The Wedding Chorale Lyrics

     [Marius and Cosette lead a wedding procession.]

Chorus
     Ring out the bells upon this day of days!
     May all the angels of the Lord above
     In jubilation sing their songs of praise!
     And crown this blessed time with peace and love.

     [The procession becomes a dancing celebration.
     A waltz is played.]

Major Domo
     The Baron and Baroness de Thenard wish to pay their
     respects to the groom!

Thenardier
     I forget where we met
     Was it not at the Chateau Lafarge
     Where the duke did that puke
     Down the Duchess's de-coll-etage?

Marius
     No, `Baron de Thenard'
     The circles I move in are humbler by far.
     Go away, Thenardier!
     Do you think I don't know who you are?

Mme. Thenardier
     He's not fooled, told you so.
     Show M'sieur what you've come here to show.
     Tell the boy what you know!

     [Applause from the dancers as the waltz finishes.]

Marius
     When I look at you, I remember Eponine
     She was more than you deserved, who gave her birth
     But now she is with God and happier, I hope
     Than here on earth!

     [The waltz starts up again.]

Thenardier
     So it goes, heaven knows
     Life has dealt me some terrible blows.

Mme. Thenardier
     You've got cash and a heart
     You could give us a bit of a start
     We can prove, plain as ink
     Your bride's father is not what you think.

Thenardier
     There's a tale I could tell

Mme. Thenardier
     Information we're willing to sell.

Thenardier
     There's a man that he slew
     I saw the corpse clear as I'm seeing you!
     What I tell you is true!

Mme. Thenardier
     Pity to disturb you at a feast like this
     But five hundred francs surely wouldn't come amiss.

Marius
     In God's name say what you have to say.

Thenardier
     But first you pay!

     What I saw, clear as light
     Jean Valjean in the sewers that night
     Had this corpse on his back
     Hanging there like a great bloody sack.
     I was there, never fear
     Even found me this fine souvenir!

     [Thenardier shows Marius a ring.]

Marius
     I know this!  This was mine!
     Surely this is some heavenly sign!

Thenardier
     One more thing, mark this well
     It was the night the barricades fell.

Marius
     Then it's true, then I'm right
     Jean Valjean was my saviour that night!

     [Marius hits Thenardier and then throws money at him.]

     As for you, take this too!
     God forgive the things that we do.

     Come my love, come Cosette
     This day's blessings are not over yet!

     [Marius and Cosette leave.]