Heaven's Light/Hellfire
Disney Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

So many times out there
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

Confiteor deo omnipotenti
(I confess to God almighty)
Beatae Mariae semper virgini
(To blessed Mary ever virgin)
Beato Michaeli archangelo
(To the blessed Archangel Michael)
Sanctis apostolis omnibus sanctis
(To the Holy Apostles, to all the saints)

Beata Maria, you know I am a righteous man
Of my virtue I am justly proud
Et tibit Pater
(And to you, Father)

Beata Maria, you know I'm so much purer than
The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd
Quia peccavi nimis
(That I have sinned)

Then tell me, Maria, why I see her dancing there?
Why her smold'ring eyes still scorch my soul
Cogitatione
(In thought)

I feel her, I see her, the sun caught in raven hair
Is blazing in me out of all control
Verbo et opere
(In word and deed)

Like fire, Hellfire
This fire in my skin
This burning desire
Is turning me to sin
It's not my fault

Mea culpa
(Through my fault)
I'm not to blame
Mea culpa
(Through my fault)

It is the gypsy girl
The witch who sent this flame
Mea maxima culpa
(Through my most grievous fault)
It's not my fault
Mea culpa
(Through my fault)

If in God's plan
Mea culpa
(Through my fault)
He made the devil so much
Stronger than a man
Mea maxima culpa
(Through my most grievous fault)

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

Minister Frollo, the gypsy has escaped
What? No longer in the cathedral, she's gone
But how? Never mind, get out, you idiot
I'll find her, I'll find her if I have to burn down all of Paris

Hellfire, dark fire
Now gypsy, it's your turn
Choose me or your pyre
Be mine or you will burn

Kyrie Eleison
(Lord, have mercy)
God, have mercy on her
Kyrie Eleison
(Lord, have mercy)

God, have mercy on me
Kyrie Eleison
(Lord, have mercy)




But she will be mine
Or she will burn

Overall Meaning

The song "Heaven's Light/Hellfire" was featured in the Disney animated film "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." The song is a perfect representation of the two sides of the main character's personality, Judge Claude Frollo. The song starts with Quasimodo, Judge Frollo's hunchbacked servant who is in love with a beautiful Gypsy woman named Esmeralda. Quasimodo has always longed for love but has never experienced it. He has seen other couples walking in the night and wished that he could feel the same love that they share. He knows that he is not attractive and believes that he will never find love. However, things change for him when an angel smiles at him, and he feels like he has a chance to be loved.


The song then switches to Judge Frollo, who sings a prayer to the Virgin Mary, confessing his sins of lust for Esmeralda. He believes himself to be a righteous man, and his pride makes him believe that he is better than others who are not like him. He finds Esmeralda to be the reason for his sinful thoughts and believes that it is not his fault that he is attracted to her. He says that he is not to blame, and it is the gypsy girl who has sent this flame of desire that burns within him. He becomes more and more obsessed with the girl and threatening to destroy her if she wouldn't be his.


Overall, the song is a tale of two men who are deeply in love with the same woman. One man, Quasimodo, is pure of heart and kind, while the other, Judge Frollo, is consumed by his lust and pride. The music and lyrics showcase the contrast between light and dark, good and evil, and heaven and hell.


Line by Line Meaning

So many times out there
The singer has observed many happy couples in love.


I've watched a happy pair of lovers walking in the night
The singer has specifically seen couples in love at night.


They had a kind of glow around them
The singer noticed a positive energy around the couples.


It almost looked like heaven's light
The couples seemed to have a heavenly quality.


I knew I'd never know that warm and loving glow
The artist believed he could never have that same kind of love.


Though I might wish with all my might
Although the singer may desire it greatly.


No face as hideous as my face
The singer considers his appearance as ugly.


Was ever meant for heaven's light
It is impossible for someone as ugly as him to experience a love as heavenly.


But suddenly an angel has smiled at me
The artist has encountered someone new who has shown him kindness.


And kissed my cheek without a trace of fright
The artist has been kissed and the person wasn't scared of him.


I dare to dream that she might even care for me
The singer has hope that this new person may be romantically interested in him.


And as I ring these bells tonight
The artist is ringing bells in celebration.


My cold dark tower seems so bright
The singer's isolated home appears to be more joyous due to this new person.


I swear it must be Heaven's light
The singer believes that this new person is heaven-sent.


Confiteor deo omnipotenti
The singer professes belief and seeks forgiveness from God.


Beatae Mariae semper virgini
The artist seeks the blessing of the Virgin Mary.


Beato Michaeli archangelo
The artist seeks the blessing of the archangel Michael.


Sanctis apostolis omnibus sanctis
The singer seeks the blessing of all the holy apostles and saints.


Beata Maria, you know I am a righteous man
The singer addresses Mary and claims to be righteous.


Of my virtue I am justly proud
The artist is proud of their own virtues.


Et tibit Pater
The artist again professes belief and seeks the blessing of the Father.


Beata Maria, you know I'm so much purer than
The artist assumes they are more pure than other people.


The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd
The singer looks down on people they consider to be less pure than themselves.


Quia peccavi nimis
The artist acknowledges their sins.


Then tell me, Maria, why I see her dancing there?
The singer addresses Mary and asks why they are lusting after a woman.


Why her smold'ring eyes still scorch my soul
The singer is captivated by the woman's eyes.


Cogitatione
The singer is acknowledging their lustful thoughts.


I feel her, I see her, the sun caught in raven hair
The artist is describing their physical attraction to the woman.


Is blazing in me out of all control
The artist's attraction to the woman is overpowering them.


Verbo et opere
The singer acknowledges their lustful behavior.


Like fire, Hellfire
The singer's desire feels like a fiery inferno.


This fire in my skin
The artist feels a burning sensation in their body.


This burning desire
The artist feels consumed by their desire.


Is turning me to sin
The artist feels that their desire is causing them to sin.


It's not my fault
The singer is attempting to blame external forces for their desire.


Mea culpa
The artist admits fault and seeks forgiveness.


I'm not to blame
The singer is again trying to deny responsibility for their desire.


It is the gypsy girl
The singer is blaming their desire on the woman they are lusting after.


The witch who sent this flame
The singer sees the woman as a manipulator who caused their desire.


Mea maxima culpa
The artist again admits fault for their sin.


If in God's plan
The artist considers that their desire may be part of God's will.


He made the devil so much
The singer believes that the devil has more power than they do.


Stronger than a man
The singer thinks that their human nature is no match for the devil's influence.


Protect me, Maria
The artist is calling on Mary for protection from their sinful desire.


Don't let this siren cast her spell
The artist compares the woman to a siren, capable of luring them into sin.


Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone
The artist fears the consequences of acting on their desire.


Destroy Esmeralda
The singer desires to get rid of the woman and their temptation altogether.


And let her taste the fires of hell
The artist wants the woman to suffer the punishment of hell.


Or else let her be mine and mine alone
The singer desires to own the woman and indulge in their sinful desire.


Minister Frollo, the gypsy has escaped
Another character informs Frollo that the woman he was lusting after has escaped.


What? No longer in the cathedral, she's gone
Frollo is surprised at the news.


But how? Never mind, get out, you idiot
Frollo orders the other character to leave and focus on finding the woman.


I'll find her, I'll find her if I have to burn down all of Paris
Frollo is so obsessed with the woman he desires that he is willing to resort to extreme measures to find her.


Hellfire, dark fire
Frollo's sinful desire is consuming him.


Now gypsy, it's your turn
Frollo is directing his anger towards the woman he desires.


Choose me or your pyre
Frollo is giving the woman an ultimatum: either be with him or face punishment.


Kyrie Eleison
Frollo again seeks mercy from God.


God, have mercy on her
Frollo may be acknowledging the wrongfulness of his actions.


God, have mercy on me
Frollo may be seeking forgiveness for his sinful actions.


But she will be mine
Frollo is determined to have the woman he desires.


Or she will burn
Frollo is willing to punish the woman if she does not submit to him.




Contributed by John F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions