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
Marius wake up
what's wrong with you today
You look
as if you've seen a ghost
Some wine and say
what's going on
A ghost you say a ghost maybe
She was just like a ghost to me
One minute there
and she was gone
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 Ju an
It's better than an opera
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 of yourselves
What's the price you might pay
Is this simply a game
For rich young boys to play
The color of the world
Is 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
Had you seen her today
You might know how it feels
To be struck to the bone
In 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
Red
I feel my soul on fire
Black
My world if she's not there
Red
The color of desire
Black
The color of despair
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 toward a larger goal
Our little lives
don't count at all
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
Listen everybody
General Lamarque is dead
Lamarque
His death is the hour of fate
The people's man
His death is the sign we await
On his funeral day
they will honor his name
With the light of rebellion
a blaze in their eyes
From the candles of grief
we will kindle our flame
On the tomb of Lamarque
shall the barricade rise
The time is near
Let us welcome it gladly
with courage and cheer
Let us take to the streets
with no doubt in our hearts
But a jubilant shout
They will come one and all
They will come when we call