The Bells of Notre Dame

Morning in Paris, the city awakes to the bells of Notre Dame

The fisherman fishes, the baker man bakes to the bells of Notre Dame

To the big bells as loud as the thunder

To the little bells, soft as a psalm

And some say the soul of the city's the toll of the bells

The bells of Notre Dame

Long years ago did this story begin in this place of Notre Dame

Two orphan brothers were both taken in by the grace of Notre Dame

Claude, the older, who cared for his brother

Young Jehan, full of beauty and charm

And they lived, and they grew, and awoke to the music of bells

The bells of Notre Dame

(Kyrie, eleison)

Oh, dear brother, 'neath these arches and this sacred dome

(Kyrie, eleison)

We are blessed to find our sanctuary and our home

Righteous Claude Frollo was ever more drawn like a son to Notre Dame

Not like his profligate brother, Jehan, who'd have none of Notre Dame

Though, as brothers, they loved one another

Frollo watched in despair and alarm

As Jehan grew more wild and defied and defiled all the laws

The laws of Notre Dame

(Kyrie, eleison)

You must leave, Jehan, this holy refuge where you've dwelled

(Kyrie, eleison)

Leave? But, Father

Sorry, Claude, but I've no choice, your brother is expelled

And Frollo didn't hear from his brother for several years

Meanwhile

Frollo ascended uncommonly fast through the ranks of Notre Dame

Till he was named the Archdeacon at last

And gave thanks to Notre Dame

And then one doleful day brought a message

And the name that it bore was "Jehan"

And concealing his face, Frollo stole to a place far away

Away from Notre Dame

Jehan! Let me take you back, I'll bring you home

Brother dearest, come with me, where we will find a remedy

And Notre Dame once more will be your sanctuary

Healing you will be my goal, not just your body, but your soul

We'll be together in our holy sanctuary

Enough, Claude, It's too late for me anyway

But if you've truly discovered charity at this late date

There's someone you can help

A baby? Yours? Oh, a monster

It's God's judgment on you, the wicked shall not go unpunished

I should have known, I was a fool to think that you would look after him

Look after him? Me?

He has nobody else, take him, if you can find it in your heart

Jehan

Jehan!

Dies irae (Dies irae)

Dies illa (Dies illa)

Solvet saeclum in favilla

(Kyrie, eleison)

And the saints regarded Frollo from their stone facade

(Kyrie, eleison)

And he felt their gaze as if it were the eyes of God

Oh, Lord, you've sent me a test, this child is my cross to bear

I may not have saved my brother, but I will save this, thing

See this lonesome creature from whom lesser men would flee

I will keep and care for him, and teach him at my knee

To think like me

And Frollo gave the child a name

A cruel name that means "half-formed"

Quasimodo

Now here is a riddle to guess, if you can sing the bells of Notre Dame

What makes a monster, and what makes a man?

(What makes a monster, and what makes a man?)

(What makes a monster, and what makes a man?)

Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells

Bells, bells, bells, bells

Bells of Notre Dame