The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
(The dummy of CHRlSTlNE sits crumpled on a large throne. The PHANTOM drags CHRISTINE roughly out of the boat. She frees herself and backs away as he stares blackly out front. Braving her terror, she addresses him fiercely).
CHRISTINE
Have you gorged yourself
at last, in your
lust for blood?
(no reply)
Am I now to be
prey to your
lust for flesh?
PHANTOM (coldly)
That fate, which
condemns me
to wallow in blood
has also
denied me
the joys of the flesh . . .
this face -
the infection
which poisons our love . . .
(He lakes the bridal veil front the dummy, and moves slowIy towards her)
This face,
which earned
a mother's fear
and loathing . . .
A mask,
my first
unfeeling scrap
of clothing . . .
(He places the veil on her head)
Pity comes
too late -
turn around
and face your fate:
an eternity of this
before your eyes!
(They are almost touching. She looks calmly and coldly into his face)
CHRISTINE
This haunted face
holds no horror
for me now . . .
It's in your soul
that the true
distortion lies . . .
(The PHANTOM suddenly senses RAOUL'S presence. Behind the portcullis, RAOUL climbs out of the water)
PHANTOM
Wait! I think, my dear,
we have a guest!
(To RAOUL)
Sir, this is indeed
an unparalleled delight!
I had rather hoped
that you would come.
And now my wish comes true -
you have truly made my night!
RAOUL (pleading, grasping the bars of the gate)
Free her!
Do what you like
only free her!
Have you no pity?
PHANTOM (to CHRISTINE, dryly)
Your lover makes
a passionate plea!
CHRISTINE
Please, Raoul, it's useless . . .
RAOUL
I love her!
Does that mean nothing?
I love her!
Show some compassion . . .
PHANTOM (snarls furiously at RAOUL)
The world showed no
compassion to me!
RAOUL
Christine . . .
Christine . . .
(to PHANTOM)
Let me see her . . .
PHANTOM (drily)
Be my guest, sir . .
(He gestures, and the fence rises. RAOUL enters)
Monsieur, I
bid you welcome!
Did you think that
I would harm her?
Why should I make
her pay
for the sins which
are yours?
(So saying, he takes the Punjab lasso and, before RAOUL has a chance to move, catches him by the neck. The end of the rope, of which the PHANTOM has let go, remains magically suspended in mid-air)
(taunting)
Order your fine horses now!
Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes!
Nothing can save you now -
except perhaps Christine . . .
(He turns to her)
Start a new life with me -
Buy his freedom with your love!
Refuse me, and you send your lover to his
death!
This is the choice -
This is the point of no return!
CHRISTINE (to the PHANTOM)
The tears I might have shed
for your dark fate
grow cold, and turn to tears
of hate . . .
RAOUL (despairing)
Christine, forgive
me please forgive me . . .
I did it all
for you, and all for
nothing . . .
CHRISTINE (looking at the PHANTOM but to herself)
Farewell
my fallen idol
and false friend . . .
One by one
I've watched
illusions shattered . . .
PHANTOM
Past all hope
of cries for help:
no point in fighting -
RAOUL
Either way
you choose,
he has to win . . .
PHANTOM
For either way
you choose,
you cannot win!
So, do you end
your days with me,
or do you send
him to his grave?
RAOUL (to PHANTOM)
Why make her lie
to you, to save
me?
CHRISTINE
Angel of Music . . .
PHANTOM
Past the point
of no return -
RAOUL
For pity's sake,
Christine, say no!
CHRISTINE
. . . why this torment?
PHANTOM
. . . the final threshold . . .
RAOUL
Don't throw your life
away for my sake . . .
CHRISTINE
When will you see
reason . . .?
PHANTOM
His life is now the prize
which you must earn!
RAOUL
I fought so hard
to free you . . .
CHRISTINE
Angel of Music . . .
PHANTOM
You've passed the point
of no return . . .
CHRISTINE
. . . you deceived me -
I gave my mind
blindly . . .
PHANTOM (to CHRISTINE)
You try my patience -
make your choice!
(She reflects for a moment, then with resolution moves slowly towards the PHANTOM)
CHRISTINE
(quietly at first, then with growing emotion)
Pitiful creature
of darkness . . .
What kind of life
have you known . . .?
God give me courage
to show you
you are not
alone . . .
(Now calmly facing him, she kisses him long and full on the lips. The embrace lasts a long time. RAOUL watches in horror and wonder.
The PHANTOM lakes a lighted candle and holds it above RAOUL's head. A tense moment. But the suspended rope suddenly falls harmlessly - the PHANTOM has burned the thread by which the noose was held. Resigned, he addresses RAOUL, as we hear the offstage voices of the approaching MOB)
MOB (SOME)
Track down this
murderer -
he must be found!
Hunt out this
animal,
who runs to ground!
Too long he's
preyed on us -
but now we know:
the Phantom of the Opera
is there
deep down below . .
MOB (OTHERS)
Who is this monster,
this murdering beast?
Revenge for Piangi!
Revenge for Buquet!
This creature
must never go free . . .
PHANTOM
Take her - forget me - forget all of this . . .
Leave me alone - forget all you've seen . . .
Go now - don't let them find you!
Take the boat - leave me here - go now,
don't wait . . .
Just take her and go - before it's too late . . .
Go . . .
Go now - go now and leave me!
(RAOUL and CHRISTINE move off towards the boat. The PHANTOM looks mockingly at his mask. The musical box starts up magically, and he listens to it)
Masquerade . . .
Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade . . .
Hide your face
so the world will
never find you . . .
(CHRISTINE re-enters and walks slowly towards him. She takes off her ring and gives it to the PHANTOM)
PHANTOM
Christine, I love you...
(She hurries off The PHANTOM puts the ring on his finger. In the distance, to RAOUL, as the boat pulls away in the shadow)
CHRISTINE
Say you'll share with
me, one
love, one lifetime . . .
say the word
and I will follow you . .
RAOUL
Share each day with me . . .
CHRISTINE
. . . each night . . .
BOTH
. . . each morning . . .
PHANTOM (looking after her)
You alone
can make my song take flight -
it's over now, the music of the night . . .
(The PHANTOM walks slowly towards the throne. He takes his place on it, sitting on his cloak.
The MOB including MEG, appears above, climbing down the portcullis. As the MOB enters the lair, the PHANTOM wraps his cloak around himself and disappears.
MEG crosses to the throne and picks up his mask in her small hand)
CHRISTINE
Have you gorged yourself
at last, in your
lust for blood?
(no reply)
Am I now to be
prey to your
lust for flesh?
PHANTOM (coldly)
That fate, which
condemns me
to wallow in blood
has also
denied me
the joys of the flesh . . .
this face -
the infection
which poisons our love . . .
(He lakes the bridal veil front the dummy, and moves slowIy towards her)
This face,
which earned
a mother's fear
and loathing . . .
A mask,
my first
unfeeling scrap
of clothing . . .
(He places the veil on her head)
Pity comes
too late -
turn around
and face your fate:
an eternity of this
before your eyes!
(They are almost touching. She looks calmly and coldly into his face)
CHRISTINE
This haunted face
holds no horror
for me now . . .
It's in your soul
that the true
distortion lies . . .
(The PHANTOM suddenly senses RAOUL'S presence. Behind the portcullis, RAOUL climbs out of the water)
PHANTOM
Wait! I think, my dear,
we have a guest!
(To RAOUL)
Sir, this is indeed
an unparalleled delight!
I had rather hoped
that you would come.
And now my wish comes true -
you have truly made my night!
RAOUL (pleading, grasping the bars of the gate)
Free her!
Do what you like
only free her!
Have you no pity?
PHANTOM (to CHRISTINE, dryly)
Your lover makes
a passionate plea!
CHRISTINE
Please, Raoul, it's useless . . .
RAOUL
I love her!
Does that mean nothing?
I love her!
Show some compassion . . .
PHANTOM (snarls furiously at RAOUL)
The world showed no
compassion to me!
RAOUL
Christine . . .
Christine . . .
(to PHANTOM)
Let me see her . . .
PHANTOM (drily)
Be my guest, sir . .
(He gestures, and the fence rises. RAOUL enters)
Monsieur, I
bid you welcome!
Did you think that
I would harm her?
Why should I make
her pay
for the sins which
are yours?
(So saying, he takes the Punjab lasso and, before RAOUL has a chance to move, catches him by the neck. The end of the rope, of which the PHANTOM has let go, remains magically suspended in mid-air)
(taunting)
Order your fine horses now!
Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes!
Nothing can save you now -
except perhaps Christine . . .
(He turns to her)
Start a new life with me -
Buy his freedom with your love!
Refuse me, and you send your lover to his
death!
This is the choice -
This is the point of no return!
CHRISTINE (to the PHANTOM)
The tears I might have shed
for your dark fate
grow cold, and turn to tears
of hate . . .
RAOUL (despairing)
Christine, forgive
me please forgive me . . .
I did it all
for you, and all for
nothing . . .
CHRISTINE (looking at the PHANTOM but to herself)
Farewell
my fallen idol
and false friend . . .
One by one
I've watched
illusions shattered . . .
PHANTOM
Past all hope
of cries for help:
no point in fighting -
RAOUL
Either way
you choose,
he has to win . . .
PHANTOM
For either way
you choose,
you cannot win!
So, do you end
your days with me,
or do you send
him to his grave?
RAOUL (to PHANTOM)
Why make her lie
to you, to save
me?
CHRISTINE
Angel of Music . . .
PHANTOM
Past the point
of no return -
RAOUL
For pity's sake,
Christine, say no!
CHRISTINE
. . . why this torment?
PHANTOM
. . . the final threshold . . .
RAOUL
Don't throw your life
away for my sake . . .
CHRISTINE
When will you see
reason . . .?
PHANTOM
His life is now the prize
which you must earn!
RAOUL
I fought so hard
to free you . . .
CHRISTINE
Angel of Music . . .
PHANTOM
You've passed the point
of no return . . .
CHRISTINE
. . . you deceived me -
I gave my mind
blindly . . .
PHANTOM (to CHRISTINE)
You try my patience -
make your choice!
(She reflects for a moment, then with resolution moves slowly towards the PHANTOM)
CHRISTINE
(quietly at first, then with growing emotion)
Pitiful creature
of darkness . . .
What kind of life
have you known . . .?
God give me courage
to show you
you are not
alone . . .
(Now calmly facing him, she kisses him long and full on the lips. The embrace lasts a long time. RAOUL watches in horror and wonder.
The PHANTOM lakes a lighted candle and holds it above RAOUL's head. A tense moment. But the suspended rope suddenly falls harmlessly - the PHANTOM has burned the thread by which the noose was held. Resigned, he addresses RAOUL, as we hear the offstage voices of the approaching MOB)
MOB (SOME)
Track down this
murderer -
he must be found!
Hunt out this
animal,
who runs to ground!
Too long he's
preyed on us -
but now we know:
the Phantom of the Opera
is there
deep down below . .
MOB (OTHERS)
Who is this monster,
this murdering beast?
Revenge for Piangi!
Revenge for Buquet!
This creature
must never go free . . .
PHANTOM
Take her - forget me - forget all of this . . .
Leave me alone - forget all you've seen . . .
Go now - don't let them find you!
Take the boat - leave me here - go now,
don't wait . . .
Just take her and go - before it's too late . . .
Go . . .
Go now - go now and leave me!
(RAOUL and CHRISTINE move off towards the boat. The PHANTOM looks mockingly at his mask. The musical box starts up magically, and he listens to it)
Masquerade . . .
Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade . . .
Hide your face
so the world will
never find you . . .
(CHRISTINE re-enters and walks slowly towards him. She takes off her ring and gives it to the PHANTOM)
PHANTOM
Christine, I love you...
(She hurries off The PHANTOM puts the ring on his finger. In the distance, to RAOUL, as the boat pulls away in the shadow)
CHRISTINE
Say you'll share with
me, one
love, one lifetime . . .
say the word
and I will follow you . .
RAOUL
Share each day with me . . .
CHRISTINE
. . . each night . . .
BOTH
. . . each morning . . .
PHANTOM (looking after her)
You alone
can make my song take flight -
it's over now, the music of the night . . .
(The PHANTOM walks slowly towards the throne. He takes his place on it, sitting on his cloak.
The MOB including MEG, appears above, climbing down the portcullis. As the MOB enters the lair, the PHANTOM wraps his cloak around himself and disappears.
MEG crosses to the throne and picks up his mask in her small hand)
Lyrics submitted by fallacies
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Ahhh! The most amazing thing EVER to see live... I love this musical. This is my favorite part, too, the reprises of everything at the end always get to me. I especially love the part where Christine has to choose between Raoul's life or staying with the Phantom... where they're all singing different melodies at the same time. And the end, it's so heartbreaking.... "You alone can make my song take flight / It's over now, the music of the night..." SO beautiful... every time I hear a song from it I get this intense urge to go see it again.
Absolutely; pure perfection. The tortured way it's sung tugs at my heart every time I hear it. I find myself crying all too often. Beautiful.
This song is the perfect breathtaking ending to an outstanding opera. There is so much emotion and turmoil and danger and anger in it...and then it quickly switches to compassionate pity, then at the end, a hopeless acceptance. Wow! I get chills down my spine EVERY time I listen to the soundtrack or watch the opera or the new movie. I have no more words to describe this song...
i love how all the characters are singing together, one of the only musicals that lets you know how all the characters feel at once. this whole opera, and especially this song, give you such a rush when you watch it. there is nothing else to say but that it is powerful.
i loved this part of the movie, as i have yet to see the live musical. i always wish she chose the phantom, but then it wouldn't be as tragically romantic in the end.
OHMYGOD!!!!!!!!!!!! I C-O-M-P-L-E-T-E-L-Y agree with SweetestSiren. Evething you said is exactly what i think.
i saw the play and totally loved it the rest of my family didn't, too bad i can't wait for the movie to come out on dvd now i have the movie soundtrack on my computer, i love it!!
I PLAYED CHRISTINNE PEACOCKS LONDON WEST END AND I SO LOVED DOING THE MELODIES WITH A MAN CALLED MICHAEL SCHOFIELD (HOO PLAYED PHANTOM) AND ROSS QUENTIN (HOO PLAYED RAOUL) ITS GR8 TRO DO. THE MOVIE PERFORMED TO 9999% (WHICHIS FLIPPIN BRILL!) :) LOL
i liked how he broke a mirror in the movie and escaped that way