ABC Café / Red & Black

The time is near So near, it's stirring the blood in their veins! And yet beware Don't let the wine go to your brains! We need a sign To rally the people To call them to arms To bring them in line! Marius, wake up What's wrong today? You look as if you've seen a ghost Some wine and say what's going on A ghost you say A ghost maybe She was just like a ghost to me One minute there, then she was gone! I am agog! I am aghast! Is Marius in love at last? I've have never heard him "Ooh" and "Aah" You talk of battles to be won And here he comes like Don Juan It is better than an opera It is time for us all to decide who we are Do we fight for the right To a night at the opera now? Have you asked of yourselves What's the price you might pay? Is it simply a game For a rich young boy to play? The colours of the world are changing Day by day Red! The blood of angry men! Black! The dark of ages past! Red! A world about to dawn! Black! The night that ends at last! Had you seen her today You might know how it feels To be struck to the bone In a moment of breathless delight! Had you been there tonight You might also have known How the world may be changed In just one burst of light! And what was right seems wrong And what was wrong seems right Red! I feel my soul on fire! Black! My world if she's not there Red! The colour of desire! Black! The colour of despair! Marius, you're no longer a child I do not doubt you mean it well But now there is a higher call Who cares about your lonely soul We strive toward a larger goal Our little lives don't count at all! Red! The blood of angry men! Black! The dark of ages past! Red! A world about to dawn! Black! The night that ends at last! Listen everybody! General Lamarque is dead! Lamarque! His death is the hour of fate The people's man His death is the sign we await On his funeral day they will honour his name With the light of rebellion, a blaze in their eyes From their candles of grief we will kindle our flame On the tomb of Lamarque shall our barricade rise The time is here! Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer Let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts With a jubilant shout they will come one and all They will come when we call!