"Rhythm of the Tambourine" is a song that was added to the American stage musical version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This song takes place during Esmeralda's dance sequence during the Feast of Fools. While in the film and original German musical, Esmeralda dances to an instrumental piece, here she actually gets to sing. The song is written in a complex time signature of 8/4 (3-3-2).
Lyrics[]
Revellers:
Come one, come all
Clopin:
Hurry, hurry - here's your chance
See the mystery and romance
Revellers:
Come one, come all
Clopin:
See the finest girl in France
Make an entrance to entrance
Dance, La Esmeralda...
Dance!
Esmeralda:
Hey, soldier boy
I see how you stare
Hey, butcher man
I see you admire
Come gather 'round
Hey, Jacques and Pierre
Come see me dance
To the rhythm of the tambourine
Flash of an ankle
Flip of a skirt
Feel them excite
Inflame and inspire
Come see me dance
Hey, what can it hurt?
It's just a dance
To the rhythm of the tambourine...
Phoebus:
This girl, who is she?
Frollo:
This girl, who is she?
Quasimodo:
This girl, who is she?
Frollo:
She dances like the devil himself
Phoebus:
She dances like an angel
Quasimodo:
An angel!
Phoebus:
But with such fire...
Frollo:
Such fire!
Frollo, Quasimodo & Phoebus:
Who is she?
Esmeralda:
Men of Paris
Before we get old
Come feel the heat
Come taste the desire
Feel them within you
Crimson and gold
Gold like the coins
You will toss into my tambourine
When I dance
To the rhythm of the tambourine!