"Topsy Turvy" is the third song of Disney's 1996 animated feature film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The choral introduction of "Come one, come all" was reminiscent of the main theme of "The Bells of Notre Dame" as the opening of the scene was displayed with beautiful views of the Cathedral. The main theme, Topsy Turvy, was a vivacious, light and energetic movement that features comedic lyrics that interplayed between Clopin and the chorus. Upon the realization that Quasimodo was actually that disfigured, the theme from the introduction of "Out There" was developed upon furthermore as Frollo saw him and became furious, angry, and livid at his insubordination.
Plot
It's the Festival of Fools, and the bouncy number was led by Clopin, the host of the event. After describing the events on Topsy-Turvy Day (with the dogs walking their owners first), there was a lengthy dance by Esmeralda, setting up the bulk of the movie's plot as Frollo, Phoebus, and Quasimodo all became enamored with her at the same time. At the end of the song, Quasimodo was crowned the King of Fools, and received warmly, before things took a sharp turn for the worst.
Lyrics
Chorus: Come one, come all
Leave your looms and milking stools,
Coop the hens and pen the mules
Come one, come all
Close the churches and the schools
It's the day for breaking rules
Come and join the Feast of...
Clopin: ...Fools! Ha ha ha!
Once a year, we throw a party here in town
Once a year, we turn all Paris upside down
Every man's a king and every king's a clown
Once again it's Topsy Turvy Day
It's the day the devil in us gets released (Good is bad and best is worst and west is east)
It's the day we mock the prig and shock the priest (On the day we think the most of those with least)
Everything is topsy turvy at the Feast of Fools
Chorus: Topsy Turvy
Clopin: Everything is upsy-daisy
Chorus: Topsy Turvy
Clopin: Everyone is acting crazy
Dross is gold and weeds are a bouquet
That's the way on Topsy Turvy Day
(instrumental break)
Chorus: Topsy Turvy
Clopin: Beat the drums and blow the trumpets
Chorus: Topsy Turvy
Clopin and Chorus: Join the bums and thieves and strumpets
Streaming in from Chartres to Calais
Clopin: Scurvy knaves are extra scurvy
On the sixth of "Januervy"
Clopin and Chorus: All because it's Topsy Turvy Day
Clopin: Come one, come all
Hurry, hurry; here's your chance
See the mystery and romance
Come one, come all
See the finest girl in France
Make an entrance to entrance
Dance la Esmeralda... Dance!
(instrumental)
Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for
Here it is, you know exactly what's in store
Now's the time we laugh until our sides get sore
Now's the time we crown the King of Fools!
(spoken) Do you all remember last year's king?
So make a face that's horrible and frightening
Make a face as gruesome as a gargoyle's wing
Hugo: (spoken) Hey!
Clopin: For the face that's ugliest will be the King of Fools. Why?
Chorus: Topsy Turvy
Clopin: Ugly folks, forget your shyness
Chorus: Topsy Turvy
Clopin: You could soon be called "Your Highness"
Chorus: Put your foulest features on display
Clopin and Chorus: Be the king of Topsy Turvy Day
(instrumental)
Clopin: Ev-er-y-bo-dy!
Chorus: Once a year, we throw a party here in town
Clopin: Hail to the king!
Chorus: Once a year, we turn all Paris upside down
Clopin: Ha ha! Oh, what a king
Chorus: Once a year, the ugliest will wear a crown
Clopin: Girls, give a kiss
Chorus: Once a year on Topsy Turvy Day
Clopin: We've never had a king like this
Clopin and Chorus: And it's the day we do the things that we deplore
On the other three hundred and sixty-four
Once a year, we love to drop in
Where the beer is never stopping (Where the cheer is never stopping)
For the chance to pop some popinjay
And pick a king who'll put the top in Topsy Turvy Day!
(Topsy Turvy, mad and crazy, upsy-daisy, Topsy Turvy Day!)
MAN
Hurry, hurry
Spill the fish on to the dock
WOMEN
Raise the maypole
Up at the chapel of Braque
OTHERS
Hurry, hurry
Gather the choirs and
Light the bonfires and
Sit on the roofs
ALL
Hurry, hurry
It's nearly twelve of the clock
Come one, come all
Leave your looms and milking stools
Coop the hens and pen the mules
Come one, come all
Close the churches and the schools
It's the day for breaking rules
Come and join the feast of...
QUASIMODO
Out here... (OTHERS: So exciting, colors, crowds and smells)
Out here... (Others: Where this place is noisy as the bells)
Somehow, I can wander thru this helter-skelter without fear now
No one knows I'm here now, out here in the world!
CLOPIN
Fools!
Once a year, we throw a party here in town
Once a year, we turn all Paris upside-down
Every man's a king and ev'ry king's a clown
Once again it's topsy turvy day
It's the day the devil in us gets released
It's the day we mock the prig and shock the priest
Everything is topsy turvy at the feast of fools
CROWD
Topsy turvy!
CLOPIN
Beat the drums and blow the trumpets!
CROWD
Topsy turvy!
CLOPIN / CROWD
Join the bums and thieves and strumpets
streaming in from Chartres to Calais
CLOPIN
Scurvy knaves are extra scurvy
On the sixth on "Janurvy"
CLOPIN / PEOPLE
All because it's topsy turvy day!
QUASIMODO
Out there with all the colors
And the noises and the smells,
Brighter, louder than my dreams provide me
And tomorrow, when I’m back there, watching from the bells
I will always have this day inside me
CROWD
Topsy turvy!
CLOPIN / PEOPLE
Come one, come all
CLOPIN
Hurry, hurry, here's your chance
See the mystery and romance
CLOPIN / PEOPLE
Come one, come all
CLOPIN
See the finest girl in France
Make an entrance to entrance
Dance la Esmeralda... Dance!
FROLLO
Look at that disgusting display.
PHOEBUS
Yes, sir!
ESMERALDA
Sorry. Wonderful mask!
CLOPIN
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the piece the resistance!
Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for
Here is is, you know exactly what's in store
Now's the time we laugh until our sides get sore
Now's the time we crown the king of fools!
You all remember last year's king...
So make a face that's horrible and frightening
Make a face that's gruesome as a gargoyle's wing
For the face that's ugliest will be the king of fools, why?
CROWD
Topsy turvy!
CLOPIN
Ugly folks, forget your shyness
CROWD
Topsy turvy!
CLOPIN
You could soon be called "your highness"
CROWD
Put your foulest features on display
Be the king of topsy turvy day
ESMERALDA
Hey, you're going to join in the competition, right? Come on, you didn't go to all the trouble of making that great mask for nothing! You get 5 sous if you win!
CROWD
Topsy turvy!
Topsy turvy!
Topsy turvy!
CLOPIN
Ladies and gentlemen, we asked for the ugliest face in Paris, and here he is! Everybody!
CROWD
Once a year we throw a party here in town
CLOPIN
Hail to the king!
CROWD
Once a year we turn all Paris upside-down
CLOPIN
Oh what a king!
CROWD
Once a year the ugliest will wear the crown
CLOPIN
Girls, give a kiss!
CROWD
Once a year on topsy turvy day
CLOPIN
We've never had a king like this!
CLOPIN / CROWD
It's the day we do the things that we deplore
On the other three hundred and sixty-four
Once a year we love to drop in
Where the beer is never stopping
For the chance to pop some popinjay
And pick a king who'll put the "top" in
Topsy turvy day!
(Topsy turvy! Mad and crazy, upsy-daisy, topsy turvy day! Hey!)
Once a year we throw a party here in town
Once a year we turn all Paris upside down
Every man's a king and every king's a clown
Once again it's Topsy Turvy Day
It's the day the devil in us gets released
It's the day we mock the prig and shock the priest
Everything is topsy turvy at the Feast of Fools!
Topsy Turvy!
Everything is upsy daisy!
Topsy Turvy!
Everyone is acting crazy
Dross is gold and weeds are a bouquet
That's the way on Topsy Turvy Day
Come one, come all!
Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for
Here it is, you know exactly what's in store
Now's the time we laugh until our sides get sore
Now's the time we crown the King of Fools!
So make a face that's horrible and frightening
Make a face as gruesome as a gargoyle's wing
For the face that's ugliest will be the King of Fools!
Topsy Turvy!
Ugly folk, forget your shyness
Topsy Turvy!
You would soon be called Your Highness!
Put your foulest features on display
Be the king of Topsy Turvy Day!
Once a year we throw a party here in town
Once a year we turn all Paris upside down
Once a year, the ugliest will wear a crown
Once a year on Topsy Turvy Day
And it's the day we do the things that we deplore
On the other three hundred and sixty-four
Once a year we love to drop in
Where the beer is never stoppin'
For the chance to pop some popinjay
And pick a king who'll put the top in
Topsy Turvy Day!
Topsy Turvy!
Beat the drums and blow the trumpets
Topsy Turvy!
Join the bums and thieves and strumpets
Streaming in from New York to L.A.
Scurvy knaves are extra scurvy
On the sixth of January
All because it's Topsy Turvy Day!
Topsy Turvy!
CROWD
Come one, come all
Leave your looms and milking stools.
Coop the hens and pen the mules
Come one, come all
Close the churches and the schools.
It's the day for breaking rules...
Come and join the Feast of...Fools!
CLOPIN
Once a year we throw a party here in town
Once a year we turn all Paris upside down
Every man's a king and every kings a clown
Once again it's Topsy Turvy day!
Hypocrites and phoneys get what they deserve.
You could even kiss a stranger (Oh, What a nerve!)
Sorry mam, but them's the rules on Topsy Turvy day.
CROWD
Topsy turvy!
CLOPIN
Everything is upsy daisy!
CROWD
Topsy turvy
CLOPIN
Everyone is acting crazy
Dross is gold and weeds are a bouquet.
That's the way on Topsy Turvy day!
(Instrumental)
CLOPIN
What a prim and proper lady
Practically a saint
Pure and refined as lace
I can tell she fell from heaven.
Don't tell me she ain't...
Cause look! She landed on her face! Haha...
Here's another beauty, boys.
Now ain't she underlined
Prim with the bloom of youth.
You can kiss her it's alright
She won't bite, cause she ain't got a tooth!
It's a day for paradoxes and parodies
It's a day to celebrate grotesqueries
It's a day we all wish we had ears like these!
It's a day we call the Feast of Fools
It's a day the devil in us gets released
It's a day we mock the prig and shock the priest
Everything is Topsy Turvy at the Feast of Fools.
CROWD
Topsy Turvy!
CLOPIN
Beat the drums and blow the trumpets
CROWD
Topsy Turvy
CLOPIN
Join the bums, thieves and strumpets streaming in from Chartres to Calais.
Scurvy knaves are extra scurvy on the sixth of January.
All because it's Topsy Turvy day!
Come one, come all!
Hurry, hurry, here's your chance.
See the mystery and romance.
Come one, come all!
See the finest girl in France.
Make an entrance to entrance
Dance la Esmeralda... Dance!
[Risqué dance music]
CLOPIN
And now ladies and gentlemen la piece de résistance!
Here it is,
The moment you've been waiting for!
Here it is,
You know exactly what's in store!
Now's the time we laugh until our sides get sore
Now's the time we crown the King of Fools!
You all remember last year's king?
So make a face that's horrible and frightening,
Make a face as gruesome as a gargoyle's wing,
For the face that is the ugliest will be the King of Fools!
Why?
CROWD
Topsy Turvy!
CLOPIN
Ugly folk forget your shyness!
CROWD
Topsy Turvy!
CLOPIN
You could soon be called 'Your Highness'!
CROWD
Put your foulest features on display,
Be the King of Topsy Turvy Day!
(Instrumental)
CLOPIN
Everybody!
CROWD
Once a year we throw a party here in town!
CLOPIN
Hail to the King!
CROWD
Once a year we turn all Paris upside down!
CLOPIN
Oh, what a King!
CROWD
Once a year the ugliest will wear the crown!
CLOPIN: Girls, give a kiss!
CROWD
Once a year on Topsy Turvy Day!
CLOPIN
We've never had a King like this!
CLOPIN & CROWD
And it's the day
We do the things that we deplore,
On the other three hundred and sixty four.
Once a year we love to drop in,
Where the beer is never stoppin'!
For the chance to pop some popinjay!
And pick a King who'll put the 'top' in
Topsy Turvy day!
CROWD
Topsy Turvy!
CLOPIN
Mad and crazy, upsy-daisy,
Topsy Turvy day!
Video
Trivia
- The lyrics "It's the day the devil in us gets released, It's the day we mock the prig and shock the priest" were changed to "Good is bad and best is worst and west is east, On the day we think the most of those with least" in some merchandises and the Sing-Along Songs version due to mature themes. The lyric "Where the beer is never stoppin'" is also changed to "Where the cheer is never stoppin'" to avoid overt references to alcohol.
- Due to his knowledge of Quasimodo's past, Clopin seemed to have realized that the hooded figure was Quasimodo and intentionally followed him to pull him out of hiding in order to introduce him to the public to get rid of his shyness and make sure that Quasimodo enjoys himself. This was evidenced by the following.
- When Quasimodo hid his face behind some balloons, Clopin cut the strings with a large pair of scissors.
- When Quasimodo hid in a closed puppet show, Clopin pulled open the curtains to reveal Quasi to the children.
- Before Esmeralda's dance, Clopin pushed Quasimodo to the front of the stage.
- During the crowning of the "King of Fools" Clopin encouraged Quasimodo with the lyrics "ugly folks, forget your shyness" and "you could soon be called Your Highness".
- And finally, when Esmeralda attempted to unmask Quasimodo, prompting reactions of fear and disgust from the crowd, Clopin justified Quasi's appearance by crowning him the King of Fools.
- At one point, a "horse with two rear ends" costume can be seen during the song. This is a possible reference to an insult Aladdin gave Prince Achmed and his horse after Achmed humiliated him in front of a crowd.
- The Sing-Along Songs version of the song noticeably removed Esmeralda's pole dance due to its mature content.
- The Sixth of "Januervy" historically was observed by the Catholic Church as the Feast of the Epiphany or la fête des rois in France. A tradition on that day is to have king's cake or galette des rois, with the person who found the toy king being crowned king for the day.
- This tradition was later transplanted into Mardi Gras, of which the traditional colors of green, gold, and violet are worn by Quasi and Clopin respectively.
- The historic Feast of Fools occurs on the Monday before Mardi Gras.
- In the English stage adaptation, the song is separated into two parts, because it sandwiches the songs "Rest And Recreation" and "Rhythm of the Tambourine".
- Footage of Clopin laughing is used in the "Walt Disney Company" promo on several 1996-2000 tapes, after the Walt Disney Pictures logo.
