Context

This line was sung by Christine Daae in the song "The Phantom of the Opera" from the musical The Phantom of the Opera (1986), written by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Like many Gothic love stories (Think Heathcliff and Kathy from Wuthering Heights), The Phantom of the Opera is a love story, but it's also dark and filled with jealousy. The Phantom, a reclusive mad genius who happens to live under the Paris Opera House, helps innocent chorus girl Christine become an opera prima donna before the first act closes, but he also has a habit of murdering people who stand in his way.

When Christine falls in love with her childhood sweetheart Raoul, who thankfully is not a murderer, the Phantom doesn't take it very well. Let's just say things go south from there.

This line begins the famous, vocally challenging title song that has destroyed the larynx of many a high school musical theatre wannabe. The song about is about the Phantom's power over Christine, and how he "teaches" her to become a skilled chanteuse. (That's a fancy French word for singer.) But there is always an extra layer of creepiness, especially once we hit the chorus, and Christine and the Phantom start singing about being in each others' minds.

Christine faces a tough choice: reject the Phantom and face his unhinged (and possibly murderous) wrath, or let this tragic figure with a scarred face teach her the "music of the night." It's a catch-22 situation that would even frighten Joseph Heller.

Where you've heard it

130 million people have seen The Phantom of the Opera live, so maybe you have too. Almost 30 years after its debut, it is still playing on Broadway. Or maybe you saw the 2004 movie version starring Gerard Butler as the Phantom before he moved into a Crossfit gym to play the buff King Leonidas in 300 (2007).

Additional Notable References:

• The power metal band HolyHell did an intense cover of "Phantom of the Opera" proving once and for all that power metal is opera with extra guitars.
• Roger Waters claimed that Andrew Lloyd Webber ripped off the opening of "The Phantom of the Opera" from the Pink Floyd song "Echoes," but basically said life's too short to sue him. He said this in much more colorful language, of course.
• Nightwish, who is Evanescence's cooler, more talented symphonic metal cousin, also gave this song the full Goth treatment in a live cover of "Phantom of the Opera."

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

If you find yourself saying this, please file a restraining order against your stalker, even if they can give you magical opera-singing abilities.