Prologue Lyrics - Les Miserables Live - Les Miserables

CHORUS 

Look down, look down 

Don't look 'em in the eye 

Look down, look down 

You're here until you die 

1ST CONVICT 

The sun is strong 

It's hot as hell below 

CHORUS 

Look down, look down 

there's twenty years to go. 

2ND CONVICT 

I've done no wrong 

Sweet Jesus, hear my prayer 

CHORUS 

Look down, look down 

Sweet Jesus doesn't care 

3RD CONVICT 

I know she'll wait 

I know that she'll be true 

CHORUS 

Look down, look down 

They've all forgotten you 

4TH CONVICT 

When I get free 

You won't see me 

Here for dust 

CHORUS 

Look down, look down 

Don't look 'em in the eye. 

5TH CONVICT 

How long, O Lord 

Before you let me die? 

CHORUS 

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 thief. 

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 

You will starve again 

Unless you learn the meaning of the law. 

VALJEAN 

I know the meaning of those 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'm Javert! 

Do not forget my name 

Do not forget me 

24601 

CHORUS 

Look down, look down 

You'll 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 skies clear. 

The earth is waking. 

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- every one. 

The day begins... 

And now let's see 

What this new world, 

Will do for me! 

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 have given me half 

What the other men get 

This handful of tin 

Wouldn't buy my sweat! 

LABOURER 

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." 

INNKEEPERS 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 will 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. 

VALJEAN 

And now I know how freedom feels 

The jailer always at your heels 

It is the law! 

Ths piece of paper in my hand 

It makes me cursed throughout the land 

It is the law! 

Like a curse 

I walk the street, 

The dirt beneath their feet... 

BISHOP 

Come in, Sir, for you are weary 

And the night is cold out there. 

Though our lives are vey 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 'til morning. 

Rest from pain, and rest from wrong. 

VALJEAN 

He let me eat my fill. 

I had the lion's share. 

This silver in my hand 

Costs 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'd done his bit of good 

I played the greatful 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! 

CONSTABLE 1 

Tell his reverence your story. 

CONSTABLE 2 

Let us see if he's impressed. 

CONSTABLE 1 

You were lodging here last night. 

CONSTABLE 2 

You were the honest Bishop's guest. 

And than out of Christian goodness. 

When he learned about your plight 

CONSTABLE 1 

You mantain he made a present of this 

sliver 

BISHOP 

That is right. 

But my friend you left so early, 

Surely something slipped your mind. 

You forgot I gave these also. 

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. 

(to VALJEAN) 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 soul for God!