Esmeralda and Quasimodo during Hoch über der Welt in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
"Top of the World" is a song in the stage musical version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It takes place when Esmeralda and Quasimodo are a top of Notre Dame and it is sung by Esmeralda and the gargoyles. Esmeralda thinks that Paris is better when viewed from above and the gargoyles encourage Quasimodo to put the moves on her. His move constitutes asking to sit next to her, which she agrees to and in the gargoyle tradition of jumping to conclusions they start planning the wedding. This song acts as a bonding song between the two.
Lyrics[]
Laverne: Quasimodo, don't be so shy.
Hugo: She's waiting for you
Victor: Think of something to say
Laverne: Think of something to do
Hugo: I know...
Gargoyles: Show her the view!
Quasimodo: See... view?
Esmeralda: I bet the king himself doesn't have a view like this.
From up here, it's hard to imagine that bad things could ever happen in such a beautiful place.
Gazing down from the top of the world
Suddenly seeing a different city
Quaint and pretty and friendly and fair
Seen from the top of the world
When my outlook is a glum one
And I need a kinder point of view
Look how quick it can become one
With someone
Like you, to
Show me life from the top of the world
Nothing needs righting and no one needs pity
Thanks for bringing me into the air
And giving me Paris unfurled
Here at the top of the world
Hugo: Why are you standing like a statue made of stone?
Laverne: Quasimodo...
Gargoyles: Say something!
Victor: You're with a girl
Hugo: (And what a girl!)
Laverne: And you're alone
Gargoyles: At the top of the world!
Laverne: She looked at you
Hugo: Right at you!
Victor: And she didn't scream...
Laverne: ... or faint ...
Hugo: ... or lose her feed
Gargoyles: What more proof that
She likes you
Could anyone possibly need?
Laverne: She wants you!
Hugo / Laverne: What are you waiting for?
Victor: Don't waste this precious chance
Gargoyles: Quasimodo, do something!
Victor: The master's gone...
Laverne: And here's a girl made for romance...
Hugo: Ev'ry curve so well curled
Gargoyles: At the top of the world
Quasimodo: Esmeralda, I... Esmeralda...
Esmeralda: That's alright. We don't have to talk.
(Repeat song, with ESMERALDA and GARGOYLES singing simultaneously)
Laverne: Say something romantic
Hugo: That's funny and fitting
Victor: It's making us frantic
Laverne: The seconds are flitting
Victor: See how the clock can tick
Hugo: She may take up knitting
Laverne: Please take our advice here
Laverne / Victor: You have to entice here
Gargoyles: We don't mind admitting
We want to throw rice here...
Quasimodo: Es... Es...
Gargoyles: Oh well, I guess silence
Will have to suffice here
Quasimodo: Esmeralda...
Esmeralda: Yes?
Quasimodo: It's nice here
The two of us sitting
Esmeralda: The two of us sitting
Gargoyles: The two of you sitting
All: On top of the world!
Quasimodo: Can see everything from up here. City gates. River Seine.
Esmeralda: Yes. It sparkles in the light. I'm glad I can get to...to see things down there.
Gazing down from the top of the world
Suddenly seeing a different city
Things look tiny and friendly and fair
Seen from the top of the world
When you look from high above
Everything seems pretty
Seeing life from the top of the world
Nothing needs fighting and no one needs pity
Thanks for giving this moment to me
When just for a moment things stop
Here at the top of the world
Statues & Gargoyles: For all these years
You've stayed alone
And free from danger
We shared your fears
It wasn't safe to trust a stranger
But maybe we were wrong here
Could she belong here?
This girl appears
And she is kind
And we're admitting
We'd give three cheers
To see you both forever sitting
Look at you sitting
On top of the world...
Esmeralda: Seeing life from the top of the world
Nothing needs fighting and no one needs pity
Thanks for giving this moment to me
When just for a moment things stop
Here at the top of the world
Statues & Gargoyles: This girl appears
And she is kind
And we're admitting
We'd give three cheers
To see you both forever sitting
Look at you sitting
On top of the world...
Esmeralda & Statues & Gargoyles: Here at top of the world
Statues & Gargoyles: Quasimodo, say something
Take our advice
Be brave and say something
Please don't think twice
Quasimodo, say some-
Quasimodo: Esmeralda...
Esmeralda: Yes?
Quasimodo: I...I...It's nice
The two of us sitting...
Esmeralda: The two of us sitting...
Statues & Gargoyles: The two of you sitting...
All: Sitting on top of the world!
