The Bells of Notre Dame

Morning in Paris
The city awakes
To the bells of Notre Dame
The fisherman fishes
The bakerman 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, meet 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 who 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
'Til he was named the archdeacon at last
And gave thanks to Notre Dame

And then one awful day brought a message
And the name that it bore was "Jehan"
And concealing his face
Frollo strolled 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 judgement 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 saeculum 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 bare
I may not have saved my brother, but I will save this thing
See this loathsome 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?)
Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells
Bells of Notre Dame