Before The Performance Lyrics

Andrew Lloyd Webber Before The Performance

GUSTAVE:
Ooh. Ooh. Ooh. Ooh.
(Continues tune over Christine)

CHRISTINE:
(Spoken)
Gustave? Could you hand me those earrings? The diamond ones on the left. There. How do I look?

GUSTAVE:
(Singing)
You look so beautiful.
So very beautiful.
Like a Queen in a book.

CHRISTINE:
You, too, are beautiful.
So very beautiful.
Once this performance is through,
We’ll spend some time just us two.
Won’t that be fun?

GUSTAVE:
(Spoken)
Father, doesn’t mother look lovely tonight?

RAOUL:
Indeed she does. As lovely as she looked the very first time I came to her dressing room door.

CHRISTINE:
And look at you, Raoul. You look just like that handsome boy in the opera box. The one who had always tossed me a single red rose.

RAOUL:
(Singing)
Please, Gustave,
If you don’t mind,
Would you wait outside a while?

GUSTAVE:
(Spoken)
May I go exploring? By myself?

CHRISTINE:
(Singing)
Yes, but stay backstage, my dear.
When I’m finished meet me here.

GUSTAVE:
(Spoken)
I will.

RAOUL:
(Singing)
Since our wedding day
things have gone astray.
I’m not proud of the way I have acted.

CHRISTINE:
(Spoken)
We’ve both been-

RAOUL:
(Singing)
The demands I’ve made,
all the hopes mislaid,
I’m aware of the price they’ve exacted.
Thought I’ve no right to ask you to,
There’s one thing more I’d have you do
If you love me as I love you.

CHIRSTINE:
(Spoken)
Anything darling.

RAOUL:
(Singing)
Don’t sing the song, dear.

CHRISTINE:
(Spoken)
What? But, Raoul-

RAOUL:
(Singing)
You have to know something’s terribly wrong, dear.

CHRISTINE:
But I have to do this.
It’s what we agreed to.

RAOUL:
That hell spawned demon,
He’s had us playing his game all along, dear.

CHRISTINE:
Let me just get through this.
Listen, please.
(Spoken)
I need to.

RAOUL:
You need so much, it’s true, and
I’ve denied you.
You need the man you knew
Back here beside you.
You’ll have him back, I vow.
Just ask it of me.
But we must leave here now
If you still love me.

CHRISTINE:
(Spoken)
Do you mean it, Raoul? Truly?

RAOUL:
I’ve booked a passage for three to Cher Borge on the Atlantic Queen. It leaves in an hour. We’ll have just enough time. Now, I beg you let’s be on it for both our sakes, and the child’s.
(Singing)
Leave this place behind.

THE PHANTOM:
He knows his love is not enough.
He knows he isn’t what you need.
He knows you’re made of finder stuff,
I think on that we’re all agreed.
It’s time to leave him in the dust!
It’s time to be who you should be!
It’s time to do now as you must
And set the music in you free!
In moments, mere moment, drums will roar.
There you’ll stand just like before.
The crowd will hush,
And then in one sweet rush
I will hear you sing once more.
And music, our music, will swell, and then unwind
Like two strand of melody at last entwined!
Fulfill us,
Complete us,
Make us whole!
Seal our bond forever more!
Tonight, for me
Embrace your destiny!
Let me hear you sing once more!

STAGE HAND:
(Spoken)
Mrs. Daaé? It’s time.

CHRISTINE:
(Singing)
Twisted every way
What answer can I give?
I know I can’t refuse, and yet
I wish I could.
Oh, god!

RAOUL:
Christine, Christine, don’t think
That I don’t care,

THE PHANTOM:
But every hope
And every prayer rests on you now.