The Bells of Notre Dame

"**The Bells of Notre Dame**" is the opening song featured in the 2019 musical film, *The Hunchback of Notre Dame*.

## Lyrics

**Chorus:** Olim, olim, Deus accelere (Someday, someday, God speed)

Hoc sæculum splendium (This bright millennium)

Accelere fiat venire olim (Let it come someday)

**Congregation:** Morning in Paris, the city awakes

To the Bells of Notre Dame

The fisherman fishes, the bakerman bakes

To the Bells of Notre Dame

**Phoebus:** To the big bells as loud as the thunder

**Congregation:** 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 called Notre Dame

Two orphan brothers were both taken in

by the Grace of Notre Dame

**Frollo:** Claude, the older who cared for his brother

**Jehan:** Young Jehan, full of beauty and charm

**Both:** And they lived and they grew

And awoke to the music of Bells

The Bells of Notre Dame

**Chorus:** Kyrie, Eléison (Lord, have mercy)

**Frollo:** Oh dear brother

Meet these arches and this Sacred dome

**Chorus:** Kyrie, Eléison (Lord, have mercy)

**Frollo:** We are Blessed to find our

Sanctuary and our home.

**Congregation:** 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 wild

And defied and defiled

All the Laws

The Laws of Notre Dame

**Chorus:** Kyrie, Eléison (Lord, have mercy)

**Father Dupin:** You must leave, Jehan,

This holy refuge where you've dwelled

**Jehan:** Leave? But Father—

**Father Dupin:** Sorry Claude, but I've no choice

Your brother is expelled

**Congregation:** And Frollo didn't hear from his brother for several years. Meanwhile…

Frollo was acsended

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 got a message

**Frollo:**

And the name that it bore was "Jehan"

**Congregation:**

And concealing his face

Frollo strolled to a place

Far away…

Away from Notre Dame

**Frollo:** 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

**Jehan:** Enough, Claude! It's too late for me anyway. But if you have truly discovered charity at this late date, there is someone you can help.

**Frollo:** A baby? Yours? A…a monster! It's God's punishment on you! The wicked shall not go unpunished!

**Jehan:** I should have known! I was a fool to think you'd look after him!

**Frollo:** Look after him? Me?

**Jehan:** There is no one else! Take him…if you can find anymore heart.

**Frollo:** Jehan? Jehan?!

**Chorus:** Dies iræ, dies illa (Day of wrath, that day)

Solvet sæclum in favilla (Shall consume the world in ashes)

Kyrie, Eléison (Lord, have mercy)

**Congregation:** And the Saints regarded Frollo

From their stone façade

**Chorus:** Kyrie, Eléison (Lord, have mercy)

**Congregation:** And he felt their gaze

As if it were the Eyes of God

**Frollo:** O 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 loathesome creature

From whom lesser men would flee

I will keep and care for him

And teach him at my knee

To think like me

**Congregation:** And Frollo gave the child a name. A cruel name that means half-formed…

**Frollo:** Quasimodo!

**Congregation:** Now here is a riddle to guess if you can

Sing the Bells of Notre Dame

**Quasimodo:** What makes a monster and what makes a man?

**Congregation:** What makes a monster and what makes a man?

Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells,

Bells, bells, bells, bells,

Bells of Notre Dame!