Red And Black The Abc Cafe Lyrics

Red And Black The Abc Cafe lyrics

[The ABC Cafe, where the students, led by Enjolras,

     meet to discuss their revolutionary plans.]



Combeferre

     At Notre Dame

     The sections are prepared!



Feuilly

     At rue de Bac

     They're straining at the leash!



Courfeyrac

     Students, workers, everyone

     There's a river on the run

     Like the flowing of the tide

     Paris coming to our side!



Enjolras

     The time is near...

     So near.. it's stirring the blood in their veins!

     And yet beware...

     Don't let the wine go to your brains!

     For the army we fight is a dangerous foe

     With the men and the arms that we never can match

     Oh, it's easy to sit here and swat 'em like flies

     But the national guard will be harder to catch.

     We need a sign

     To rally the people

     To call them to arms

     To bring them in line!



     [Marius enters.]



     Marius, you're late.



Joly

     What's wrong today?

     You look as if you've seen a ghost.



Grantaire

     Some wine and say what's going on!



Marius

     A ghost you say... a ghost maybe

     She was just like a ghost to me

     One minute there, and she was gone!



Grantaire

     I am agog!

     I am aghast!

     Is Marius in love at last?

     I have never heard him 'ooh' and 'aah'

     You talk of battles to be won

     But here he comes like Don Ju-an

     It's better than an o-per-a!



Enjolras

     It is time for us all

     To decide who we are...

     Do we fight for the right

     To a night at the opera now?

     Have you asked of yourselves

     What's the price you might pay?

     Is it simply a game

     For rich young boys to play?

     The color of the world

     Is changing

     Day by day...

     Red - the blood of angry men!

     Black - the dark of ages past!

     Red - a world about to dawn!

     Black - the night that ends at last!



Marius

     Had you been there tonight

     You might know how it feels

     To be struck to the bone

     In a moment of breathless delight!

     Had you been there tonight

     You might also have known

     How the world may be changed

     In just one burst of light!

     And what was right

     Seems wrong

     And what was wrong

     Seems right...



Grantaire [mocking...]

     Red...



Marius

     I feel my soul on fire!



Grantaire

     Black...



Marius

     My world if she's not there...



All

     Red...



Marius

     The color of desire!



All

     Black...



Marius

     The color of despair!



Enjolras

     Marius, you're no longer a child

     I do not doubt you mean it well

     But now there is a higher call

     Who cares about your lonely soul

     We strive toward a larger goal

     Our little lives don't count at all!



All

     Red - the blood of angry men!

     Black - the dark of ages past!

     Red - a world about to dawn!

     Black - the night that ends at last!



Enjolras

     Well, Courfeyrac, do we have all the guns?

     Feuilly, Combeferre, our time is running short.

     Grantaire, put the bottle down!

     Do we have the guns we need?



Grantaire [drunk]

     Give me brandy on my breath

     And I'll breath 'em all to death!



Courfeyrac

     In St. Antoine they're with us to a man!



Combeferre

     In Notre Dame they're tearing up the stones!



Feuilly

     Twenty rifles good as new.



     [Gavroche rushes in, shouting.]



Gavroche

     Listen!



Jean Prouvaire

     Double that in Port St. Cloud!



Gavroche

     Listen everybody!



Lesgles

     Seven guns in St. Martin!



Gavroche

     General Lamarque

     Is dead!



Enjolras

     Lamarque is dead.

     Lamarque! His death is the hour of fate.

     The people's man.

     His death is the sign we await!

     On his funeral day they will honor his name.

     It's a rallying cry that will reach every ear!

     In the death of Lamarque we will kindle the flame

     They will see that the day of salvation is near!

     The time is hear!

     Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer

     Let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts

     But a jubilant shout

     They will come one and all

     They will come when we call