ABC Café; Red And 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 with you 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, and she was gone!

I am agog
I am aghast
Is Marius in love at last
I've never heard him `ooh' and `aah'
You talk of battles to be won
And here he comes like Don Ju-an
It's better than an o-per-a!

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 rich young boys to play
The color of the world
Is 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 been there tonight
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 color of desire
Black
The color 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!

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 ablaze 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 hear
Let us welcome gladly with courage and cheer
Let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts
But a jubilant shout
They will come one and all
They will come when we call!