ABC Café / Red and Black

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.

We need a sign

To rally the people To call them to arms

To bring them in line!

 

Joly

Marius, wake up!

What’s wrong today?

You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.

 

Grantaire

Some wine, and say whats going on!

 

Marius

A ghost, you say? A ghost maybe!

She was just like a ghost to me

One minute there then she was gone!

 

Grantaire

I am agog! I am aghast!

Is Marius in love at last?

I’ve never heard him Ooh and Aah.

You talk of battles to be won

And here he comes like Don Juan!

It is better than an opera!

 

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 yourselves

Whats the price you might pay?

Is this simply a game for rich young boys to play?

The colours of the world are 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 seen her today

You might know how it feels

To be struck to the bone by a moment of breathless delight!

Had you been there today

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

Red!

 

Marius

I feel my soul on fire!

 

Grantaire

Black!

 

Marius

My world if she’s not there!

 

All

Red!

 

Marius

The colour of desire!

 

All

Black!

 

Marius

The colour 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 towards a larger goal

Our little lives don’t count at all!

 

Enjolras

Red!

 

All

The blood of angry men!

 

Enjolras

Black!

 

All

The dark of ages past!

Red - a world about to dawn!

Black - the night that ends at last!

 

Combeferre

Listen, everybody!

 

Gavroche

General Lamarque is dead!

 

Enjolras

Lamarque... His death is the hour of fate

The peoples man...

His death is the sign we await!

 

On his funeral day they will honour his name

With the light of rebellion ablaze in their eyes.

From their candles of grief we will kindle our flame.

On the tomb of Lamarque shall our barricades rise!

The time is here!

Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer!

 

All

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

 

Combeferre

But a jubilant shout!

 

Lesgles

They will come one and all!

 

All

They will come when we call!