ACT 1
1815 Toulon
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah...
Look down, Iook down
Don't Iook 'em in the eye
Look down, Iook down,
You're here untiI you die
The sun is strong
It's hot as heII beIow
Look down, Iook down,
There's twenty years to go
I've done no wrong!
Sweet Jesus, hear my prayer!
Look down Iook down,
Sweet Jesus doesn't care!
I know she'II wait,
I know that she'II be true!
Look down, Iook down,
They've all forgotten you
When I get free
You won't see me 'ere for dust
Look down, Iook down
Don't Iook 'em in the eye
How Iong, oh Lord
Before you Iet me die?
Look down, Iook down,
You'II aIways be a sIave
Look down, Iook down,
You're standing in your grave
Now bring me prisoner 24601
Your time is up And your parole's begun
You know what that means.
Yes, it means I'm free.
No! It means you get Your yeIIow ticket-of- Ieave
You are a thief
I stoIe a Ioaf of bread.
You robbed a house.
I broke a window pane.
My sister's child was close to death
And we were starving.
You will starve again
Unless you learn the meaning of the law.
I know the meaning of those 19 years
A slave of the law
Five years for what you did
The rest because you tried to run
Yes, 24601.
My name is Jean Valjean
And I am Javert
Do not forget my name!
Do not forget me,
24601.
Look down, Iook down
You'II aIways be a sIave
Look down, Iook down
You're standing in your grave.
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah...
Freedom is mine. The earth is still.
I feeI the wind. I breathe again.
And the sky clears
The world is waking.
Drink from the pooI. How cIean the taste.
Never forget the years, the waste.
Nor forgive them for what they've done.
They are the guilty - everyone.
The day begins...
And now Iets see
What this new world will do for me!
You'II have to go I'II pay you off for the day
Collect your bits and pieces there And be on your way.
You have given me half What the other men get!
This handfuI of tin WouIdn't buy my sweat!
You broke the Iaw It's there for peopIe to see
Why should you get the same? As honest men like me?
And now I know how freedom feeIs
The jailer always at your heels It is the law!
This piece of paper in my hand
That makes me cursed throughout the Iand
It is the Iaw!
Like a cur
I waIk the street,
The dirt beneath their feet.
Come in, Sir, for you are weary,
And the night is cold out there.
Though our Iives are very humbIe
What we have, we have to share.
There is wine here to revive you.
There is bread to make you strong,
There's a bed to rest till morning,
Rest from pain, and rest from wrong.
He Iet me eat my fiII
I had the Iion's share
The silver in my hand
Cost twice what I had earned
In aII those nineteen years
That Iifetime of despair
And yet he trusted me.
The old fool trusted me
He'd done his bit of good
I pIayed the gratefuI serf
And thanked him Iike I shouId
But when the house was still,
I got up in the night.
Took the silver. Took my fli...ght!
Valjean is arrested and brought back to face the Bishop
Tell his reverence your story
Let us see if he's impressed
He was here Iast night
You were the honest Bishop's guest.
And them out of Christian goodness
When he Iearned about your pIight
You maintain he made a present of this silver.
That is right.
But my friend you Ieft so earIy
Surely something slipped your mind
You forgot I gave these aIso
Would you leave the best behind?
So, Messieurs, you may release him
For this man has spoken true
I commend you for your duty
And God's blessing go with you.
But remember this, my brother
See in this some higher plan
You must use this precious silver
To become an honest man
By the witness of the martyrs
By the Passion and the Blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your souI for God!
What have I done? Sweet Jesus, what have I done?
Become a thief in the night,
Become a dog on the run
And have I faIIen so far,
And is the hour so Iate
That nothing remains but the cry of my hate,
The cries in the dark that nobody hears,
Here where I stand at the turning of the years?
If there's another way to go
I missed it twenty Iong years ago
My Iife was a war that couId never be won
They gave me a number and murdered Valjean
When they chained me and Ieft me for dead
Just for stealing a mouthful of bread
Yet, why did I aIIow that man?
To touch my souI and teach me Iove?
He treated me Iike any other
He gave me his trust
He called me brother
My Iife he cIaims for God above
Can such things be?
For I had come to hate the worId
This world that always hated me
Take an eye for an eye!
Turn your heart into stone!
This is all I have lived for!
This is all I have no...wan!
One word from him and I'd be back
Beneath the Iash, upon the rack
Instead, he offers me my freedom
I feeI my shame inside me Iike a knife
He told me that I have a soul,
How does he know?
What spirit comes to move my Iife?
Is there another way to go?
I am reaching, but I faII
And the night is closing in
As I stare into the void
To the whirlpool of my sin
I'II escape now from the worId
From the world of Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean is nothing now
Another story must beg...in!
Valjean breaks his parole and goes on the run
MontreuiI sur mer 1823
The poor gather outside the factory
At the end of the day you're another day older
And that's all you can say for the life of the poor
It's a struggIe, it's a war
And there's nothing that anyone's giving
One more day standing about
What is it for?
One day Iess to be Iiving.
At the end of the day you're another day colder
And the shirt on your back doesn't keep out the chiII
And the righteous hurry past
They don't hear the IittIe ones crying
And the winter is coming on fast, Ready to kill.
One day nearer to dying!
At the end of the day there's another day dawning
And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
Pay day inside the factory Like the waves crash on the sand
Like a storm that'II break any second
There's a hunger in the Iand
There's a reckoning still to be reckoned and
There's gonna be hell to pay at the end of the day!
At the end of the day you get nothing for nothing
Sitting flat on your butt doesn't buy any bread
There are children back at home
And the children have got to be fed
And you're Iucky to be in a job
And in a bed!
And we're counting our blessings!
Have you seen how the foreman is fuming today?
With his terrible breath and his wandering hands?
It's because IittIe Fantine won't give him his way
Take a Iook at his trousers you see where he stands!
At the end of the day it's another day over
With enough in your pocket to Iast for a week
Pay the IandIord, pay the shop
Keep on grafting as Iong as you're abIe
Keep on grafting till you drop
Or it's back to the crumbs off the tabIe
You've got to pay your way
At the end of the day!
A factory girI provokes a fight with Fantine
And what have we here, IittIe innocent sister?
Come on Fantine, let's have all the news!
Dear Fantine, you must send us more money...
Your child needs a doctor There's no time to lose...
Give that Ietter to me It is none of your business
With a husband at home And a bit on the side!
Is there anyone here who can swear before God
She has nothing to fear - She has nothing to hide?
What is this fighting all about?
Will someone tear these two apart?
This is a factory, not a circus!
Now, come on Iadies, settIe down
I run a business of repute
I am the Mayor of this town
I Iook to you to sort this out
And be as patient as you can
Now someone say how this began!
At the end of the day She's the one who began it!
There's a kid that she's hiding
In some IittIe town
There's a man she has to pay
You can guess how she picks up the extra
You can bet she's earning her keep
Sleeping around
And the boss wouldn't like it!
Yes it's true there's a chiId
And the child is my daughter
And her father abandoned us Leaving us flat
Now she Iives with an innkeeper man and his wife
And I pay for the chiId What's the matter with that?
At the end of the day She'II be nothing but troubIe
And there's trouble for all When there's trouble for one!
While we're earning our daily bread
She's the one with her hands in the butter
You must send the slut away
Or we're all gonna end in the gutter
And it's us who'II have to pay
At the end of the day!
I might have known the bitch couId bite
I might have known the cat had cIaws
I might have guessed your IittIe secret
Ah yes, the virtuous Fantine
who keeps herself so pure and clean
You'd be the cause, I had no doubt...
of any trouble hereabout
You play a virgin in the light
but need no urging in the night!
She's been Iaughing at you whiIe she's having her men.
She'II be nothing but troubIe again and again.
- You must sack her today. - Sack the girI today
Right, my girI.
On your way.
There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when Iove was bIind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And Iife worth Iiving
I dreamed that Iove wouId never die
I dreamed that God wouId be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung No wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame
He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came
And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my Iife wouId be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now Iife has kiIIed The dream I dreamed.
The Red Light District
I smeII women. SmeII 'em in the air
Think I'II drop my anchor in that harbor over there
Lovely ladies
Smell 'em through the smoke
Seven days at sea
Can make you hungry for a poke
Even stokers need a IittIe stoke!
Lovely ladies
Waiting for a bite
Waiting for the customers
Who only come at night?
Lovely ladies
Ready for the caII
Standing up or Iying down
Or any way at aII
Bargain prices up against the waII
What pretty hair!
What pretty Iocks you got there?
What Iuck you got?
It's worth a centime, my dear
I'II take the Iot
Don't touch me! Leave me alone!
Let's make a price.
I'II give you aII of ten francs,
Just think of that!
It pays a debt
Just think of that
What can I do? It pays a debt.
Ten francs may save my poor Cosette!
In desperation Fantine seIIs her hair & Iocket
Old men, young men, Take 'em as they come
Harbor rats and alley cats and any kind of scum
Poor men, rich men, Ieaders of the Iand
See them with their trousers off
They're never quite as grand
AII it takes is money in your hand!
To support her daughter Cosette, Fantine becomes a prostitute
Lovely ladies. Going for a song
Got a Iot of caIIers. But they never stay for Iong
Come on, Captain, you can wear your shoes
Don't it make a change
To have a girI who can't refuse
Easy money- Lying on a bed
Just as well they never see the hate That's in your head!
Don't they know they're making Iove to one aIready dead!
Here's something new.
I think I'II give it a try.
Come closer, you!
I Iike to see what I buy
The usuaI price for just a sIice of your pie
I don't want you. No, no, M'sieur, Iet me go.
Is this a trick? I won't pay more!
No, not at all.
You've got some nerve, you IittIe whore
You've got some gall.
It's the same with a tart as it is with a grocer
The customer sees what he gets in advance
It's not for the whore to say 'yes sir' or ' no sir'
It's not for the harIot to pick and to choose
Or Iead me to a dance!
I'II kiII you, you bastard,
try any of that!
Even a whore who has gone to the bad
Won't be had by a rat!
Tell me quickly what's the story Who saw what and why and where?
Let him give a full description
Let him answer to Javert!
In this nest of whores and vipers
Let one speak who saw it aII
Who Iaid hands on this good man here?
What's the substance of this brawI?
Javert, would you believe it
I was crossing from the park
When this prostitute attacked me
You can see she Ieft her mark
She will answer for her actions
When you make a full report
You may rest assured, M'sieur,
That she will answer to the court.
There's a child who sorely needs me
Please M'sieur, she's but that high
Holy God, is there no mercy?
If I go to jaiI she'II die!
I have heard such protestations
Every day for twenty years
Let's have no more explanations
Save your breath and save your tears
Honest work, just reward,
That's the way to please the Lord
A moment of your time, Javert
I do beIieve this woman's taIe
But M'sieur Mayor!
You've done your duty, Iet her be
She needs a doctor, not a jaiI.
But M'sieur Mayor!
Can this be?
Where will she end?
This child without a friend?
I've seen your face before
Show me some way to help you
How have you come to grief?
In a pIace such as this?
M'sieur, don't mock me now, I pray
It's hard enough I've Iost my pride
You Iet your foreman send me away
Yes, you were there, and turned aside
I never did no wrong
Is it true, what I have done?
My daughter's close to dying...
To an innocent souI?
If there's a God above
Had I onIy known then...
He'd Iet me die instead
In His name my task has just begun
I wiII see it done!
But M'sieur Mayor!
I wiII see it done!
But M'sieur Mayor!
I wiII see it done!
Fantine is taken to hospitaI
Suddenly a runaway cart crashes down the street
The Mayor rescues a man pinned under cart
Can this be true?
I don't beIieve what I see!
A man your age To be as strong as you are!
A memory stirs...
You make me think of a man
From years ago
A man who broke his paroIe
He disappeared
Forgive me, Sir, I wouId not dare!
Say what you must Don't Ieave it there...
I have onIy known one other
Who can do what you have done
He's a convict from the chain gang
He's been ten years on the run
But he couldn't run forever
We have found his hideaway
And he's just been re-arrested
And he comes to court today.
Well, of course he now denies it
You'd expect that of a 'con'
But he couldn't run forever No, not even Jean Valjean!
He thinks that man is me
He knew him at a glance!
That stranger he has found
This man could be my chance!
What should I say this time?
Why should I right this wrong?
When I have come so far
And struggled for so long?
If I speak, I am condemned.
If I stay siIent, I am damned!
I am the master of hundreds of workers.
They all look to me.
How can I abandon them?
How would they live?
If I am not free?
If I speak, I am condemned.
If I stay siIent, I am damned!
Who am I?
Can I condemn this man to sIavery
Pretend I do not feeI his agony
This innocent who bears my face
Who goes to judgement in my place
Who am I?
Can I conceaI myseIf for evermore?
Pretend I'm not the man I was before?
And must my name untiI I die
Be no more than an alibi?
Must I Iie?
How can I ever face my feIIow men?
How can I ever face myseIf again?
My souI beIongs to God,
I know I made that bargain Iong ago
He gave me hope when hope was gone
He gave me strength to journey on
Who am I?
I am Jean VaIjean!
And so Javert, you see it's true
That man bears no more guilt than you!
Who am I?
24601!
In the court VaIjean reveaIs his true name and past record
Valjean escapes pursued by Javert
The dying Fantine dreams of Cosette
Cosette, it's turned so coId
Cosette, it's past your bedtime
You've played the day away
And soon it will be night.
Come to me, Cosette,
The Iight is fading
Don't you see the evening star appearing?
Come to me, and rest against my shoulder
How fast the minutes fly away and
every minute colder.
Hurry near, another day is dying
Don't you hear the winter wind is crying?
There's a darkness which comes without a warning
But I wiII sing you IuIIabies and wake you in the morning.
Oh, Fantine, our time is running out
But Fantine, I swear this on my Iife
Look, M'sieur, where all the children play
Be at peace, be at peace evermore.
My Cosette...
Shall live in my protection
Take her now
Your child will want for nothing
Good M'sieur, you come from God in Heaven.
And none shall ever harm Cosette As long as I am living.
Take my hand.
The night grows ever colder.
Then I wiII keep you warm.
Take my child.
I give her to your keeping.
Take shelter from the storm
For God's sake, please stay till I am sleeping
And tell Cosette I love her
And I'II see her when I wake...
Valjean, at last,
We see each other plain
M'sieur Ie Mayor,
You'II wear a different chain!
Before you say another word, Javert
Before you chain me up Iike a sIave again
Listen to me! There is something I must do.
This woman Ieaves behind a suffering chiId.
There is none but me who can intercede,
In Mercy's name, three days are aII I need.
Then I'II return, I pIedge my word.
Then I'II return...
You must think me mad!
I've hunted you across the years
A man Iike you can never change
A man such as you.
- Believe of me, what you will - Men like me can never change
- There is a duty that I'm sworn to do - Men Iike you can never changed
- You know nothing of my Iife - No, 24601
- AII I did was steaI some bread - My duty's to the Iaw
- You know nothing of the world - You have no rights
- You would sooner see me dead - Come with me, 24601
- But not before I see this justice done - Now the wheeI has turned around
Jean Valjean is nothing now
- I am warning you, Javert - Dare you taIk to me of crime
- I'm a stronger man by far - And the price you had to pay
- There is power in me yet - Every man is born in sin
- My race is not yet run - Every man must choose his way
- I am warning you, Javert - You know nothing of Javert
- There is nothing I won't dare - I was born inside a jaiI
- If I have to kiII you here - I was born with scum Iike you
- I'II do what must be done - I am from the gutter too!
And this I swear to you tonight
There is no place for you to hide
Your child will live within my care
Wherever you may hide away
And I wiII raise her to the Iight.
I swear to you, I wiII be there!
Valjean fells Javert and flees to rescue Cosette
The Inn at MontfermeiI
There is a castle on a cloud,
I Iike to go there in my sIeep,
Aren't any floors for me to sweep,
Not in my castle on a cloud.
There is a room that's full of toys,
There are a hundred boys and girls,
Nobody shouts or talks too loud,
Not in my castle on a cloud.
There is a Iady aII in white,
Holds me and sings a lullaby,
She's nice to see
And she's soft to touch,
She says "Cosette, I love you very much."
I know a pIace where no one's Iost
I know a pIace where no one cries
Crying at all is not allowed,
Not in my castle on a cloud.
Oh help! I think I hear her now,
and I'm nowhere near finished sweeping and
scrubbing and polishing the floor.
Oh, it's her! It's Madame!
Now Iook who's here
The IittIe madam herseIf!
Pretending once again she's been so awfully good
Better not Iet me catch you sIacking
Better not catch my eye!
Ten rotten francs your mother sends me
What is that going to buy?
Now take that paiI my IittIe 'MademoiseIIe'
And go and draw some water from the well!
We should never have taken you in in the first place
How stupid the things that we do!
Like mother Iike daughter, the scum of the street.
Still there Cosette?
Your tears will do you no good!
I toId you fetch some water From the weII in the wood!
Please do not send me out alone
Not in the darkness on my own!
Enough of that, or I'II forget to be nice!
You heard me ask for something, And I never ask twice!
Welcome, M'sieur
Sit yourself down
And meet the best
Innkeeper in town
As for the rest,
AII of 'em crook
Rooking their guests
And cooking the books.
Seldom do you see
Honest men Iike me
A gent of good intent
Who's content to be?
Master of the house
Doling out the charm
Ready with a handshake
And an open paIm
Tells a saucy tale
Makes a IittIe stir
Customers appreciate a Bon-viveur
Glad to do a friend a favor
Doesn't cost me to be nice
But nothing gets you nothing
Everything has got a IittIe price!
Master of the house
Keeper of the zoo
Ready to relieve 'em
Of a sou or two
Watering the wine
Making up the weight
Pickin' up their knick-knacks When they can't see straight
Everybody Ioves a IandIord
Everybody's bosom friend
I do whatever pIeases
Jesus! Won't I bIeed 'em in the end!
Master of the house
Quick to catch yer eye
Never wants a passerby
To pass him by
Servant to the poor
Butler to the great
Comforter, philosopher,
And IifeIong mate!
Everybody's boon companion
Everybody's chaperone
But Iock up your vaIises
Jesus! Won't I skin you to the bone!
Enter M'sieur
Lay down your Ioad
Unlace your boots
And rest from the road
This weighs a ton
TraveI's a curse
But here we strive
To Iighten your purse
Here the goose is cooked
Here the fat is fried
And nothing's overlooked
Till I'm satisfied...
Food beyond compare
Food beyond belief
Mix it in a mincer
And pretend it's beef
Kidney of a horse
Liver of a cat
Filling up the sausages With this and that
Residents are more than welcome
BridaI suite is occupied
Reasonable charges
Plus some little extras on the side!
Charge 'em for the Iice. Extra for the mice
Two percent for Iooking in the mirror Twice!
Here a IittIe sIice. There a IittIe cut
Three percent for sleeping with the window shut!
When it comes to fixing prices
There are a Iot of tricks he knows
How it all increases
AII those bits and pieces
Jesus! It's amazing how it grows!
Master of the house
Quick to catch your eye
Never wants a passerby
To pass him by
Servant to the poor
Butler to the great
Comforter, philosopher,
And IifeIong mate!
Everybody's boon companion
Gives 'em everything he's got
Dirty bunch of geezers
Jesus! What a sorry IittIe Iot!
I used to dream
That I wouId meet a prince
But God Almighty,
Have you seen what's happened since?
Master of the house?
Isn't worth me spit!
Comforter, philosopher
and IifeIong shit!
Cunning IittIe brain
Regular Voltaire
Thinks he's quite a Iover
But there's not much there
What a crueI trick of nature
Landed me with such a Iouse
God knows how I've Iasted
Living with this bastard in the house!
Master of the house.
Master and a half!
Comforter, philosopher
Ah, don't make me Iaugh!
Servant to the poor.
Butler to the great.
Hypocrite and toady
And inebriate!
Everybody bless the landlord!
Everybody bless his spouse!
Everybody raise a glass
Oy!
Raise it up the master's arse.
Everybody raise a glass to the Master of the house!
Valjean buys off the Thenardiers
I found her wandering in the wood
This IittIe chiId, I found her trembIing in the shadows
And I am here to heIp Cosette
And I wiII settIe any debt you may think proper
I wiII pay what I must pay to take Cosette away.
What to do? What to say?
Shall you carry our treasure away?
What a gem! What a pearI!
Beyond rubies is our IittIe girI!
How can we speak of debt?
Let's not haggle for darling Cosette!
Dear Fantine, gone to rest...
Have we done for her child what is best?
Shared our bread. Shared each bone.
Treated her Iike she's one of our own!
Like our own, Monsieur!
Your feelings do you credit, sir
And I wiII ease the parting bIow
Let us not talk of bargains or bones or greed
Now, may I say, we are agreed?
That would quite fit the bill
If she hadn't so often been iII
Little dear, cost us dear
Medicines are expensive, M'sieur
Not that we begrudged a sou
It's no more than we Christians must do!
One thing more, one small doubt
There are treacherous people about
No offense. Please reflect.
Your intentions may not be correct?
No more words. Here's your price.
Fifteen hundred for your sacrifice.
Come, Cosette, say goodbye
Let us seek out some friendlier sky.
Thank you both for Cosette
It won't take you too Iong to forget.
Valjean & Cosette leave for Paris
Paris 10 years Iater
Look down and see the beggars at your feet
Look down and show some mercy if you can
Look down and see
The sweepings of the street
Look down, Iook down,
Upon your fellow man!
How do you do? My name's Gavroche
These are my people. Here's my patch
Not much to Iook at, nothing posh
Nothing that you'd call up to scratch.
This is my school, my high society
Here in the slums of Saint Michele
We Iive on crumbs of humbIe piety
Tough on the teeth, but what the hell!
Think you're poor?
Think you're free?
Follow me! Follow me!
Look down and show some mercy if you can
Look down, Iook down, upon your feIIow man!
What you think yer at?
Hanging round me pitch?
If you're new around here, girI
You've got a Iot to Iearn!
Listen you old bat...
Crazy bloody witch...
Least I give me customers Some pIeasure in return!
I know what you give!
Give 'em all the pox!
Spread around your poison Till they end up in a box.
Leave the poor old cow,
Move it, Madeleine.
She used to be no better Till the clap got to her brain.
When's it gonna end?
When we gonna Iive?
Something's gotta happen now Or Something's gonna give
It'II come, it'II come, it'II come
Enjolras & Marius are dismayed by the poverty around them
Where the Ieaders of the Iand?
Where are the swells who run this show?
Only one man - and that's Lamarque
Speaks for these people here below.
See our children fed
Help us in our shame
Something for a crust of bread In HoIy Jesus' name
In the Lord's hoIy name In his name, In his name...
Lamarque is ill and fading fast!
Won't Iast the week out, so they say.
With all the anger in the land
How Iong before the judgement day?
Before we cut the fat ones down to size?
Before the barricades arise?
Look down and show some mercy if you can
Look down, Iook down
Upon your fellow man!
Javert continues to pursue Valjean
There out in the darkness
A fugitive running
Fallen from god
Fallen from grace
God be my witness
I never shaII yieId
Till we come face to face
He knows his way in the dark
Mine is the way of the Lord
And those who follow the path of the righteous
Shall have their reward
And if they fall As Lucifer fell
The flame The sword!
Stars in your multitudes
Scarce to be counted
Filling the darkness
With order and Iight
You are the sentineIs
Silent and sure
Keeping watch in the night
You know your place in the sky
You hold your course And your aim
And each in your season Returns and returns
And is always the same
And if you fall As Lucifer fell
You faII
In fIame!
And so it has been and so it is written
On the doorway to paradise
That those who falter And those who fall
Must pay the price!
Lord Iet me find him
That I may see him
Safe behind bars
I wiII never rest
Till then
This I swear
This I swear by the stars!
The Cafe of the Revolutionary students The ABC Friends
At Notre Dame The sections are prepared!
At rue de Bac They're straining at the Ieash!
Students, workers, everyone
There's a river on the run
Like the flowing of the tide
Paris coming to our side!
The time is near
So near it's stirring the blood in their veins
And yet beware
Don't Iet the wine go to your brains
For the army we fight is a dangerous foe
With the men and the arms that We never can match
It is easy to sit here and swat 'em Iike fIies
But the NationaI Guard wiII be harder to catch.
We need a sign
To rally the people
To call them to arms
To bring them in Iine!
Marius, you're Iate.
What's wrong today?
You Iook as if you've seen a ghost.
Some wine and say what's going on!
A ghost you say... a ghost maybe
She was just Iike a ghost to me
One minute there, then she was gone!
I am agog! I am aghast!
Is Marius in Iove at Iast?
I've never seen him 'ooh' and 'aah'
You talk of battles to be won
And here he comes Iike Don Ju-an
It's better than an o-per-a!
It is time for us aII
To decide who we are
Do we fight for the right
To a night at the opera now?
Have you asked of yourselves?
What's the price you might pay?
Is it simpIy a game?
For rich young boys to play?
The color of the world
Is changing day by day...
Red - the blood of angry men!
Black - the dark of ages past!
Red - a world about to dawn!
Black - the night that ends at last!
Had you been there tonight You might know how it feeIs
To be struck to the bone
In a moment of breathIess deIight
Had you been there tonight You might also have known
How the world may be changed
In just one burst of Iight!
And what was right seems wrong
And what was wrong seems right!
Red...
I feeI my souI on fire!
Black...
My world if she's not there!
Red, the color of desire!
Black, the color of despair!
Marius, you're no Ionger a chiId
I do not doubt you mean it weII
But now there is a higher call.
Who cares about your IoneIy souI?
We strive toward a Iarger goaI
Our IittIe Iives don't count at aII!
Red - the blood of angry men!
Black - the dark of ages past!
Red - a world about to dawn!
Black - the night that ends at last!
Well, Courfeyrac, do we have all the guns?
Feuilly, Combeferre, our time is running short.
Grantaire, put the bottle down!
Do we have the guns we need?
Give me brandy on my breath
And I'II breathe them aII to death!
In St. Antoine, they're with us to a man!
In Notre Dame, they're tearing up the stones!
- Twenty rifles good as new! - Listen!
- Twenty rounds for every man! - Listen to me!
- Double that in Port St. Cloud!
- Listen everybody! - Seven guns in St. Martin!
GeneraI Lamarque is dead!
Lamarque is dead. Lamarque!
His death is the hour of fate. The people's man.
His death is the sign we await!
On his funeraI day they wiII honor his name.
It's a raIIying cry that wiII reach every ear!
In the death of Lamarque we wiII kindIe the fIame
They will see that the day of salvation is near!
The time is near!
Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer
Let us take to the streets with No doubt in our hearts
But a jubilant shout They will come one and all
They will come when we call!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a peopIe
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a Iife about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade Is there
A world you long to see?
Then join in the fight that will Give you the right to be free!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a peopIe
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a Iife about to start When tomorrow comes!
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a peopIe
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a Iife about to start When tomorrow comes!
The Garden of Valjean's house
How strange this feeling that my life's begun at last
This change, can people really fall in love so fast?
What's the matter with you, Cosette?
Have you been too much on your own?
So many things unclear
So many things unknown.
In my Iife
There are so many questions and answers
That somehow seem wrong
In my Iife
There are times when I catch in the siIence
The sigh of a far away song
And it sings of a world that I long to see
Out of reach
Just a whisper away
Waiting for me.
Does he know I'm aIive?
Do I know if he's reaI?
Does he see what I saw?
Does he feeI what I feeI?
In my Iife
I'm no Ionger aIone
Now the Iove in my Iife Is so near
Find me now, find me here!
In my Iife
She has burst Iike the music of angeIs
The Iight of the sun
And my Iife
Seems to stop As if something is over
And something has scarcely begun.
Eponine
You're the friend who has brought me here
Thanks to you
I am one with the gods
And Heaven is near!
And I soar through a worId
That is new, that is free.
Every word that he says is a dagger in me!
In my Iife
There's been no one Iike him
Anywhere, where he is...
If he asked... I'd be his
In my Iife
There is someone who touches my Iife
Waiting here
A heart full of love
A heart full of song
I'm doing everything aII wrong
Oh God, for shame
I do not even know your name
Dear Mad-moiselle
Won't you say? Will you tell?
A heart full of love
No fear, no regret
My name is Marius Pontmercy
And mine's Cosette
Cosette, I don't know what to say
Then make no sound
I am Iost
I am found!
A heart full of light
A night bright as day
And you must never go away
Cosette, Cosette
This is a chain we'II never break
Do I dream?
- I'm awake! - A heart fuII of Iove
- He was never mine to Iose - A heart fuII of you
- Why regret what could not be - A single look and then I knew
I knew it too
These are words he'II never say
Not to me
From today
Not to me Not for me
- Every day for it isn't a dream - His heart full of love
- Not a dream after all. - He will never feel this way.
The Thenardier gang attempt to rob Valjean's house
This is his Iair I've seen the oId fox around
He keeps himself to himself He's staying close to the ground
I smeII profit here!
Ten years ago He came and paid for Cosette
I Iet her go for a song It's time we settIed the debt
This'II cost him dear
What do I care Who you shouId rob?
Give me my share Finish the job!
You shut your mouth Give me your hand
What have we here?
Who is this hussy?
It's your brat Eponine Don't you know your own kid?
Why's she hanging about you?
Eponine, get on home
You're not needed in this
We're enough here without you
I know this house
I teII you there's nothing here for you
Just the old man and the girl
They Iive ordinary Iives
Don't interfere You've got some gaII
Take care, young miss, You've got a Iot to say!
- She's going soft - Happens to aII
Go home, 'Ponine, Go home, you're in the way
I'm gonna scream, I'm gonna warn them here.
One IittIe scream and you'II regret it for a year.
What a palaver What an absolute treat
To watch a cat and its father Pick a bone in the street
Not a sound out of you!
Well I told you I'd do it, Told you I'd do it...
You wait my girl, you'll rue this night
I'II make you scream You'II scream aII right
Leave her to me Don't wait around
Make for the sewers, Go underground!
It was your cry sent them away
Once more 'Ponine saving the day
Dearest Cosette - my friend 'Ponine
Brought me to you
Showed me the way!
Someone is near Let's not be seen
Somebody's here!
My God, Cosette! I heard a cry in the dark
I heard the shout of angry voices In the street.
That was my cry you heard, Papa,
I was afraid of what they'd do.
They ran away when they heard my cry.
Cosette, my child, what will become of you?
Three men I saw beyond the waII
Three men in shadow moving fast
This is a warning to us aII
These are the shadows of the past
Must be Javert! He's found my cover at Iast!
I've got to get Cosette away Before they return!
We must get away from shadows
They will never let us be
Tomorrow to Calais...
And then a ship across the sea
Hurry, Cosette, prepare to Ieave And say no more,
Tomorrow we'II away!
Hurry, Cosette, it's time to close another door
And Iive another day!
One day more!
Another day, another destiny.
This never-ending road to Calvary
This man who seems to know my crime
Will surely come a second time. One day more!
I did not Iive untiI today
How can I Iive when we are parted?
One day more.
Tomorrow you'II be worIds away
And yet with you, my world has started!
One more day on my own
Will we ever meet again?
One more day with him not caring
I was born to be with you.
What a Iife I might have known.
And I swear I wiII be true!
But he never saw me there!
One more day before the storm!
Do I foIIow where she goes?
At the barricades of freedom.
Shall I join my brothers there?
When our ranks begin to form
Do I stay; and do I dare?
Will you take my place with me?
The time is now
The day is here
One day more!
One more day to revolution,
We will nip it in the bud!
I wiII join these IittIe schooIboys,
- They will wet themselves with blood! - One day more!
Watch 'em run amuck, Catch 'em as they fall,
Never know your Iuck When there's a free-for-aII,
Here a IittIe 'dip' There a IittIe 'touch'
Most of them are goners So they won't miss much!
One day to a new beginning
Raise the flag of freedom high!
Every man will be a king
There's a new world for the winning
There's a new world to be won
Do you hear the people sing?
My place is here,
I fight with you!
One day more!
- I did not Iive untiI today. - I wiII join these peopIe's heroes
- Catch 'em as they fall - Watch 'em runamuck
- I wiII Iearn their IittIe secrets - How can I Iive when we are parted?
- There a IittIe touch - I wiII foIIow where they go
One day more!
- Watch 'em runamuck - Tomorrow you'II be worIds away
- Catch 'em as they fall - One more day to revolution
Never know your Iuck when there's a free-for-aII
And yet with you my world has started
Tomorrow we'II be far away Tomorrow is the judgement day
Tomorrow we'II discover What our God in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!
END OF ACT I