The Braille Legacy – Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité lyrics

Monsieur le Président, most worthy deputies,
I come here cap in hand, so listen to me please.
The children that I teach are blind and they’re in want,
Of a more modern school of new amenities.
That in your power to grant,
Liberté, égalité, fraternité,
You have a duty to do, and vote this through.
It lies with you, you know that this must be.
These are all your children, they’re your heirs,
There is no worthier cause. They’re suffering so,
So strike a blow, to help these children as though they’re yours.

“I don’t understand, I haven’t got any children. Well not that I’m aware of.” [laughter]
“We’re letting beggars into the assembly now, are we?”
“PLEASE ORDER!”

I can’t describe to you, the horrors of that place.
Unsanitary and dark, a national disgrace.
One bathroom’s all they have,
And once a month they bathe.
We treat them worse than many prisoner or slaves.

How many children come to me in search of light, and lose their health instead.
Infection from the stench, pneumonia from the damp, will poison them.
They come with hopeful hearts, and leave us dead.
We have to end their pain, for which we’re to blame.

Liberté, égalité, fraternité,
You have a duty to do, and vote this through.
It lies with you, you know that this must be.
These are all your children, they’re your heirs,
There is no worthier cause. They’re suffering so,
So strike a blow, to help these children as though they’re yours.

You couldn’t put the State’s funds to better use!
Do justice by those who nature has deprived of the most precious sense.
[some applause]

Liberté, égalité, fraternité,
You have a duty to do, and vote this through.
It lies with you, you know that this must be.
These are all your children, they’re your heirs,
There is no worthier cause. They’re suffering so,
So strike a blow, to help these children as though they’re ours.