Out There
Patrick Page & Michael Arden Lyrics
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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
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
of 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
everyday they shout and scold
and go about their lives
heedless of the gift it is to be them
if i were in their skin
i'd treasure every 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 wont care
i'll have spent one day
out there
The song "Out There" from the musical adaptation of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Patrick Page and Michael Arden is a reflection on the loneliness and isolation experienced by the singer, Quasimodo, who has lived in the cathedral his entire life. The opening lines, "safe beyond these windows and these parapets of stone", refer to the sanctuary Quasimodo has found within Notre Dame where he is protected from the ridicule and rejection he would face in the outside world. However, he is also acutely aware of what he is missing out on - the daily lives and experiences of the people he watches from afar. Quasimodo longs to be a part of the world outside the cathedral, to live "out there" away from his isolation and solitude.
The second verse elaborates on Quasimodo's desire to experience the world beyond Notre Dame. He watches people as they work and go about their daily lives, envious of their freedom and the preciousness of the moments they take for granted. To Quasimodo, even the mundane routines of the townspeople seem like gifts he is unable to enjoy. The repetition of the phrase "out there" is a reflection of his longing and desperation to be a part of the world beyond his confined existence.
Line by Line Meaning
safe beyond these windows
I feel safe here in my tower, away from the rest of the world.
and these parapets of stone
I am protected by these stone walls and barriers.
gazing at the people down below me
I spend my days watching the people down below from my vantage point.
all my life i watch them
This has been my existence for as long as I can remember.
as i hide up here alone
Despite being able to watch people, I am alone up here and sheltered from the world.
hungry for the histories they show me
I yearn for information and experiences that they have to offer.
all my life i memorize their faces
I have committed their faces to memory, even though they will never know mine.
knowing them as they will never know me
I have come to understand these people intimately, but they are oblivious to my existence.
all my life i wonder
This is a constant curiosity that I have carried with me for as long as I can remember.
how it feels to pass a day not above them
I am no longer content with simply being an observer, I want to know what it's like to live as one of them.
but part of them
I want to be part of their community and share more than just a physical space with them.
and out there living in the sun
I dream of being outside, basking in the warmth of the sun with others.
give me one day out there
I ask for just one day amongst them, to fully experience and appreciate what they have.
all i ask is one to hold forever
This one day would bring me so much joy and peace, that I would be content to hold onto that memory forever.
where they all live unaware
These people are oblivious to my curiosity and desires.
of what i'd give what i'd dare
They don't know what I would be willing to risk or offer for just one day amongst them.
just to live one day out there
All I want is this one day, to live like them, be with them, and experience life as they do.
out there among the millers and the weavers and their wives
These are the people I watch and long to be like, the everyday individuals that make up the community.
through the roofs and gables i can see them
Even though I am far above them, I can still see their daily lives and routines.
everyday they shout and scold and go about their lives
These people are living their lives, with all the ups and downs that come with it, while I am left to watch from afar.
heedless of the gift it is to be them
They are unaware of how lucky they are to be able to live like this, surrounded by a loving community.
if i were in their skin i'd treasure every instant
If I were in their position, I would cherish every moment and truly live my life to the fullest.
out there strolling by the seine
This is my dream, to be out there, walking by the river Seine and experiencing life without any barriers.
taste a morning out there
I want to wake up and savor a morning like an ordinary person, with no worries or fears.
like ordinary men who freely walk about there
I want to be like them, to walk around freely and not be confined by my tower or my fears.
just one day and then i swear i'll be content
This one day would be enough to fulfill my wildest dreams and make me truly happy and content.
with my share
I may only get one day, but it's enough for me to feel like I'm part of their world.
won't resent won't despair
Even if I can never be with them again, I won't feel angry or upset, because I will have had that one day.
old and bent i wont care
Even in old age, I will look back on that one day with joy and happiness.
i'll have spent one day out there
This one day will be worth everything to me, and I will have lived my life to the fullest in that moment.
Contributed by Ella H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.