The Bells of Notre Dame

"The Bells of Notre Dame" is a song from the 1996 Disney film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, composed by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. It is sung at the beginning of the film by the clown-like gypsy, Clopin.

The song details about Quasimodo's origin and is the film's opening credits. During the song, Clopin tells young children about the mysterious bell-ringer of Notre Dame. He then talks about a story that goes back twenty years where a group of gypsies attempted to ferry their way into Paris, but a trap had been laid and they are captured by Judge Claude Frollo and several soldiers. When Quasimodo's mother amongst gypsies is seen carrying a bundle, a guard attempts to confiscate it, prompting her to flee.

Frollo pursues her on his horse, believing her to have stolen goods, in a brutal chase that comes to a head on the steps of Notre Dame cathedral. Here, Frollo takes the bundle out of her hands but, in doing so, strikes a blow to her head with his boot, causing her to fall down onto the stone steps, breaking her neck and killing her. Frollo then learns that the bundle is actually a deformed baby. He sees a well and attempts to drown the baby, as he believes it is a demon from Hell, but is stopped by the Archdeacon, who tells Frollo that he has killed an innocent woman and that, if he wishes for the survival of his immortal soul, he must raise the child as his own. Frollo reluctantly does so and raises the baby in the bell tower of Notre Dame and gives him a cruel name; Quasimodo, which, according to Clopin, means "half-formed". It is quickly learned that Quasimodo is the mysterious bell-ringer.

It is a grand, atmospheric way to open one of Disney's darker and more dramatic animated films.

Lyrics to opening
Chorus Olim, Olim, Deus Accelere (Once, long ago, God Accelere) Hoc saeculum splendium (This century splendor) Accelere fiat venire olim (Accelere may come once)

Clopin: Morning in Paris, the city awakes To the bells of Notre Dame The fisherman fishes, the bakerman 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 The bells of Notre Dame

(song stops, speaking segment begins)

Listen, they're beautiful, no? So many colors of sound, so many changing moods Because you know, they don't ring all by themselves

Clopin puppet: They don't? Clopin: No, silly boy. Up there, high, high in the dark bell tower lives the mysterious bell ringer. Who is this creature? Clopin puppet: Who? Clopin: What is he? Clopin puppet: What? Clopin: How did he come to be there? Clopin puppet: How? Clopin: Hush... (bonks puppet on the head) Clopin puppet: Ow! Clopin: and Clopin will tell you. It is a tale, a tale of a man and a monster.

(song resumes, scene changes to flashback)

Clopin: Dark was the night when our tale was begun On the docks near Notre Dame Quasimodo's father: Shut it up, will you! Male Gypsy: We'll be spotted! Quasimodo's mother: Hush, little one. Clopin: Four frightened gypsies slid silently under The docks near Notre Dame Barge Driver: Four guilders for safe passage into Paris Clopin: But a trap had been laid for the gypsies And they gazed up in fear and alarm At a figure whose clutches Were iron as much as the bells Quasimodo's father:  *in alarm* Judge Claude Frollo! Clopin: The bells of Notre Dame

Chorus: Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)

Clopin: Judge Claude Frollo longed to purge the world of vice and sin

Chorus: Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)

Clopin: And he saw corruption everywhere, except within Frollo: (speaking) Bring these gypsy vermin to the palace of justice. Guard: You there, what are you hiding? Frollo: Stolen goods, no doubt. Take them from her Clopin: (speaking) She ran.

Chorus: Dies irae, dies illa (Day of wrath, that day) Solvet saeclum in favilla (Shall consume the world in ashes) Teste David cum sibylla (As prophesied by David and the sibyl) Quantus tremor est futurus (What trembling is to be) Quando Judex est venturus (When the Judge is come)

Quasimodo's mother: Sanctuary, please give us sanctuary!

Frollo: A baby? A monster!

Clopin and Archdeacon: Stop! Clopin: Cried the Archdeacon

Frollo: This is an unholy demon. I'm sending it back to Hell, where it belongs. Archdeacon: (singing) See there the innocent blood you have spilt On the steps of Notre Dame Frollo: (speaking) I am guiltless. She ran, I pursued. Archdeacon: Now you would add this child's blood to your guilt On the steps of Notre Dame? Frollo: (speaking) My conscience is clear Archdeacon: You can lie to yourself and your minions You can claim that you haven't a qualm But you never can run from nor hide what you've done from the eyes The very eyes of Notre Dame

Chorus: Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)

Clopin: And for one time in his life Of power and control

Chorus: Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)

Clopin: Frollo felt a twinge of fear For his immortal soul Frollo: What must I do? Archdeacon: (speaking) Care for the child, and raise it as your own Frollo: What? I'm to be settled with this misshapen...? Very well. Let him live with you, in your church. Archdeacon: Live here? Where? Frollo: Anywhere (singing) Just so he's kept locked away where no one else can see (speaking) The bell tower, perhaps, and who knows, our Lord works in mysterious ways (singing resumes) Even this foul creature may Yet prove one day to be Of use to me

(scene changes to puppet show)

Clopin: And Frollo gave the child a cruel name A name that means half-formed: Quasimodo Now here is a riddle to guess if you can Sing the bells of Notre Dame Who is the monster and who is the man?

Clopin and Chorus: Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells Bells of Notre Dame!

Musical Lyrics
CLOPIN: Morning in Paris, the city awakes To the bells of Notre Dame The fisherman fishes, the bakerman 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 The bells of Notre Dame

Listen, they are beautiful, aren't they? The bells. So many colors of sound, so many changing moods. But, they do not ring all by themselves. No, there is a bellringer.

Now, to hear these bells is to be reminded of an extraordinary time, when this lowly bellringer brought Paris to its knees. And who better to tell you this story than someone who knows it best of all. But, I must warn you in advance. You are about to see an ugly monster. Just who that might be is for you to decide.

Dark was the night when our tale was begun On the docks near Notre Dame

GYPSY MOTHER: Hush, little one.

CLOPIN: Four frightened Gypsies slid silently under The docks near Notre Dame

GYPSY MOTHER: Please, please be quiet.

CLOPIN But a trap had been laid for the Gypsies And they gazed up in fear and alarm At a figure whose clutches Were iron as much as the bells The bells of Notre Dame

One of the most powerful officials in Paris was the Minister of Justice.

Justice Frollo was a man With morals so pristine That he swore he would make All of Paris just as clean

FROLLO You there! What are you hiding?

GYPSY MOTHER Please Sir, I only come into the city seeking help for my baby!

FROLLO A Baby? Likely story. What have you stolen? See what that gypsy has in her hands.

CLOPIN And the poor woman ran for her life!

GYPSY MOTHER Sanctuary! Please give us sanctuary!

FROLLO This is a child of Satan! I shall send it back where it belongs.

CLOPIN Stop! Cried the Archdeacon.

ARCHDEACON What have you done? What have you in your hands?

FROLLO An unholy demon that this woman has borne.

ARCHDEACON Lord help us! She's dead!

FROLLO Dead?

ARCHDEACON See here the innocent blood you have spilt On the steps of Notre Dame

FROLLO I was merely enforcing the law. I never meant to hurt her.

ARCHDEACON Now you would add this child's blood to your guilt On the steps of Notre Dame?

FROLLO This misshapen monster can have no life here!

ARCHDEACON You can lie to yourself and your minions You can claim that you haven't a qualm But you never can run from Nor hide what you've done from the eyes The very eyes of Notre Dame!

CLOPIN And the saints looked down on Frollo From their stone facade And he knew he must do penance In the eyes of God

FROLLO You're right, father. God has given me this challenge. I will take this... thing and look after it. But I ask a favor of you in return.

ARCHDEACON What is it?

FROLLO I have no home to speak of. Let him live here, in the church.

ARCHDEACON Live here? Where?

FROLLO Anywhere. The bell tower, perhaps. And let us agree never to speak of what has happened here today. In return, I will raise the child as my own.

ARCHDEACON Very well.

FROLLO See this loathsome creature From whom lesser men would flee

I will ennoble him.

I will keep and care for him And teach him at my knee To think like me

CLOPIN And he gave the child a thoughtless name - a name that means "half-formed" - Quasimodo.

Now... Here is a riddle to guess if you can Sing the bells of Notre Dame Who is the monster and who is the man?

CHORUS Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells Bells, bells, bells, bells Bells of Notre Dame!

Trivia

 * During the song, two songs from the movie can be heard. First, during the introduction, the tune to Someday is heard briefly being hummed. Second, the melody to Hellfire is heard throughout then at the very end, it's used in a brighter tone.