the hunchback of notre dame: out there
Alan Menken Lyrics

The world is cruel
The world is an unkind and unfair place.

The world is wicked
The world is morally corrupt and sinful.

It's I alone whom you can trust in this whole city
Out of all the people in this city, I am the only one you can rely on and confide in.

I am your only friend
I am the only person who cares about you and has your best interests at heart.

I who keep you, teach you, feed you, dress you
I am the one who takes care of you, teaches you, provides for your basic needs, and clothes you.

I who look upon you without fear
I am not afraid or disgusted by your physical appearance or disabilities.

How can I protect you, boy, unless you
In order for me to keep you safe, you must

Always stay in here
Never leave this place.

Away in here
Stay hidden and isolated from the rest of the world.

You are deformed
Your physical appearance is abnormal or distorted.

(I am deformed)
(And I share the same physical condition as you.)

And you are ugly
Your appearance is unattractive or unpleasant.

(And I am ugly)
(And I am also physically unappealing.)

And these are crimes
These characteristics are treated like offenses or wrongdoings by society.

For which the world
These characteristics are the reason why the world

Shows little pity
Has no compassion or sympathy for individuals like us.

You do not comprehend
You don't understand the severity of the situation.

(You are my one defender)
(I am your only protector and advocate in this world.)

Out there they'll revile you
Beyond this place, people will criticize and insult you for your appearance.

As a monster
They will view you as an inhuman creature.

(I am a monster)
(And I am seen as a similar type of monster by society.)

Out there they will hate
In the outside world, people will feel intense dislike and disdain for you.

And scorn and jeer
They will mock and ridicule you mercilessly.

(Only a monster)
(You are viewed solely as a monster by others.)

Why invite their calumny
Why expose yourself to their abusive behavior and verbal attacks?

And consternation
And cause yourself to feel anxiety and distress?

Stay in here
Remain in this place where we are safe from the cruelties of the world.

Be faithful to me
Stay loyal to me and do as I say.

(I'm faithful)
(I am also committed to protecting and caring for you.)

Grateful to me
Be thankful for all that I do for you.

(I'm grateful)
(I am also grateful for your trust and loyalty.)

Do as I say
Obey my commands and stay hidden and safe.

Obey
Follow my instructions without question.

And stay
Don't leave this place or expose yourself to the dangers of the outside world.

In here
Stay hidden and protected within these walls.

Safe behind these windows and these parapets of stone
Protected by the walls and barriers of this place.

Gazing at the people down below me
Watching the people outside from a safe distance.

All my life I watch them as I hide up here alone
I have been observing them for my whole life while staying hidden and isolated from them.

Hungry for the histories they show me
Craving knowledge about their lives and experiences.

All my life I memorize their faces
I have committed their appearances to memory over the years.

Knowing them as they will never know me
Understand their lives and experiences in a way that they will never understand mine.

All my life I wonder how it feels to pass a day
I have always wondered what it's like to live a normal day like they do.

Not above them
As equals with them.

But part of them
As a member of their community rather than an outcast.

Out there
In the outside world.

Living in the sun
Living freely outside of this place where we are always hidden.

Give me one day out there
Let me experience just one day in the outside world.

All I ask is one
I only want this one experience.

To hold forever
To remember and cherish this experience for the rest of my life.

Where they all live unaware
Where they live without the knowledge or understanding of what it is like to be different.

What I'd give
I would give anything.

What I'd dare
I would take any risk or face any danger.

Just to live one day out there
Just to experience the freedom and acceptance of the outside world for one day.

Among the millers and the weavers and their wives
Among the common people who live and work in the town.

Through the roofs and gables I can see them
From this vantage point, I can see their daily lives and routines.

Ev′ry day they shout and scold and go about their lives
Even though they face difficulties and challenges, they still continue with their daily activities.

Heedless of the gift it is to be them
Without realizing how fortunate they are to be able to live without judgment or discrimination based on their appearance.

If I was in their skin
If I looked like them and lived their lives.

I'd treasure ev′ry instant
I would value every moment and appreciate the simple joys of life.

Strolling by the Seine
Walking along the river in the outside world.

Taste a morning out there
Experience a new day in the outside world.

Like ordinary men
Like a typical person, without the stigma of being different.

Who freely walk about there
Those who can move about and experience the outdoor world without fear or judgement.

Just one day and then
One single day.

I swear I'll be content
I promise I will be satisfied with just this one day.

With my share
With what I am given.

Won′t resent
I won't feel anger or bitterness for my current situation.

Won't despair
I won't give up hope or feel hopeless.

Old and bent
Even when I am old and physically weakened by age.

I won′t care
I won't worry or stress over my current situation because I will have had this one day out there.

I'll have spent
I will have used this one day to its fullest.

One day
A single day spent outside and free of judgement for appearance.

Out there
Outside where one experiences freedom.