Wedding Chorale/beggars At The Feast Lyrics - Singles - Alain Boublil

WEDDING CHORALE 

(Marius and Cosette lead a wedding procession) 

CHORUS 

Ring out the bells 

Upon this day of days! 

May all the angels 

Of the Lord above 

In jubilation 

Sing their songs of praise! 

And crown this 

Blessed time with 

Peace and love. 

(The procession becomes a dancing celebration. A waltz is played) 

MAJOR DOMO 

The Baron and Baroness de Thnard wish to pay their respects to the groom! 

THENARDIER 

I forget where we met 

Was it not at the Chateau Lafarge 

Where the Duke did that puke 

Down the Duchess's de-coll-etage? 

MARIUS 

No, `Baron de Thnard' 

The circles I move in are humbler by far. 

Go away, Thnardier! 

Do you think I don't know who you are? 

MME. THENARDIER 

He's not fooled. Told you so. 

Show M'sieur what you've come here to show. 

Tell the boy what you know! 

(Applause from the dancers as the waltz finishes) 

MARIUS 

When I look at you, I remember Eponine. 

She was more than you deserved, who gave her birth 

But now she is with God and happier, I hope, 

Than here on earth! 

The waltz starts up again. 

THENARDIER 

So it goes, heaven knows 

Life has dealt me some terrible blows. 

MME. THENARDIER 

You've got cash and a heart 

You could give us a bit of a start! 

We can prove, plain as ink 

Your bride's father is not what you think. 

THENARDIER 

There's a tale I could tell 

MME. THENARDIER 

Information we're willing to sell... 

THENARDIER 

There's a man that he slew 

I saw the corpse clear as I'm seeing you! 

What I tell you is true! 

MME. THENARDIER 

Pity to disturb you at a feast like this 

But five hundred francs surely wouldn't come amiss. 

MARIUS 

In God's name say what you have to say. 

THENARDIER 

But first you pay! 

What I saw, clear as light, 

Jean Valjean in the sewers that night. 

Had this corpse on his back 

Hanging there like a bloody great sack. 

I was there, never fear. 

Even found me this fine souvenir. 

(Thnardier shows Marius a ring) 

MARIUS 

I know this! This was mine! 

This is surely some heavenly sign! 

THENARDIER 

One thing more, mark this well 

It was the night the barricades fell. 

MARIUS 

Then it's true. Then I'm right. 

Jean Valjean was my savior that night! 

(Marius punches Thnardier and then throws money at him) 

As for you, take this too! 

God forgive the things that we do. 

Come my love, come Cosette, 

This day's blessings are not over yet! 

(Marius and Cosette leave) 

==== 

BEGGARS AT THE FEAST 

THENARDIER 

Ain't it a laugh 

Ain't it a treat? 

Hob-nobbin' here 

Among the elite? 

Here comes a prince 

There goes a Jew. 

This one's a queer 

But what can you do? 

Paris at my feet 

Paris in the dust 

And here's me breaking bread 

With the upper crust! 

Beggar at the feast! 

Master of the dance! 

Life is easy pickings 

If you grab your chance. 

Everywhere you go 

Law-abiding folk 

Doing what is decent 

But they're mostly broke! 

Singing to the Lord on Sundays 

Praying for the gifts He'll send. 

M. & MME. THENARDIER 

But we're the ones who take it 

We're the ones who make it in the end! 

Watch the buggers dance 

Watch 'em till they drop 

Keep your wits about you 

And you stand on top! 

Masters of the land 

Always get our share 

Clear away the barricades 

And we're still there! 

We know where the wind is blowing 

Money is the stuff we smell. 

And when we're rich as Croesus 

Jesus! Won't we see you all in hell! 

(Valjean is alone in the shadows, with a bare wooden cross for company) 

VALJEAN 

Alone I wait in the shadows 

I count the hours till I can sleep 

I dreamed a dream Cosette stood by 

It made her weep to know I die. 

Alone at the end of the day 

Upon this wedding night I pray 

Take these children, my Lord, to thy embrace 

And show them grace. 

God on high 

Hear my prayer 

Take me now 

To thy care 

Where You are 

Let me be 

Take me now 

Take me there 

Bring me home 

Bring me home. 

(Fantine's spirit appears to Valjean) 

FANTINE 

M'sieur, I bless your name 

M'sieur, lay down your burden 

You raised my child in love 

And you will be with god. 

VALJEAN(interjecting) 

I am ready, Fantine 

At the end of my days 

She's the best of my life. 

(Marius and Cosette rush into the room; they do not see Fantine) 

COSETTE 

Papa, Papa, I do not understand! 

Are you alright? They said you'd gone away. 

VALJEAN 

Cosette, my child, am I forgiven now? 

Thank God, thank God, I've lived to see this day. 

MARIUS 

It's you who must forgive a thoughtless fool 

It's you who must forgive a thankless man 

It's thanks to you that I am living 

And again I lay down my life at your feet. 

Cosette, your father is a saint. 

When they wounded me 

He took me from the barricade 

Carried like a babe 

And brought me home to you! 

VALJEAN(to Cosette) 

Now you are here 

Again beside me 

Now I can die in peace 

For now my life is blessed... 

COSETTE 

You will live, Papa, you're going to live 

It's too soon, too soon to say goodbye! 

VALJEAN 

Yes, Cosette, forbid me now to die 

I'll obey, 

I will try. 

On this page 

I write my last confession. 

Read it well 

When I at last am sleeping. 

It's the story 

Of those who always loved you. 

Your mother gave her life for you 

Then gave you to my keeping. 

(The other spirits, including Eponine appear) 

FANTINE 

Come with me 

Where chains will never bind you 

All your grief 

At last, at last behind you. 

Lord in Heaven, 

Look down on him in mercy. 

VALJEAN 

Forgive me all my trespasses 

And take me to your glory. 

FANTINE & EPONINE 

Take my hand 

And lead me to salvation. 

Take my love, 

For love is everlasting. 

VALJEAN, FANTINE & EPONINE 

And remember 

The truth that once was spoken 

To love another person 

Is to see the face of God!