Quartet
from The Secret Garden
 
 

It is suggested that you listen to the recording of "Quartet" while reading these lyrics.  They are a little difficult to realize in the vocal setting, otherwise.  Come on, you can suffer through a little Mandy Patinkin, can't you? ;)  Characters are color-coded for your convenience and ease of reading.  Have a nice day.


 


Chauvelin
Andrew
Percy
Lucy
(spoken) I dreamed of you last night, Lucy . . . I dreamed we walked the streets of Paris together, hand in hand.  The sun shone on us, and I was happy, with you beside me . . . so happy, that I became very frightened . . .
Lucy, you don’t understand,
I fear for what’s ahead;
Lucy, I don’t understand!
Who is this man you’d wed?
I have only seen him once or twice,
And we’ve spoken even less . . .
And as we walked along the river,
Flags of freedom flying proud,
I knew we would last forever;
Then in the sky appeared a cloud . . .
Lucy, I don’t understand,
He’s thirty-five, or more . . .
How could you offer your hand--
You’re barely twenty-four!
There’s no need to dread the spinster’s life--
Why submit to fearfulness . . .
If you would only think you’d start to see
How foolish is your plan,
To marry such a man . . .
If you’d only think, you’d come to find,
You’re not in love at all . . .
It’s in your mind . . .
(spoken) Lucy, WHAT could you have been thinking?  A Frenchman?  A commoner?  You are out of your mind . . .
(spoken) This is really none of your business, Percival!
(spoken) If you won’t listen to sense, Lucy, listen to yourself.  How can you possibly love him?
(spoken) I DO love him!
Something took hold of your head
When he took hold of you--
Made you believe what he said,
Those things that can’t be true;
He’s a common lawyer, French besides;
You’re as different as can be!
You’re crazy

To do this,

Pursue this!

He’s just a
common man,
French besides;
You’re as different as can be!

The sun grew dark and cold then,
And you were gone, as if you'd fled;
In your place, where once you had been,
I held a flower, small and red . . .

You can’t prevent me . . .

I love him, you see,

And I know he loves me . . .

The storm

Raged around . . .
 

What are you thinking?
How can you do this?
Lucy, I swear, I just don’t know you . . .



I could not see . . .
I cannot see . . .

Why you didn’t think of what he is,
I cannot see . . .
Do you not see?

 

You just don’t see!

You don’t decide this--
You are both blinded . . .

You cannot see!

I need you!

Where have you gone?
 
 

I need you . . .
 

 

If you would only think, you’d realize
What sort of person lies
Behind his silver eyes . . .
Lucy, I need you to understand . . .
I need you . . .

 

You’ll never love him,
How can you love him?
You cannot wed him,
Lucy, really . . .
You must not wed him,
How can he love you?
How can you be sure he loves you . . .
I’m afraid he doesn’t love you . . .
I really love him,
I know I love him,
And I will wed him,
We have promised . . .
I’ll always love him!
I know he loves me . . 
I am certain that he loves me,

I love him, I know he loves me . . .

(spoken) Come to Paris soon, Lucy.  I miss your laughter . . .
(spoken) Lucy, please . . .
(spoken) The winter was long without you, but the spring promises to be warm . . .
(spoken) I’m afraid he’s only going to cause you pain.
(spoken) Write back soon, if you can't come, my love.
It’s the man she cannot see,
Who stays hidden from her eyes,
Who lives out his life in secret
That I fear she will despise . . .
It’s the man she cannot see,
Who stays hidden from her eyes,
Who lives out his life in secret
That I fear she will despise . . .