Hellfire
Jonathan Young Lyrics


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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)
Like fire
Hellfire
This fire in my skin
This burning desire
Is turning me to...
Sin.
It's not my fault
(Mea culpa)
I'm not to blame.
(Mea culpa)
It was the gypsy girl, the witch who set this flame
(Mea maxima culpa)
It's not my fault.
(Mea culpa)
It's 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
I will find her. I will 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)
God have mercy on her
(Kyrie eleison)
God have mercy on me
But she will be mine
Or she
Will...
Burn...




She will burn
Give me sanctuary!

Overall Meaning

The song "Hellfire" by Jonathan Young is a cover of the song from Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" soundtrack. It is sung by the character Judge Claude Frollo, who is struggling between his religious ideals and his desire for the gypsy Esmeralda. The lyrics reveal his inner conflict as he asks the Virgin Mary why he is so drawn to Esmeralda, even though she represents sin and temptation to him. He blames her for his sinful thoughts and desires, but also acknowledges that it is not entirely her fault.


The chorus of the song, "Hellfire, dark fire, now gypsy, it's your turn," is an ominous threat to Esmeralda, as Frollo is torn between wanting to possess her and wanting to destroy her. He believes that she is the cause of his moral struggle, and that by eliminating her, he can be rid of his sinful thoughts and desires. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that Frollo's feelings for Esmeralda are not solely based on lust, but also on his own power and control over her.


Overall, "Hellfire" is a powerful and intense song that highlights the theme of temptation and the struggle between good and evil. It is a haunting portrayal of a man consumed by his dark desires and willing to go to great lengths to satisfy them.


Line by Line Meaning

Beata Maria,
Addressing the Virgin Mary


You know I am a righteous man
Claims to be morally superior


Of my virtue I am justly proud
Proud of his own righteousness


(et tibi Pater)
Asking for God's mercy


You know I'm so much purer than
Believes himself to be pure and superior to others


The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd
Describes others as promiscuous and lacking morals


(quia peccavi nimis)
Admitting to sinning excessively


Then tell me, Maria,
Asking for an explanation


Why I see her dancing there
Asking why he is attracted to a woman


Why her smoldering eyes still scorch my soul
Feeling intense desire for the woman


(Cogitatione)
Admitting to sinful thoughts


I feel her
Feeling the woman's presence


I see her
Seeing the woman


The sun caught in her raven hair
Describing the woman's appearance


Is blazing in me out of all control
Feeling overwhelmed by desire


(verbo et opere)
Admitting to sinful deeds


Like fire
Comparing desire to fire


Hellfire
Describing intense desire as hellfire


This fire in my skin
Referring to the intense physical desire


This burning desire
Describing the overwhelming desire as burning


Is turning me to...
Feeling pulled towards sin


Sin.
Referring to the sinful act he desires


It's not my fault
Denies responsibility for his desire


(Mea culpa)
Admitting fault and asking for forgiveness


I'm not to blame.
Continuing to deny responsibility


It was the gypsy girl, the witch who set this flame
Blaming the woman for his desires


(Mea maxima culpa)
Admitting greater fault


It's in God's plan.
Justifying his desires by saying they are God's will


He made the Devil so much stronger than a man.
Justifying sinful desires as being caused by the devil


Protect me, Maria
Asking for protection from sin


Don't let this siren cast her spell
Asking for protection from temptation


Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone.
Describing intense desire as painful


Destroy Esmeralda
Desiring the woman's destruction


And let her taste the fires of Hell
Wishing punishment on the woman


Or else let her be mine and mine alone
Desiring to possess the woman


I will find her. I will find her if I have to burn down all of Paris.
Willing to go to extremes to find and possess the woman


Dark fire
Describing a destructive, negative force


Now gypsy it's your turn
Turning to address the woman


Choose me or your pyre
Giving the woman an ultimatum


Be mine or you will burn
Threatening the woman with punishment


(Kyrie eleison)
Asking for God's mercy


God have mercy on her
Asking for mercy for the woman


God have mercy on me
Asking for mercy for himself


She will be mine
Desiring to possess the woman


Or she
Implies the only other option for the woman is punishment


Will...
Leaving the sentence unfinished to imply punishment


Burn...
Referring to the punishment the woman will receive


Give me sanctuary!
Asking for protection or refuge




Contributed by Sadie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@EskChan19

There is so much to interpret in this song and especially in the visuals too. Like the guy who comes in towards the end. You never see his face but he is coated in blue light and it's like God is giving him a final chance when he says "She's gone, we can't find her" to just let it go and stay righteous, to which he responds in anger and ushers 'god' out.

It's also interesting how in some form, he displays all 7 of the deadly sins in this song, despite beeing supposedly so religious:

Pride: He outright says how proud he is of himself for being so much more virtious than all the other people
Greed: Obviously, he sings "Let her burn, or be mine and mine alone". He doesn't want her as a partner, he wants to own her.
Wrath: Displayed most strongly during the aforementioned scene, when a guard comes in and is wrathfully cast out, only to be concluded by "I will find her and if i have to burn down all of Paris"
Envy: A bit more hidden, but there's envy in that Esmeralda is with the other Gypsies, that others can enjoy her dances when he feels so guilty for it, and also a hint of envy that others do not have to bother with this guilt.
Lust: Well i don't think i have to say anything about that do i?
Gluttony: Is displayed in a bit of the same vein as greed. He isn't statisfied with just being her or watching her perform, he wants to own her entirely, he wants ALL of her.
And lastly Sloth: Is displayed in a form in the way he basically asks god and maria to do his work for him. As the justice minister, he should be out there, hunting criminals. Instead, he is here, asking Maria to solve this problem for him, saying that he will go after Esmeralda later, casting the guard out instead of taking command when a prisoner has escaped, because he wants to wallow in self-pity a little more.

This song is truly brilliant in it's symbolism.



@alicornianqueen8219

Frollo's 7 deadly sins =D

Of my virtue I am justly proud" -Pride.

"This burning desire" -Lust.

"Let her taste the fires of hell" -Wrath.

"Or let her be mine and mine alone" -Greed.

Tries to kill Phoebos because Esmeralda has feelings for him. -Envy.

The manner in which he raises quasi modo. -Sloth.

He set dozens of houses on fire, like the city is his to destroy. -Gluttony?

yep he's goin' to hell



@Wahmurca

For those, who like โ€œsing-alongโ€


Beata Maria
You know I am a righteous man
Of my virtue I am justly proud


Beata Maria
You know I'm so much purer than
The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd


Then tell me, Maria
Why I see her dancing there
Why her smold'ring eyes still scorch my soul


I feel her, I see her
The sun caught in her raven hair
Is blazing in me out of all control


Like fire
Hellfire
This fire in my skin
This burning
Desire
Is turning me to sin

[Verse 2]
It's not my fault
I'm not to blame
It is the gypsy girl
The witch who sent this flame
It's not my fault
If in God's plan
He made the devil so much
Stronger than a man

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

[Outro]
God have mercy on her
God have mercy on me
But she will be mine
Or she will burn!



All comments from YouTube:

@weffle2449

IF SHE BREATHES
SHEโ€™S A
T E M P T R E S S

@mayatl8372

๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

@n3nt2nd464

ALL WOMEN ARE SACRED

@ArcaniaSkyPirate9516

Hahaha ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿคฃ

@mdashrafulahmed2820

Ah yes, Bread boys

@hirvielain9013

And if she doesn't breathe
she's probably just a
M A T T R E S S

27 More Replies...

@GlamAndGoreMakeup

HELL. YES. Zoh mah gawd

@MyLittleKissme

lol Heeeyyy Mykie!

@whathaveidonexx1360

Glam&Gore Mikey. Was up dude.

@ellycantsleep5838

Glam&Gore you should do a burned Esmeralda

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