soloist:
'Rudolph the red nosed reindeer'


All five:
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
No room at the Holiday Inn -- oh no


(A few flakes of snow begin to descend.)


And it's beginning to snow


(The stage suddenly explodes with life.
The scene is St. Mark's Place on Christmas Eve -- an open-air bazaar of color,
noise, and movement.)


Vendors:
Hats, bats, shoes, booze
Mountain bikes, potpourri
Leather bags, girlie mags
Forty-fives, AZT


Vendor #1:
No one's buying
Feel like crying


All:
No room at the Holiday Inn, oh no
And it's beginning to snow


(Lights up on one woman, who is showing off
a collection of stolen coats to Collins and Angel.)


Vendor #2:
How about a fur --
In perfect shape
Owned by an MBA from uptown
I got a tweed
Broken in by a greedy
Broker who went broke
And then broke down


Collins:
You don't have to do this


Angel:
Hush your mouth, it's Christmas


Collins:
I do not deserve you, Angel


Collins:
Give--give
All you do
Is give
Give me some way to show
How much you've touched me so


Angel: (simultaneously)
Wait--what's on the floor?
Let's see some more...
No-no--no...


Angel:
Kiss me -- it's beginning to snow


(Lights focus on Mark and Roger on right above.)


Mark:
... She said, "Would you light my candle?"
And she put on a pout
And she wanted you
To take her out tonight?


Roger:
Right


Mark:
She got you out!


Roger:
She was more than okay
But I pushed her away
It was bad -- I got mad
And I had to get her out of my sight


Mark:
Wait, wait, wait -- you said she was sweet


Roger:
Let's go eat -- I'll just get fat
It's the one vice left when you're dead meat
(Mimi has entered looking furtively for The Man.)
There -- that's her


Mark:
Maureen?


Roger:
Mimi!


Mark:
Whoa!


Roger:
I should go


Mark:
Hey -- it's beginning to snow


(The Police officers, in riot gear, enter above.)


Police officers:
I'm dreaming of a white, right Christmas


(Plice officers exit.)


Mimi & Junkies:
Follow the man -- follow the man
With his pockets full of the jam
Follow the man -- follow the man
Help me out, daddy
If you can
Got any D man?


The Man:
I'm cool


Mimi & Junkies:
Got any C man?


The man:
I'm cool


Mimi & Junkies:
Got any X?
Any smack?
Any horse?
Any jugie boogie boy?
Any blow?


(Roger pulls Mimi aside.)


Roger:
Hey


Mimi:
Hey


Roger:
I just want to say
I'm sorry for the way --


Mimi:
Forget it


Roger:
I blew up
Can I make it up to you?


Mimi:
How?


Roger:
Dinner party?


Mimi:
That'll do


The man:
Hey lover boy -- cutie pie
You steal my client -- you die


Roger:
You didn't misse me -- you won't miss her
You'll never lack for customers


Junkies:
I'm willin'
I'm illin'
I gotta get my sickness off
Gotta run, gotta ride
Gotta gun, gotta hide -- gotta go


The man:
And it's beginning to snow


Benny:
(entering, talking on his cellular phone)
Wish me luck, Alison
The protest is on


Coat Vendor:
L.L. Bean
Geoffrey Beene
Burburry zip out
Lining


Junkies: (simultaneously)
Got any C man?
Got any D man?
Got any B man?
Got any crack?
Got any X?


Squeegeeman:
Honest living --


Roger:
Mark, this is Mimi --


Mark & Mimi:
Hi


Roger:
She'll be dining -- (with us)


Coat Vendor:
Here's a new arrival


The man:
That is an ounce


Vendors:
Hats, dats, bats


Collins:
That's my coat!


Coat Vendor:
We give discounts


Mark:
I think we've met


Angel:
Let's get a better one


Collins:
It's a sham


Mimi:
That's what he said


The man:
I said it's a gram!


Collins:
But she's a thief!


Angel:
But she brought us together


Benny:
Which investor is coming??


Collins:
I'll take the leather


Benny:
Your father? -- Damn!


(The following is sung simultaneously.)


Homeless & Vendors:
Christmas bells are swinging
Christmas bells are ringing
Christmas bells are singing
In my dreams -- next year
Once you donate you can go
Celebrate in Tuckahoe
You'll feel cheery
I'll feel cheery
Tho' I don't really know that theory
No bathrobe
No steuben glass
No cappucino makers
No pearls, no diamonds
No 'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire'
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
No room at the Holiday Inn, oh no --


Police officers:
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Jingle bells -- prison cells
Fa la la la -- fa la la la
You have the right to remain
Silent night holy night
Fall on your knees oh night divine
You'll do some time
Fa la la la la
Fa la la la la


Junkies:
Got any C man?
Got any D man?
Got any B man?
Got any X? -- Crack?
I'm willin' - I'm illin'
Gotta get my sickness off
C-D help me
Follow the man -- follow the man
Follow the man
Jugie boogie -- jugie boogie
Follow the man -- follow the man
Any crack any X any jugie boogie boy
Any blow any X any jugie boogie boy
Got any D man, got any C man
Got any crack -- any X -- any jugie boogie?


Coat Vendor:
Twenty-five


Angel:
Fifteen


Coat Vendor:
Twenty-five


Angel:
Fifteen


Coat Vendor:
No way
Twenty-four


Angel:
Fifteen


Coat Vendor:
Twenty-four


Angel:
Fifteen


Coat Vndor:
Not today
Twenty-three


Angel:
Fifteen


Coat Vendor:
Twenty-three


Angel:
Fifteen
It's old


Coat Vendor:
Twenty-two


Angel:
Fifteen


Coat Vendor:
Twenty-one


Angel:
Fifteen


Coat Vendor:
Seventeen


Angel:
Fifteen


Coat Vendor:
Fifteen


Angel & Coat Vendor:
Sold!


Mark & Roger:
Let's
Go
To
The lot -- Maureen's performing


Mimi:
Who's Maureen?


Roger:
His ex


Mark:
But I am over her


Roger:
Let's not hold hands yet


Mimi:
Is that a warning?


All Three:
He/You/I
Just
Need(s)
To take it slow
I should tell you I should tell you
I should tell you I should tell you
I should tell you I ...


All:
And it's beginning to
And it's beginning to
And it's beginning to ---


(Lights blackout and a blinding headlight comes through the door.
As it reaches downstage, the lights come up and reveal Maurren.)


Maureen:
Joanne, which way to the stage?


All:
Snow!!!


(Blackout.)

[RoseHeredia]

Top favorite song from the original cast recording.

[thefilmwatcher]

I don't know how they could've pulled this off in the movie, but I'm still disappointed that it wasn't included.

[AvocadoPear]

I swear this used to be on Spotify 😢 But I’m thankful it’s uploaded here 🙏

[bsal]

This and la vie boham are the hardest songs to learn from this show!

[moniluk]

Everytime the song “we don’t talk about Bruno” plays, I can hear the influence of “Christmas Bells”