[1815, Toulon, France. The chain gang, overseen by brutal warders, works in the sun.]
Prisoners Look down, look down Don't look 'em in the eye Look down, look down, You're here until you die The sun is strong It's hot as hell below Look down, look down, There's twenty years to go I've done no wrong! Sweet Jesus hear my prayer! Look down, look down, Sweet Jesus doesn't care I know she'll wait, I know that she'll be true! Look down, look down, They've all forgotten you When I get free ya won't see me Here for dust! Look down, look down Don't look 'em in the eye How long O Lord Before you let me die? Look down, look down, You'll always be a slave Look down, look down, You're standing in your grave
Javert Now bring me prisoner 24601 Your time is up And your parole's begun You know what that means
Valjean Yes, it means I'm free
Javert NO! It means you get Your yellow ticket-of-leave You are a theif
Valjean I stole a loaf of bread!
Javert You robbed a house!
Valjean I broke a window pane! My sister's child was close to death And we were starving!
Javert And you will starve again Unless you learn the meaning of the law.
Valjean I know the meaning of these 19 years A slave of the law
Javert Five years for what you did The rest because you tried to run Yes 24601
Valjean My name is Jean Valjean
Javert And I am Javert Do not forget my name Do not forget me 24601
Chorus Look down, look down You will always be a slave Look down, look down You're standing in your grave.
Valjean Freedom is mine. The earth is still. I feel the wind. I breathe again. And the sky clears, the world is waiting. Drink from the pool. How clean 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 lets see What this new world Will do for me! [
He finds work on a farm.]
Farmer You'll have to go I'll pay you off for the day Collect your bits and pieces there And be on your way.
Valjean You've given me half What the other men get! This handful of tin Wouldn't buy my sweat!
Laborer You broke the law It's there for people to see Why should you get the same As honest men like me?
Valjean Now every door is closed to me Another jail, another key, another chain For when I come to any town They check my papers And they find the mark of Cain In their eyes, I see their fear: `
We do not want you here.' [
He comes to an inn.]
Innkeeper's Wife My rooms are full And I've no supper to spare I'd like to help a stranger All we want is to be fair
Valjean I will pay in advance I can sleep in a barn You see how dark it is I'm not some kind of dog!
Innkeeper You leave my house Or feel the weight of my rod We're law-abiding people here Thanks be to God. [
They throw him out.]
Valjean And now I know how freedom feels The jailer always at your heels It is the law! This piece of paper in my hand That makes me cursed throughout the land It is the law! Like a cur I walk the street The dirt beneath my feet. [
He sits down despairingly outside a house from which emerges the Bishop of Digne.]
Bishop Come in, Sir, for you are weary And the night is cold out there. Though our lives are very humble 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.
Valjean He let me eat my fill I had the lion's share The silver in my hand Cost twice what I had earned In all those nineteen years That lifetime of despair And yet he trusted me. The old fool trusted me - He's done his bit of good I played the grateful serf And thanked him like I should But when the house was still, I got up in the night Took the silver Took my flight! [
Taking the silver cup, he runs off, but is brought back by two constables.]
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