In 1999, Wildhorn became the first American composer in twenty-two years to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway: 'Jekyll & Hyde' at the Plymouth Theatre, 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' at the Minskoff, and The Civil War' at the St. James Theatre. He has been nominated for several Tony Awards. He also has worked on several albums based on his various musicals.
Website: www.frankwildhorn.com/
Madame Guillotine
Frank Wildhorn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kicked like a dog, I have spat out the bile of defeat!
All you beauties who towered above me...
You!Who gave me the smack of your rod!
Now I give you the gutter!
I give you the judgement of God!
Vengence victorious! These are the glorious days!
Now gaze on our goddess of justice, with her shimmering glimmering blade!
As she kisses these traitors, she sings them a last serenade!
Zing! Swing! Savour the sting!
As she severs you! Madame Guillotine!
Slice! Come paradise!
You'll be smitten with, Madame Guillotine!
The world may be ugly but each man must do what he must!
Give in pretty dear!In a year you will be pretty dust!
Now come let out lady possess you!
In her breathtaking hair-raising bed!
She will tingle your spine...
As she captures your heart and your head!
Zing! Swing! Savour the sting!
As she severs you!Madame Guillotine!
Slice! Come paradise!
Our Delia will, shave you razor clean!
God! When did man lose his reason?
Save us my God if you're there?
God can you not feel the terror?
Like a fire in the air?
Flash! Slash! Glisten and gash!
She will ravesh you! Madame Guillotine!
Slit! Madame just bit!
Give her more to bite! She's a hungry queen!
Zing! Savour the sting!
As she severs you! Madame Guillotine!
Slice! Come paradise!
Hail her majesty!
Madame Guillotine!
The song Madame Guillotine is a powerful and haunting portrayal of the reign of terror during the French Revolution. The lyrics are from the perspective of a downtrodden, bitter member of the lower class who has been mistreated by the aristocracy. The opening lines speak to their experience of poverty and desperation, having lived in the gutter and experienced the filth of the streets. They express anger towards those who have looked down on them, particularly the aristocracy who have treated them with contempt.
The chorus then shifts to a celebration of the violent revolution, with the singer relishing in the chance to see the traitors punished by the guillotine. The image of the goddess of justice wielding her shimmering blade is both awe-inspiring and chilling. The lyrics paint a picture of a savage and bloodthirsty mob avenging the wrongs that they have suffered.
The final verse brings a more reflective and philosophical note to the song, asking God to intervene and save them from the madness that is consuming them. But the chorus returns, with the singer once again reveling in the power and violence of the revolution.
Line by Line Meaning
I know the gutter and I know the stink of the street!
I have experienced the lowest levels of society, including its filth and unpleasantness.
Kicked like a dog, I have spat out the bile of defeat!
I have been treated poorly and suffered defeats, but have overcome them and now seek revenge.
All you beauties who towered above me...
Addressing those who previously held power over me due to their physical attractiveness or social status.
You!Who gave me the smack of your rod!
Directly addressing those who have physically abused or mistreated me, likely in a position of power.
Now I give you the gutter!
I am taking revenge by returning those who previously held power over me to the lower levels of society.
I give you the judgement of God!
I will act as judge and executioner, taking revenge for the mistreatment and abuse I suffered.
Vengeance victorious! These are the glorious days!
The singer is triumphant and excited about their revenge and the power they are wielding.
Women of Paris come gather your bloody bouquets!
Encouraging the women of Paris to celebrate the execution of those who have been deemed enemies of the state.
Now gaze on our goddess of justice, with her shimmering glimmering blade!
Referring to the guillotine as a symbol of justice, and encouraging others to witness the execution.
As she kisses these traitors, she sings them a last serenade!
The artist describes the guillotine as kissing the executed and singing them a final song, likely referencing the sound the machine makes as it falls.
Zing! Swing! Savour the sting!
Describing the sound and sensation of the guillotine in action.
As she severs you! Madame Guillotine!
Addressing the machine itself, personifying it as a woman named Madame Guillotine.
Slice! Come paradise!
Describing death as a release into paradise, and possibly encouraging those being executed to embrace it.
You'll be smitten with, Madame Guillotine!
Addressing those being executed, warning them that they will be struck by the machine and killed.
The world may be ugly but each man must do what he must!
The singer acknowledges the harsh reality of the world, but encourages individuals to take action and do what they feel is necessary.
Give in pretty dear!In a year you will be pretty dust!
Addressing someone who is resisting their inevitable death, warning them that they will soon be nothing but dust.
Now come let out lady possess you!
Encouraging someone to embrace their death as if it is a lover, personifying the guillotine as a woman once again.
In her breathtaking hair-raising bed!
Describing the guillotine as a bed where someone will meet their end.
She will tingle your spine...
Describing the sensation of being executed by the guillotine.
As she captures your heart and your head!
Personifying the guillotine once again as a woman, describing the way in which it will take someone's life.
God! When did man lose his reason?
Questioning why humanity has become so cruel and violent, and possibly blaming a higher power for allowing it to happen.
Save us my God if you're there?
Asking a higher power to intervene and prevent further violence and bloodshed.
God can you not feel the terror?
Questioning whether a higher power is aware of the suffering and fear experienced by those being executed.
Like a fire in the air?
Describing the fear and terror as something that is all-consuming and uncontrollable.
Flash! Slash! Glisten and gash!
Describing the guillotine and its action in gruesome detail.
She will ravish you! Madame Guillotine!
Once again describing the guillotine as a woman, but in a more violent and aggressive manner.
Slit! Madame just bit!
Describing the guillotine in action, personifying it as a living creature that is biting and killing its victim.
Give her more to bite! She's a hungry queen!
Encouraging the continued use of the guillotine, and referring to it as a powerful and insatiable creature.
Hail her majesty! Madame Guillotine!
Praising the guillotine as a symbol of power and justice, and referring to it as a queen.
Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.