Out There
Disney (Hunchback of Notre Dame) Lyrics
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The world is wicked
It's I alone whom you can trust in this whole city
I am your only friend
I who keep you, teach you, feed you, dress you
I who look upon you without fear
How can I protect you, boy, unless you
Away in here
You are deformed
(I am deformed)
And you are ugly
(And I am ugly)
And these are crimes
For which the world
Shows little pity
You do not comprehend
(You are my one defender)
Out there they'll revile you
As a monster
(I am a monster)
Out there they will hate
And scorn and jeer
(Only a monster)
Why invite their calumny
And consternation
Stay in here
Be faithful to me
(I'm faithful)
Grateful to me
(I'm grateful)
Do as I say
Obey
And stay
In here
Safe behind these windows and these parapets of stone
Gazing at the people down below me
All my life I watch them as I hide up here alone
Hungry for the histories they show me
All my life I memorize their faces
Knowing them as they will never know me
All my life I wonder how it feels to pass a day
Not above them
But part of them
And out there
Living in the sun
Give me one day out there
All I ask is one
To hold forever
Out there
Where they all live unaware
What I'd give
What I'd dare
Just to live one day out there
Out there among the millers and the weavers and their wives
Through the roofs and gables I can see them
Ev'ry day they shout and scold and go about their lives
Heedless of the gift it is to be them
If I was in their skin
I'd treasure ev'ry instant
Out there
Strolling by the Seine
Taste a morning out there
Like ordinary men
Who freely walk about there
Just one day and then
I swear I'll be content
With my share
Won't resent
Won't despair
Old and bent
I won't care
I'll have spent
One day
Out there
The song “Out There” from the Disney movie Hunchback of Notre Dame is a highly emotive song sung by the lead character Quasimodo. Quasimodo is a person with a deformity and is shunned by society, and he sings this song about his deep desires to be free from solitude and explore the world beyond his bell tower. The opening three lines speak volumes about how Quasimodo feels about the world. He believes that the world is cruel and wicked and that he is alone in the entire city whom Esmeralda can trust. Quasimodo looks upon Esmeralda without fear and feels that he is her only friend.
Quasimodo's relationship with Frollo is complicated, and the song depicts that. Frollo is the only person who Quasimodo trusts but at the same time, does not consider him a friend. Frollo takes care of Quasimodo by providing him with food, clothing, and shelter, but at the same time, he keeps him locked away from the world. Quasimodo listens to Frollo's instructions and rarely disobeys him. The lyric "And you are ugly, and these are crimes for which the world shows little pity; You do not comprehend" is powerful as it showcases how the world perceives anyone who does not have so-called "perfect" physical looks.
Overall, “Out There” is a song about wanting to be part of the world like any other normal human being. It is hopeful but also tragic as the desire to be free is never fulfilled. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of Quasimodo's psyche and how he yearns to experience a normal life. The fact that he is denied this experience because of his physical deformities is heartbreaking.
Line by Line Meaning
The world is cruel
The world is a harsh and unforgiving place
The world is wicked
The world is full of evil and wrongdoing
It's I alone whom you can trust in this whole city
You can only rely on me in this city
I am your only friend
You have no other friends but me
I who keep you, teach you, feed you, dress you
I take care of all your basic needs
I who look upon you without fear
I am not afraid of your physical appearance
How can I protect you, boy, unless you
I cannot protect you if you don't follow my instructions
Always stay in here
You must remain inside this building
You are deformed
Your body has a physical deformity
(I am deformed)
I also have a physical deformity
And you are ugly
Your appearance is unpleasant to look at
(And I am ugly)
My appearance is also unpleasant to look at
And these are crimes
Society views physical deformities and ugliness as punishable offenses
For which the world
The world punishes people for having physical deformities and ugliness
Shows little pity
People are not sympathetic towards those who are physically different
You do not comprehend
You don't understand how cruel the world can be towards people who are different
(You are my one defender)
I am the only one who will protect you from the cruel world
Out there they'll revile you
People will hate and insult you if you go outside
As a monster
People will see you as a horrific creature
(I am a monster)
I also refer to myself as a monstrous figure
Out there they will hate
People will express disdain and animosity towards you
And scorn and jeer
People will make fun of you and ridicule you
(Only a monster)
You will only be seen as a monstrous individual
Why invite their calumny
Why would you choose to subject yourself to their insults and criticism?
And consternation
And the distress that comes with it
Stay in here
You should continue to stay inside
Be faithful to me
Stay loyal to me
(I'm faithful)
I promise to remain loyal to you
Grateful to me
Be thankful for everything I have done for you
(I'm grateful)
I am grateful for the loyalty you have shown me
Do as I say
Follow my instructions
Obey
Do as you're told
And stay
Remain in your current location
In here
Within the confines of this building
Safe behind these windows and these parapets of stone
You are protected as long as you stay within the fortress
Gazing at the people down below me
Watching people on the streets from a high vantage point
All my life I watch them as I hide up here alone
I have spent a long time observing people from the safety of this fortress
Hungry for the histories they show me
Curious about the stories and experiences of the people below
All my life I memorize their faces
I have committed their features to memory over time
Knowing them as they will never know me
I have gained knowledge of their lives, but they do not know of my existence
All my life I wonder how it feels to pass a day
I have always wondered what it is like to live an ordinary life outside the fortress
Not above them
Equal to them in status and class
But part of them
Belonging to the same community and society
Out there
Beyond the safety of the fortress
Living in the sun
Living freely under the bright sunlight
Give me one day out there
I want to experience one day outside of the fortress
All I ask is one
A single day is all I am requesting
To hold forever
A memory that will stay with me always
Out there where they all live unaware
In the outside world where people are living their lives without knowing of the fortress
What I'd give
I would give anything for a chance to leave the fortress
What I'd dare
I am willing to take risks and defy expectations
Just to live one day out there
I want to experience one day living among ordinary people
Out there among the millers and the weavers and their wives
Outside the fortress among working-class people
Through the roofs and gables I can see them
I can see them going about their daily routines from a distance
Ev'ry day they shout and scold and go about their lives
People go about their lives, talking and moving loudly
Heedless of the gift it is to be them
Unaware of the privilege and joy of being able to live as themselves
If I was in their skin
If I was one of them
I'd treasure ev'ry instant
I would appreciate and value every moment
Out there
Beyond the fortress walls
Strolling by the Seine
Walking by the Seine river
Taste a morning out there
Experience the feeling of waking up in the morning outside the fortress
Like ordinary men
Just like any other person
Who freely walk about there
Who can freely walk around and go where they want outside of the fortress
Just one day and then
Only for a day
I swear I'll be content
I promise to be satisfied with just that one day
With my share
With just what I was able to experience
Won't resent
I won't feel bitter or angry
Won't despair
I won't feel hopeless or discouraged
Old and bent
Even in old age when I am bent over
I won't care
I won't mind
I'll have spent
I will have used the time to its fullest
One day
Only one day to live as an ordinary person outside the fortress
Out there
Beyond the fortress walls
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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