Claude-Michel Schonberg - Wedding Chorale/Beggars At The Feast lyrics

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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 Thénard 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 Thénard'

The circles I move in are humbler by far.

Go away, Thénardier!

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.

(Thénardier 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 Thénardier 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)

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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!