The Phantom of the Opera lyrics

Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair!
Down we plunge to the prison of my mind!
Down that path into darkness deep as hell!
Why, you ask, was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place?
Not for any mortal sin, but the wickedness of my abhorrent face!

Track down this murderer!
He must be found!
Hounded out by everyone!
Met with hatred everywhere!

DON JUAN (PHANTOM - behind the curtain)
Passarino - go away!
For the trap is set and waits for its prey . . .
(PASSARINO leaves. CHRISTINE (AMINTA) enters. She
takes off her cloak and sits down. Looks about her. No-
one. She starts on an apple. The PHANTOM, disguised as
DON JUAN pretending to
be PASSARINO, emerges. He now wears PASSARINO's

Wandering child ...
so lost ...
so helpless ...
yearning for my
guidance ...
Angel ... or father ...
friend ... or
Phantom ... ?
Who is it there,
staring ... ?

Have you
forgotten your Angel ...?
Angel ... oh, speak ...
What endless
longings
echo in this
whisper ...!
Too long you've wandered
in winter ...Once again
she is his ...
Far from my
far-reaching gaze ...
Once again

CHRISTINE
You were once
my one companion . . .
you were all
that mattered . . .
You were once
a friend and father -
then my world
was shattered . . .

Wishing you were
somehow here again . . .
wishing you were
somehow near . . .
Sometimes it seemed
if I just dreamed,
somehow you would
be here . . .

Wishing I could
hear your voice again . . .
knowing that I

Ludicrous!
Have you seen the score?Simply ludicrous!
It's the final straw!This is lunacy!
Well, you know my views ...Utter lunacy!
But we daren't refuse ...
Not another
chandelier ...Look, my friend, what
we have here ...

"Dear Andre,
Re my orchestrations:
We need another first bassoon.
Get a player with tone -
and that third trombone
has to go!
The man could not be deafer,

M'sieur Andre?
M'sieur Firmin?

Dear Andre
what a splendid party!
The prologue
to a bright new year!
Quite a night!
I'm impressed!
Well, one does
one's best ...
Here's to us!
The toast is for the city, what a pity that the 'Phantom' can't be here!

Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade ...
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!

Masquerade!

Why have you brought us here?

Don't take me back there!

We must return!
He'll kill me!
Be still now ...
His eyes will find me there!
Christine, don't say that ...
Those eyes that burn!
Don't even think it ...
And if he has to kill
a thousand men -
Forget this waking nightmare ...The Phantom of the
Opera will kill ...
This phantom is a fable ...
Believe me ...
... and kill again!

Gentlemen, if you would care to take your seats? I
shall be sitting in Box Five.
Do you really think that's wise, monsieur?
My dear Andre, there would apeear to be no seats
available, other than Box Five...
They say that this youth
has set my Lady's
heart aflame!
His Lordship, sure,
would die of shock
His Lordship is
a laughing-stock!
Should he suspect her,
God protect her!

"Mystery after gala night,"
if says, "Mystery of soprano's flight!"

"Mystified baffled Surete say,
we are mystified - we suspect foul play!"
Bad news on soprano scene - first Carlotta, now Christine!
Still, at least the seats get sold gossip's worth its weight in gold ...

What a way to run a business!
Spare me these unending trials!

Like yellow parchment is his skin ...
A great black hole served as the nose that never grew ...
You must be always on your guard,
Or he will catch you with his magical lasso!
Those who speak of what they know find,
Too late, that prudent silence is wise.

Joseph Buquet, hold your tongue -
He will burn you with the heat of his eyes ...

I remember
there was mist ...
swirling mist
upon a vast, glassy lake ...

There were candles
all around,
and on the lake there
was a boat,
and in the boat
there was a man ...

Who was that shape
in the shadows?
Whose is the face
in the mask?

D*** you!
You little prying
Pandora!
You little demon -
is this what you wanted to see?

Curse you!
You little lying
Delilah!

[PHANTOM:]

Night-time sharpens,
heightens each sensation . . .
Darkness stirs and
wakes imagination . . .
Silently the senses
abandon their defences . . .

Slowly, gently
night unfurls its splendour . . .
Grasp it, sense it -
tremulous and tender . . .
Turn your face away
from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away
from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to

Christine:
In sleep he sang to me,In dreams he came,
That voice which calls to me,And speaks my name.
And do I dream again? For now I find.
The Phantom of the Opera is there-Inside my mind.

Phantom:
Sing once again with me, our strange duet,
My power over you, grows stronger yet.
And though you turn from me, to glance behind.
The Phantom of the Opera is there -inside your mind.

A tour de force! No other way to descibe it!
What a relief! Not a single refund!

Greedy.
Richard, I think we've made quite a discovery in Miss Daae!
Here we are, Monsieur le Vicomte.
Gentlemen, if you wouldn't mind. This is one visit I should prefer to
make
unaccompanied.
As you wish, monsieur.

They appear to have met before ...
Christine Daae, where is your scarf?

Monsieur?

Meg:
Where in the world have you been hiding?
Really you were perfect.

I only wish I knew your secret,
Who is this new tutor?

Christine:
Father once spoke of an angel,
I used to dream he'd appear,

Now as I sing I can sense him,
And I know he's here.

Here in this room he calls me softly,
Somewhere inside...hiding.

Somehow I know, he's always with me,
he's the unseen genius.

Think of me
think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me
once in a while -
please promise me
you'll try.

FIRMIN
Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves.

ANDRE
Don't fret, Firmin.

CHRISTINE
When you find
that, once
again, you long
to take your heart back
and be free -
if you
ever find
a moment,
spare a thought
for me

[Auctioneer:][spoken]
Sold. Your number, sir? Thank you.

Lot 663, then, ladies and gentlemen:
a poster for this house's production of "Hannibal" by Chalumeau.

[Porter]
Showing here.

[Auctioneer:][spoken]
Do I have ten francs? Five then. Five I am bid.
Six, seven. Against you, sir, seven. Eight.
Eight once. Selling twice. Sold, to Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny.

(The curtain closes upstage. BALLET GIRLS, from the wings gush around CHRISTINE who hands each a flower from her bouquet. REYER stiffly gives his approval)

GIRY (to CHRISTINE)

Yes, you did well. He will be pleased.

(to the DANCERS)

And you! You were a disgrace tonight! Such ronds de

jambe! Such temps de cuisse!

Here we rehearse. Now!

(A mausoleum with hanging moss. In the centre a pyramid of skulls in front of a cross.)

CHRISTINE

You were once

my one companion . . .

you were all

that mattered . . .

You were once

a friend and father -

then my world

was shattered . . .

Wishing you were

somehow here again . . .

wishing you were

somehow near . . .

Sometimes it seemed

if I just dreamed,

somehow you would

(During the overture RAOUL, ANDRE and FIRMIN take their respective seats - RAOUL in Box Five, the MANAGERS in a box opposite)

RAOUL

(spoken) Gentlemen, if you would care to take your seats? I shall be sitting in Box Five.

ANDRE

Do you really think that's wise, monsieur?

RAOUL

My dear Andre, there would appear to be no seats available, other than Box Five . . .

(REYER supervises the learning of the new piece from the piano. Present are PIANGI, CHRISTINE, CARLOTTA, GlRY and CHORUS)

CHORUS

Hide our sword now wounded knight!

Your vainglorious gasconnade

brought you to your final fight

for your pride, high price you've paid!

CHRISTINE

Silken couch and hay-filled barn

both have been his battlefield.

PIANGI (wrong)

(GIRY is hurrying across. RAOUL appears and calls after her)

RAOUL

Madame Giry. Madame Giry . . .

GIRY

Monsieur, don't ask me - I know no more than

anyone else.

(She moves off again. He stops her)

RAOUL

That's not true. You've seen something, haven't you ?

GIRY (uneasily)

I don't know what I've seen . . . Please don't ask me,

monsieur . . .

RAOUL (desperately)

(BUQUET mysteriously appears, a length of fabric serving as a cloak, and a piece of rope as the Punjab lasso. He is showing off to the BALLET GIRLS)

BUQUET

Like yellow parchment

is his skin . . .

a great black hole served as the

nose that never grew . . .

THE OPERA HOUSE ON THE NIGHT OF THE PREMIERE OF "DON JUAN TRIUMPHANT''

(The orchestra is tuning. A whistle sounds the CHIEF FIRE OFFICER is reviewing two FIRE MARSHALLS in tin helmets. A worklight on a stand illuminates them. Also present are RAOUL, ANDRE and FIRMIN, supervising the proceedings, and a MARKSMAN, at present hidden in the pit)

CHIEF

You understand your instructions?

(The dummy of CHRlSTlNE sits crumpled on a large throne. The PHANTOM drags CHRISTINE roughly out of the boat. She frees herself and backs away as he stares blackly out front. Braving her terror, she addresses him fiercely).

CHRISTINE

Have you gorged yourself

at last, in your

lust for blood?

(no reply)

Am I now to be

prey to your

lust for flesh?

PHANTOM (coldly)

That fate, which

(Meanwhile RAOUL ANDRE, FIRMIN, and MME. FIRMIN are seen making their way towards the dressing room, the MANAGERS in high spirits, bearing champagne)

ANDRE

A tour de force! No other way to describe it!

FIRMIN

What a relief ! Not a single refund!

MME. FIRMIN

Greedy.

ANDRE

Richard, I think we've made quite a discovery in Miss Daae!

FIRMIN (to RAOUL, indicating CHRISTINE 'S dressing room)

(The set of the final scene of "Don Juan TRIUMPHANT" A huge hall with an arch. Behind the arch, which has curtains, is a bed. A fine table, laid for two. PASSARINO, DON JUAN'S servant, is directing the STAFF as they make the room ready. They are a crowd of sixteenth century ruffians and hoydens, proud of their master's reputation as a libertine)

CHORUS

Here the sire may serve the dam,

(We have reached the great choral scene in which HANNIBAL and his army return to save Carthage from the Roman invasion under Scipio. HANNIBAL is UBALDO PIANGI; ELISSA, Queen of Carthage (his mistress) is CARLOTTA GUIDICELLI. The two leading SLAVE GIRLS are played by MEG GIRY and CHRISTINE DAAE. MME. GIRY is the ballet mistress. M. REYER, the repetiteur, is in charge.

(The PHANTOM and CHRISTINE take their strange journey to the PHANTOM'S lair. Candles rise from the stage. We see CHRISTINE and the PHANTOM in a boat which moves slowly across the misty waters of the underground lake)

CHRISTINE

In sleep he sang to me,

in dreams he came

that voice which calls to me

and speaks my name

And do I dream again?

For now I find

the Phantom of the Opera is there -

(The PHANTOM'S score lies open on the desk. ANDRE is impatiently flicking through it)

ANDRE

Ludicrous!

Have you seen the score?

FIRMIN (entering)

Simply ludicrous!

ANDRE

It's the final straw!

FIRMIN

This is lunacy!

Well, you know my views . . .

ANDRE

Utter lunacy!

FIRMIN

But we daren't refuse . . .

ANDRE (groans)

Not another

chandelier . . .

FIRMIN

Look, my friend, what

(Desk, chairs, papers. FIRMIN is scornfully eyeing a newspaper article)

FIRMIN

"Mystery

after gala night,"

if says, "Mystery

of soprano's flight!"

"Mystified

baffled Surete say,

we are mystified -

we suspect foul play!"

(He lowers the paper)

Bad news on

soprano scene -

first Carlotta,

now Christine!

Still, at least

the seats get sold

gossip's worth

its weight in gold . . .

(As the light brightens, we see the PHANTOM seated at the organ playing with furious concentration. He breaks off occasionally to write the music down. There is a musical box in the shape of a barrel organ beside the bed. Mysteriously, it plays as CHRISTINE wakes up. The music keeps her in a half-trance)

CHRISTINE

I remember there was mist

swirling mist upon a vast, glassy lake ...

(A statue of 'La Victoire Ailee' - the same as that which tops the proscenium. It is twilight. CHRISTINE and RAOUL rush on)

RAOUL

Why have you brought us here?

CHRISTINE

Don't take me back there!

RAOUL

We must return!

CHRISTINE

He'll kill me!

RAOUL

Be still now . . .

CHRISTINE

His eyes will find me there!

RAOUL

Christine, don't say that . . .

CHRISTINE

Those eyes that burn!

RAOUL

(A gauze half conceals the tableau of guests at the opera ball. The guests (whom we cannot yet see clearly) are in fancy dress: a peacock, a lion, a dragon, Mephistopheles, a highwayman, a clown, knights, ladies, an executioner. M. ANDRE enters. He is dressed as a skeleton in an opera cape. Almost immediately M. FIRMIN arrives.He is also dressed as a skeleton in an opera cape.

RAOUL:
'No more talk
of darkness,
Forget these
wide-eyed fears.
I'm here,
nothing can harm you -
my words will
warm and calm you.

Let me be
your freedom,
let daylight
dry your tears.
I'm here,
with you, beside you,
to guard you
and to guide you...

CHRISTINE:
Say you love me
every
waking moment,
turn my head
with talk of summertime...

Say you need me
with you,

Child of the wilderness
Born into emptiness
Learn to be lonely
Learn to find your way in darkness

Who will be there for you
Comfort and care for you
Learn to be lonely
Learn to be your one companion

Never dreamed out in the world
There are arms to hold you
You’ve always known your heart was on its own

So laugh in your loneliness
Child of the wilderness

Stranger
than you dreamt it -
can you even
dare to look
or bear to
think of me:
this loathsome
gargoyle, who
burns in hell, but secretly
yearns for heaven,
secretly . . .
secretly . . .
But, Christine . . .
Fear can
Turn to love - you'll
learn to see, to
find the man
behind the
monster: this . . .
repulsive
carcass, who
seems a beast, but secretly
dreams of beauty,

(At the height of the activity a grotesque figure suddenly
appears at the lop of the staircase. Dressed all in
crimson, with a death's head visible inside the hood of
his robe, the PHANTOM has come to the party. With
dreadful wooden steps he descends the stairs and takes the
centre of the stage)
PHANTOM
Why so silent, good messieurs?
Did you think that I had left you for good?

PHANTOM:
I gave you my music . . .
made your song take wing . . .
and now, how you've
repaid me:
denied me
and betrayed me . . .
He was bound to love you
when he heard you sing . . .

Christine ...
Christine ...

You will regret the day you did not do
All the Phantom asked of you