Chorus, David Ogden Stiers, Paul Kandel, Tony Jay, & Mary Kay Bergman
Tom Hulce & Tony Jay
Paul Kandel
Alan Menken
Heidi Mollenhauer
Alan Menken
Tom Hulce & Tony Jay
Charles Kimbrough, Jason Alexander, Mary Stout & Mary Wickes
Alan Menken
Paul Kandel
Alan Menken
Alan Menken
Alan Menken
Paul Kandel
All-4-One
Bette Midler
Regarded as one of the darkest and most complex Disney Villain songs of all time, (and certainly one of the most controversial) “Hellfire” is sung by Judge Claude Frollo, immediately following the thematically juxtaposed “Heaven’s Light”.
“Hellfire” focuses on and reveals what was previously only f...
"Heaven's Light"
[QUASIMODO]
So many times out here
I've watched a happy pair
Of lovers walking in the night
They had a kind of glow around them
It almost looked like heaven's light
I knew I'd never know
That warm and loving glow
Though I might wish with all my might
No face as hideous as my face
Was ever meant for heaven's light
But suddenly an angel has smiled at me
And kissed my cheek without a trace of fright
I dare to dream that she
Might even care for me
And as I ring these bells tonight
My cold dark tower seems so bright
I swear it must be heaven's light
"Hellfire"
[Intro: Choir]
Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti
Beatae Mariae semper Virgini
Beato Michaeli archangelo
Sanctis apostolis omnibus sanctis
[Verse 1: Frollo, (Choir)]
Beata Maria
You know I am a righteous man
Of my virtue I am justly proud
(Et tibi Pater)
Beata Maria
You know I'm so much purer than
The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd
(Quia peccavi nimis)
Then tell me, Maria
Why I see her dancing there
Why her smoldering eyes still scorch my soul
(Cogitatione)
I feel her, I see her
The sun caught in her raven hair
Is blazing in me out of all control
(Verbo et opere)
[Chorus: Frollo]
Like fire
Hellfire
This fire in my skin
This burning
Desire
Is turning me to sin
[Verse 2: Frollo, (Choir)]
It's not my fault
(Mea culpa)
I'm not to blame
It is the gypsy girl
The witch who sent this flame
(Mea maxima culpa)
It's not my fault
(Mea culpa)
If in God's plan
(Mea culpa)
He made the devil so much
Stronger than a man
(Mea maxima culpa)
Protect me, Maria
Don't let this siren cast her spell
Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone
Destroy Esmeralda
And let her taste the fires of hell
Or else let her be mine and mine alone
[Chorus: Frollo]
Hellfire
Dark fire
Now gypsy, it's your turn
Choose me or
Your pyre
Be mine or you will burn!
[Outro: Frollo, (Choir)]
(Kyrie Eleison)
God have mercy on her
(Kyrie Eleison)
God have mercy on me
(Kyrie Eleison)
But she will be mine
Or she
Will
Burn!
(Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-aaaaaaaah!)
Heaven’s Light / Hellfire was written by Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz.
Heaven’s Light / Hellfire was produced by Stephen Schwartz & Alan Menken.
Tom Hulce & Tony Jay released Heaven’s Light / Hellfire on Tue May 28 1996.
The Latin being sung throughout the background is the Confiteor, a Catholic prayer said towards the beginning of Mass, though it is also used by Lutherans and some Anglicans. It’s title translates to “I confess” or “I acknowledge”, which directly relates to Frollo’s confession of his lust for Esmere...