"Beggars at the Feast" | |
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"Beggars at the Feast" is the second big musical number sung by the Thénardiers, in which they proclaim how through their treacherous ways they always manage to come out on top before waving the audience goodbye with the mocking line "When we're rich as Croesus, Jesus, won't we see you all in hell". It is an exact reprise of "Master of the House."
The lyrics were written by Herbert Kretzmer.
Lyrics[]
Thenardier:
Ain't it a laugh?
Ain't it a treat?
Hob-nobbin' here
Among the elite?
Here comes a prince
There goes a Jew
This one's a queer
But what can you do?
Paris at my feet
Paris in the dust
And here I'm breaking bread
With the upper crust...
Beggar at the feast!
Master of the dance!
Life is easy pickings
If you grab your chance
Everywhere you go
Law-abiding folk
Doing what is decent
But they're mostly broke!
Singing to the Lord on Sundays
Praying for the gifts He'll send.
M. & Mme. Thenardier:
But we're the ones who take it
We're the ones who make it in the end!
Watch the buggers dance
Watch 'em till they drop
Keep your wits about you
And you stand on top!
Masters of the land.
Always get our share.
Clear away the Barricades
And we're still there!
We know where the wind is blowing
Money is the stuff we smell.
And when we're rich as Croesus
Jesus! Won't we see you all in Hell!
Trivia[]
- For the 2012 version, only the second verse is sung. At the end of that part M. Thenardier shouts out: "How dare you!"
- The movie also changes the final time we see the Thenardiers. While in the musical, the Thenardiers are allowed to enjoy the feast, in the movie, the Thenardiers are thrown out of Marius and Cosette's wedding reception after their attempt to extort Marius fails.
Videos[]