* 𝐢 𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐧

starters from the 2021 film version of jonathan larson’s musical. feel free to change pronouns, etc. some lines are somewhat suggestive.

note: i left out “sunday” and “real life” because the former doesn’t have anything that works for starters, really, and the latter is just one line repeated.

30/90

’ stop the clock. ’ ’ time to regroup before you lose the bout. ’ ’ back it up. ’ ’ time to refocus. ’ ’ the years are getting shorter. ’ ’ the lines on your face are getting longer. ’ ’ i feel like i’m treading water, but the riptide’s getting stronger. ’ ’ don’t panic. ’ ’ you can’t fight it. it’s like taxes. ’ ’ at least it happens only once in your life. ’ ’ they’re singing “happy birthday.” i just want to lay down and cry. ’ ’ i just want to lay down and cry. ’ ’ it’s not just another birthday. ’ ’ why can’t i stay twenty-nine? hell, i still feel like i’m twenty-two. ’ ’ turn thirty, bang! you’re dead. ’ ’ what can you do? ’ ’ try one more approach before you’re out of gas. ’ ’ the hairs on your head are getting thinner. ’ ’ i feel like a clean-up batter on a team that ain’t a winner. ’ ’ at least you’re not alone. your friends are here, too. ’ ’ i just wish i could run away. ’ ’ who cares about a birthday? ’ ’ can you be optimistic? ’ ’ you’re no longer the ingenue. ’ ’ emerald city’s gone to hell since the wizard blew off his command. ’ ’ clock is ticking, that’s for certain. ’ ’ i just wish it all were a dream. ’ ’ it feels much more like doomsday. ’ ’ seems like i’m in for a twister. i don’t see a rainbow, do you? ’ ’ i want the spoils, but not too fast. ’ ’ the world is calling. ’ ’ why can’t i stay a child forever? ’ ’ what can i do? ’

BOHO DAYS

’ this is the life. ’ ’ shower’s in the kitchen. there might be some soap. ’ ’ there’s dishes in the sink, brush your teeth if you can cope. ’ ’ you’d better hope there’s a lightbulb in there. ’ ’ the time is flying, and everything is dying. ’ ’ i thought by now, i’d have a dog, a kid, a wife. ’ ’ the ship is sort of sinking, so let’s start drinking before we start thinking: is this the life? ’

GREEN GREEN DRESS

’ you’re my juliet. ’ ’ cool me down before i jump into your thighs. ’ ’ what a pleasure to unwrap. ’ ’ let’s find a chair where we can sit and talk. ’ ’ maybe we could take a walk. ’ ’ tell me what you’re thinking. talk about your day. ’ ’ tell me what to do—i’ll do anything you say. ’ ’ can i hear you laugh, babe? ’ ’ can you make me smile? i’ll forget what’s on my mind for a while? ’ ’ can i tie you up, love? ’ ’ can i tie you up, love? if you tell me yes, i’ll unbutton every button down your green dress. ’

NO MORE

’ no more walking thirteen blocks with thirty pounds of laundry in the freezing dead of winter. ’ ’ no more walking up six flights of stairs, or throwing down the key because there’s no buzzer. ’ ’ hello to my walk-in closets, tidy as park avenue. hello, my butcher block table. i could get used to you. ’ ’ i could get used to you. ’ ’ no more noxious fumes from gas heaters that are illegal, or will blow up while you are sleeping.’ ’ no more taking a shower in the kitchen while my roommate’s eating breakfast, and i’m getting water on his corn flakes. ’ ’ we’re moving on up to the east side, to a deluxe apartment in the sky. ’ ’ hello dear fellow, how do you do? ’

JOHNNY CAN’T DECIDE

’ break of day, the dawn is here, i’m up and pacing. ’ ’ compromise, or persevere? ’ ’ i have no guide. i want to hide. ’ ’ can i make my mark if i give up my spark? ’ ’ i can’t decide. ’ ’ you long to live by the sea. you’re through with competition. you want a life with me—i’ve got a tough decision. ’ ’ can i settle down and still not drown? ’ ’ you’re gonna have it all. your luck will never end. i’m backed against the wall. ’ ’ ambition eats right through you. ’ ’ i don’t see why you hold so tight to the things that you feel are true. ’ ’ how can you soar when you’re nailed to the floor? ’ ’ how do you know when it’s time to let go? ’

PLAY GAME

’ walk through times square, and what do you see? ugliness where architecture used to be. ’ ’ the glamor and style have been replaced by gaud. ’ ’ it’s just like america: lacking innovation, just getting by on glitz and reputation. ’ ’ so what if it’s crap? at least you won’t write for free. ’ ’ make thousands of dollars for a first draft, and your life won’t depend on whether frank rich laughed. just forget shakespeare, beckett, moliere. ’

THERAPY

’ i feel bad that you feel bad. ’ ’ i feel bad that you feel bad about me feeling bad. ’ ’ i was afraid that you’d be afraid if i told you i was afraid of intimacy. ’ ’ if you don’t have a problem with my problem, maybe the problem’s simply co-dependency. ’ ’ when i said “no,” i meant “yes, i know. ’ ’ now i know that you knew that i knew you adored me. ’ ’ the ring was the wrong thing to bring, if you meant what you said when you said rings bore you. ’ ’ i’m not mad that you got mad. ’ ’ you said i should go drop dead! ’ ’ i thought you thought i reacted shallowly. ’ ’ now it’s out in the open. now it’s off our chests. ’ ’ now it’s 4 a.m. ’ ’ it’s too late to screw. let’s just get some rest. ’

SWIMMING

’ i hate this locker room. ’ ’ why won’t she answer my calls? ’ ’ pump up the volume. ’ ’ how’s the water? ’ ’ there’s that girl. ’ ’ this guy’s too slow. ’ ’ can i make it to forty? ’ ’ keep the shoulder down. ’

COME TO YOUR SENSES

’ you’re on the air. i’m underground. ’ ’ the signal’s fading. ’ ’ for you, i would do anything. ’ ’ you’ve turned off the volume just when i’ve begun to sing. ’ ’ come to your senses! defenses are not the way to go, and you know—or at least, you knew. ’ ’ everything’s strange. ’ ’ you’ve changed. ’ ’ i don’t know what to do to get through to you. ’ ’ i have to laugh. we sure put on a show. ’ ’ love is passe in this day and age. how can we expect it to grow? ’ ’ you as the knight, me as the queen… all i’ve got tonight is just static on a screen. ’ ’ the fences inside are not for real if we feel as we did—and i do. ’ ’ can’t you recall when this all began? it was only you and me. ’ ’ now, the air is filled with confusion. we’ve replaced care with illusion. ’ ’ it’s cool to be cold. ’ ’ nothing lasts anymore. love becomes disposable. ’ ’ suspense is fine, if you’re just an empty image emanating out of a screen. ’ ’ baby, be real. ’ ’ baby, you can feel again. ’ ’ you don’t need a music box melody to know what i mean. ’ ’ deep in my eyes, what do you see? ’ ’ listen to me. ’

WHY

’ when i was nine, we entered a talent show down at the y. you couldn’t sing, but i said "no one cares.” ’ ’ we sang it over and over and over until we got it right. ’ ’ when we emerged, three o'clock sun had made the grass into hay, and i thought: hey, what a way to spend a day. ’ ’ i make a vow, right here and now: i’m gonna spend my time this way. ’ ’ i wonder now: am i cut out to spend my time this way? ’ ’ i’m gonna spend my time this way. ’

LOUDER THAN WORDS

’ why do we play with fire? ’ ’ why do we leave our hand on the stove, although we know we’re in for some pain? ’ ’ 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? ’ ’ fear or love? ’ ’ 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 could i see the dismay and keep from fighting? ’ ’ cages or wings, which do you prefer? ask the birds. ’ ’ 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 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 does it take catastrophe to start a revolution? ’ ’ if we’re so free, tell me why so many people bleed. ’ ’ actions speak louder than words. ’

OUT OF MY DREAMS

’ we can stay out all night and kiss on the street. ’ ’ we can stay in bed, love all day. ’ ’ i go to work with my mind on you, anticipating what we’re going to do. ’ ’ you left my life. stay out of my dreams. ’ ’ was it just a dream? ’ ’ stay far away. ’

ONLY TAKES A FEW

“baby, come here.”

“i get so lonely at night.”

“why can’t you tell that i’m desperate?”

“why can’t you tell that i’m bad for you?”

“i wish i was you.”

“so, why can’t you tell me what you think i should?”

“if you were here for the other night, you’d be terrified.”

“you know, i think the lines you’re afraid of are all made up.”

“last night, it was bad.”

“i wanna slow it down, but nobody would’ve let me.”

“maybe if you feel out of place, maybe it’s because you are.”

“i hope they crucify me.”

“no more parties in los angeles.”

“as of right now, my job is to lie down.”

“i hope they cancel me.”

“i pretend i’m ten times stronger for you.”

“you show so much promise.”

“it’s okay to be unhappy with all this.”

“what’s it like to be you?”

“do you see me that way?”

“do you remember my name?”

“i want her.”

“i want her to be just like you.”

“you know you’re my favorite.”

“just like me in my day, but you got all your priorities mixed up.”

“what’s it like being famous?”

“do you see a stranger when you look at my face?”

“sometimes, i wanna save you from everything.”

“it’s impossible to say what you’re gonna be.”

“it’s no business of mine how you waste your time.”

“i bet you miss what you had.”

“do you ever wonder why everyone is out to get you every day?”

“do you question anything?”

“how many warning signs until it hits you?”

“gravity’s your friend.”

“too many factors to be sure.”

“so many reasons to think twice.”

“you fall out of touch sometimes.”

“simple things make a difference in your day.”

“when you cry, i get fucking anxiety.”

“take the time to tell me how it ended up this way.”

“your love is cheap; it doesn’t cost anything.”

“what happens when you can’t keep doing it?”

“am i just scared for you?”

“can you feel the weight of their eyes on your neck?”

“i know you didn’t make any plans.”

“are we dead?”

“were you feeling left out?”

“they can tell that your mind is a mess.”

“these days don’t end.”

“you lost the things that brought us closer.”

“forgot how good it feels to be alone.”

“is this how i’m supposed to feel?”

“make it easy for me.”

“take it easy on me.”

“i still don’t know how you felt.”

“you can’t blame me.”

“why switch like different seasons?”

“you won’t find heaven, not in these hills.”

“you shouldn’t be here.”

“you can still make your mind.”

“i can’t save your life.”

“you can’t carry me through this.”

“i got your back sometime.”

“you’ll still be my favorite.”

“i wish i could save you.”

“i guess you got what you wanted.”

“you got your answer.”

“i’m in a dark place.”

“just know i’m not proud of everything i did so far.”

“i do it all for you.”

“can you follow my lead for once?”

“i can never make up for the time.”

“this is not love, i’m a glorified doorstop.”

“you wonder why we fell into a standstill.”

“we don’t need long.”

“still in the same boat.”

“please don’t ask to stay with me.”

“yeah, i’m still the same.”

“i feel insane.”

“don’t take this shit too serious.”

“look at what we accomplished.”