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The Bells of Notre Dame Lyrics by Alan Menken

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Studio Cast Recording)

2016

[CONGREGATION & CHOIR]
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
[CONGREGANT (CLOPIN)]
Morning in Paris
The city awakes
To the bells of Notre Dame
[CONGREGANTS]
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
[CONGREGATION, CHOIR]
The bells of Notre Dame
[CONGREGATION]
Long years ago did this story begin
In this place of Notre Dame
[TWO CONGREGANTS]
Two orphan brothers were both taken in
By the grace of Notre Dame
[CONGREGANT (FROLLO)]
Claude, the older, who cared for his brother
[CONGREGANT (JEHAN)]
Young Jehan, full of beauty and charm
[BOTH]
And they lived and they grew
And awoke to the music
Of bells
[CONGREGATION, CHOIR]
The bells of Notre Dame
[CHOIR]
Kyrie Eleison
[FROLLO]
Oh, dear brother, 'neath these arches and this sacred dome
[CHOIR]
Kyrie Eleison
[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
[CONGREGANT (JEHAN)]
Not like his profligate brother Jehan
Who'd have none of Notre Dame
[CONGREGANT (CLOPIN)]
Though as brothers they loved one another
Frollo watched in despair and alarm
[CONGREGATION]
As Jehan who grew more wild
And defied and defiled
All the laws
[CONGREGATION, CHOIR]
The laws of Notre Dame
[CHOIR]
Kyrie Eleison
[FATHER DUPIN]
You must leave, Jehan
This holy refuge where you've dwelled
[CHOIR]
Kyrie Eleison
[FROLLO, spoken]
Leave? But, Father...
[FATHER DUPIN]
Sorry, Claude, but I've no choice
Your brother is expelled
[CONGREGANT (FROLLO), spoken]
And Frollo didn't hear from his brother for several years. 
[CONGREGATION]
Meanwhile...
[CONGREGANT, with CONGREGATION]
Frollo ascended uncommonly fast
Through the ranks of Notre Dame
Till he was named the Archdeacon at last
And gave thanks to Notre Dame
[CONGREGANT]
And then one doleful day got a message
[FROLLO]
And the name that it bore was... "Jehan"!
[FEMALE CONGREGANT]
And concealing his face
Frollo stole to a place
Far away
[CONGREGATION]
Away from Notre Dame
[FROLLO, spoken]
Jehan! Let me take you back. I'll bring you home. 
[FROLLO]
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, spoken]
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, spoken]
A baby? Yours? Oh - a monster! It's God's judgment on you! The wicked shall not go unpunished!
[JEHAN, spoken]
I should have known. I was a fool to think that you would look after him. 
[FROLLO, spoken]
Look after him? Me?
[JEHAN, spoken]
He has nobody else. Take him... if you can find it in your heart...
[FROLLO, spoken]
Jehan...Jehan?!
(Baby cries)
[CHOIR MEN, CONGREGATION MEN]
Dies irae
[CHOIR WOMEN, CONGREGATION WOMEN]
Dies irae
[CHOIR MEN, CONGREGATION MEN]
Dies illa
[CHOIR WOMEN, CONGREGATION WOMEN]
Dies illa
[CHOIR & CONGREGATION]
Solvet saeclum
In favilla
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Kyrie Eleison
[CONGREGATION]
And the saints regarded Frollo from their stone façade
[CHOIR]
Kyrie Eleison
[CONGREGATION]
And he felt their gaze as if it were the eyes of God
[FROLLO, spoken]
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
[FROLLO]
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
[CONGREGANTS, spoken]
And Frollo gave the child a name
A cruel name that means...
[CONGREGATION, spoken]
"Half-formed"
[FROLLO, spoken]
Quasimodo!
[CONGREGANT (CLOPIN)]
Now here is a riddle to guess if you can
Sing the bells of Notre Dame
[CONGREGANT (QUASIMODO)]
What makes a monster and what makes a man?
[CONGREGATION, CHOIR]
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
(Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)

About “The Bells of Notre Dame” by Alan Menken

Read the complete lyrics to "The Bells of Notre Dame" by Alan Menken from the album "The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Studio Cast Recording)" in 2016. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop, Disney, Musicals.

"The Bells of Notre Dame" is performed by Alan Menken. from the album "The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Studio Cast Recording)" in 2016 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "The Bells of Notre Dame", explore more songs by Alan Menken using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"The Bells of Notre Dame" is credited to Alan Menken. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"The Bells of Notre Dame" appears on "The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Studio Cast Recording)" in 2016.

Visit the Alan Menken artist page at /artist/alan-menken for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.