Song Seven — “The Night They Took Camille”

They came for Camille in the dead of the night, Said a boy had cried out in fear. A sweet blond darling we all used to love— Now trembling for reasons unclear. They said Camille “forced” him, a terrible claim, A charge that made no sense at all. But once the boy whispered, the men in grey coats Dragged Camille straight out of the hall. But Camille was gentle, Camille was kind, A soul made of laughter and lace. How could a boy who once kissed him so sweet Now paint him in such a disgrace? I thought we were modern, I thought we were free, I thought love was no longer a crime. But now there’s a chill in the cabaret air, And it’s colder with every chime. Oh Camille, my darling, my laughter, my light, How could they claim you’d done something wrong? If loving too brightly is now a crime, Then the world is not where I belong. The boy was a beauty, a soft golden thing, A favorite of half of the floor. But beauty turns bitter when fear finds a voice, And he’s not powerless anymore. He whispered his story to men in dark coats, And they nodded as if they knew. And I keep telling myself it was some mistake— But my heart knows it isn’t true. Oh Camille, my darling, my laughter, my light, They dimmed you before you were done. If loving too brightly is now a crime, Then the darkness has already begun.