Herbert Kretzmer The Wedding Chorale - Beggars at the Feast Lyrics

CHORUS
Ring out the bells
Upon this day of days

May all the angels
Of the Lord above

In jubilation
Sings their songs of praise

And crown this
Blessed time with
Peace and love.

MAJOR DOMO
The Baron and Baroness de THenard wish to pay their respects to the groom!

THENARDIER
I forget where we met
Was it not at the Chateau Lefarge,
Where the Duke did that puke
Down the d____ss's de-coll-etage?

MARIUS
No, 'Baron de Thenard'
The circles I move in are humbler by far.
Go away, Thenardier!
Do you think I don't know who you are?

MADAME THENARDIER
He's not fooled.
Told you so.
Show M'sieur what you've come her to show
Tell the boy what you know!

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!

THENARDIER
So it goes!
Heaven knows
Life has dealt me some terrible blows!

MADAME 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.

MADAME 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!

MADAME THENARDIER
Pity to disturb you at a feast like this
But 500 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 b_____ great sack
I was there, never fear.
Even found me this fine souvenir!

MARIUS
I know this! This was mine!
This is surely some heavenly sign!

THENARDIER
One thing more. Mark this well.
It was the night that the barricades fell!

MARIUS
Then it's true. Then I'm right
Jean Valjean was my saviour that night!

As for you, take this, too!
God forgive us the things that we do!

Come, my love, come Cosette,
This day's blessing is not over yet!

***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 I'm 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 b_____s 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 sill 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
Alone I wait in 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
M'sieur I bless your name
M'sieur lay down your burden
You raise my child with love
And you will be with God.

VALJEAN [interjections]
I am ready, Fantine

At the end of my days
She's the best of my life.

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 wonded 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 a stoy
Of those who always loved you.
Your mother gave her life for you
Then gave you to my keeping.

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.

VALJEAN, FANTINE, EPONINE
Take my hand
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken,
To love another person
Is to see the face of God.