Songs from Les Misérables

Les Misérables (pronunciation /le mi ze 'ʀɑHb/), colloquially known as Les Mis, is one of the most famous and most performed musicals worldwide. It is based on the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, set in 19th Century France. French composer Claude-Michel Schönberg composed the Tony award-winning score in 1980, with a libretto by Alain Boublil. It was staged in London's West End in 1985, with English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. On October 8 2006, the show celebrated its 21st anniversary and became the longest-running West End musical in history. The show has since repeated its success on Broadway and in many other countries around the world.

The main characters are:

• Paroled convict Jean Valjean who, failing attempts to find work as an honest man with his yellow parole note, tears up his shackles and conceals his identity in order to live his life again;
• Police inspector Javert, who becomes obsessed with finding Valjean;
• Fantine, a single mother who is forced into prostitution;
• Her daughter Cosette, whom Valjean later adopts;
• Marius, a French student who falls in love with Cosette;
• The Thénardiers, a couple who own an inn and exploit their customers;
• Éponine, the young daughter of the Thénardiers who falls in love with Marius;
• Enjolras and his fellow-students, who seek to free the oppressed lower class of France.

Overture / Work Song

"Overture / Work Song" is the opening song. Though sometimes thought of as two separate songs (one being the instrumental introduction, the other being the songs of the prisoners), it is generally regarded as one song. The lyrics open with a choir of imprisoned men, but the main song is a duet between Jean Valjean (as a prisoner) and Javert.

The music is generally slow paced (with both the choir and Jean Valjean), with low brass and string instrumentation behind. Being an overture, it does have a very loud and simple, though forceful, beginning before voices are heard. It also introduces two of the main characters of the show (Valjean and Javert). This song did not appear in the original French (1980) version of the musical, nor did any of the Prologue; in the 1991 Parisian Revival version, this song is known as "Le Bagne: Pitié, Pitié." The music is often reused throughout the show, as is the song's refrain ("Look Down" in English, "Pitié, Pitié" (Pity, Pity) in French).

Overview

Primarily Jean Valjean and Javert sing the vocals to the song, outlining an argument over Valjean's rightful place (whether to be in prison or allowed in society). Valjean reveals then that he was put in jail for nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread to sustain his starving family. Javert proceeds to state that the crime was robbery, and he was therefore sentenced to five years in jail for it; he only stayed longer because of attempted escapes. Valjean also insists on being called by his real name, whereas Javert does not stop calling him by his prison number, 24601 (which he will do throughout the whole musical).

On Parole

"On Parole" is the second song in the first Act. It comes after the Overture or "Work Song" and is followed by "Valjean Arrested & Forgiven". The songs’ ends are not clearly defined: Jean Valjean has a solo at either end of it, which are sometimes counted the song before or after "On Parole". These difficulties can be avoided by referring to the songs between the "Work Song" and "What Have I Done?" simply as the "Prologue".

Overview

The show's main character, Jean Valjean, has just been released after nineteen years of imprisonment. He hopes for a new life, but also swears not to forget the years of unjust hardship he has behind him. He finds work, but at the end, is paid only half of the salary the others get, because of his past as a convict. He tries to be admitted at an inn, but is rejected for the same reasons. He discovers that he might have left the prison, but that he can never escape his past and will always stay an outcast. As he lies down to sleep the night in the streets, the bishop of Digne comes and invites him to his house, giving him food, drink and shelter for the night. Valjean, embittered by hardship, repays him by stealing his silverware, worth twice of what he earned in nineteen years in prison.

Music

"On Parole" is generally slow-paced and a mixture of all kinds of recurring melodies. Valjean's first solo is a soft tune found also in "Come to Me" and "The Confrontation". The work scene and the inn scene both pick up the main theme from the "Work Song", though higher-pitched, slower and much softer. Valjean's solos about his despair are in a recitative style and sung numerous times by him (e. g. "The Runaway Cart"). The bishop sings a melody later often picked up by Javert (and the constables in the next song), though a lot slower and softer.

Valjean Arrested & Forgiven

"Valjean Arrested & Forgiven" is the third song in the first act. The Bishop of Digne and two police officers sing it. The two together carry a theme to the tone of their music.

The beginning of the song is considerably loud and fast-paced, while the officers sing, but becomes much softer and slower when the Bishop takes over the conversation.

The melody sung by the constables is a theme later often taken up by Javert ("Fantine's Arrest", "The Runaway Cart", "The Robbery" or "Javert's Arrival"), the melody sung by the bishop then taken up by whomever Javert is speaking to (e.g. Fantine and Bamatabois in "Fantine's Arrest"). In the Parisian Revival version of the musical, this number is known as "L'évêque de Digne" (the Bishop of Digne).

Overview

Before the song begins, Valjean is seen stealing objects from the house of the Bishop (who had graciously invited him in off the streets), to make an escape with them for food and money. Two officers who question him on how he obtained the expensive items from the reverend catch him. The two constables (correctly) accuse him of stealing and prepare to arrest him, when the Bishop steps in. Out of goodness, he protects Valjean, and confirms his story about having given him the items. After that, he gives Valjean his most prized and expensive possessions (two silver candlesticks). As the constables leave, the bishop tells Valjean to use the silver to become an honest man and that he has bought Valjean's soul from the darkness to give it to God.

"Valjean Arrested & Forgiven", though aimed entirely at Jean Valjean, has no vocals by him.

What Have I Done?

"What Have I Done?" is the fourth song in the first act, sung by the main character, Jean Valjean.

Both instrumentation and vocals fluctuate tone and feeling: going from soft to strong and so forth as Valjean confronts an inner conflict and "discusses" and reasons through it. The end of the song becomes darker as Valjean resolves to the conflict's resolution. The "dark music's" theme and music recurs throughout the play in the future; in songs such as "Who am I?", "Stars", "On My Own", and "Javert's Suicide" (which has almost entirely the same melody and even in some parts the same text).

Overview

Valjean sings "What Have I Done?" directly after the song "Valjean Arrested & Forgiven".

Jean Valjean is hurt by the Bishop's kindness, especially after being given extremely expensive silver candlesticks after having just robbed the Bishop. However, the bishop's words, "I have bought your soul for God," have deeply moved him. On the other hand, he has known unjust hardship for nineteen years (he had been imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread and trying to run four times) and has only hate left towards any other man, which he doesn't want to give up so easily. Because of this, he confronts the idea of staying a criminal, and after a deep inner conflict, resolves to become a new, law abiding citizen. This, however, cannot be done without one last crime: he tears up his yellow ticket-of-leave, which condemns him as an outcast and with which no new life would be possible.

At the End of the Day

The music of "At the End of the Day" is fast and intricate, with different melodies coinciding as sung by various groups of poor women and men, female workers, solos by certain workers, and repetitious instrumentation. It is known as "La journée est finie" in the original French version and "Quand un jour est passé" in the Parisian version.

Overview

"At the End of the Day" begins with a chorus of workers and some soloists singing about their lives at a factory owned by M. Madeleine (who is Jean Valjean), the mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer, where it takes place. The song then goes on to outline an argument between Fantine and another female worker.

In the end, Fantine's co-workers lie to Valjean's foreman about how the argument arose and Fantine's role; stating that she has an illegitimate child who is in the care of an innkeeper and who needs to be paid for. The other workers argue that Fantine is a troublemaker and a whore and pressure the foreman to fire her. He does this, taking revenge on Fantine, who has refused his amorous advances.

I Dreamed a Dream

"I Dreamed a Dream" is a solo sung by Fantine during the first act.

Most of the music is soft and melancholy, but towards the end becomes louder and taut with frustration and anguish; as she cries aloud about the wretched state of her life and her unfair mistreatment. The song is called "J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie" in both French versions of Les Misérables.

Overview

The lyrics are about lost innocence and broken dreams. Fantine is abandoned by her lover, gives birth to a daughter, Cosette, out of wedlock, is wrongly dismissed from a desperately-needed job, and forced into prostitution to survive and to support her daughter. It is sung directly after "At the End of the Day".

Relation to "On My Own"

Both the plot and music to "I Dreamed a Dream" bears a close resemblance to "On My Own", a solo sung by Éponine in Act II of the play. The two can in many ways be considered reprises of each other.

Some notable relations include:

• "I Dreamed a Dream" starts in Eb Major, then E Minor, then F Major - "On My Own" starts in D Major, moving to Bb Major, and ending in F Major.
• "I Dreamed a Dream,” outlines unfairness and woe in Fantine's life, the second half dedicated to her former male partner, who deserted her after the conception of Cosette. In "On My Own," Éponine outlines her desire to be with the character Marius, and (similarly to Fantine), dreams and imagines him by her side.
• Near the one-minute mark (slightly after in "I Dreamed a Dream"), the final key signature change is made and the music and singing grows louder and more intense, as is done in On My Own.
• When Éponine sings her solo, it is the same tune.
• Similarly, the duet between Cosette and Marius in "One Day More" is the same tune as Éponine's "On My Own", though higher/lower in pitch and accented differently: their words are of happiness, a great contrast to Éponine and Fantine.

Other uses

Neil Diamond recorded "I Dreamed a Dream" in 1987 and reached number thirteen on Billboard magazine's Adult Contemporary singles chart with his version.

Lovely Ladies

"Lovely Ladies" is a song from the first act. It is followed by Fantine's Arrest and sometimes the two are counted as one song. It is a fast-paced and joyful, though somewhat aggressive tune. The melody is later repeated in "Turning", only much slower. It slows down for Fantine's solo at the end of the number. In the Parisian version, the song is known as "Tu viens chéri!" In the original French version, a shortened version of this song was added at the end of "J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie" and features the same melody and similar events.

Overview

Most of "Lovely Ladies" is a chorus sung by a group of whores about their trade. Small scenes between Fantine and an Old Woman, who first buys her locket and then her hair, interrupt it. At last, the whores and a pimp persuade her to join them. Fantine, still needing money for Cosette, does so.

Fantine's Arrest

"Fantine's Arrest" is a song from the first act. It follows "Lovely Ladies" (the two are sometimes counted as one song) and is followed by "The Runaway Cart". In the original French version of the musical, this song was separated into two songs, which were called "Dites-moi ce qui se passe" and "Fantine et monsieur madeleine."

Overview

Fantine, having become a prostitute, is mistreated by a customer and attacks him. Bamatabois (his name is not mentioned in the musical, only the book) calls for the police. Inspector Javert, known as a prison guard from the "Work Song" now Inspector in Montreuil-sur-Mer, arrives to arrest Fantine, believing only Bamatabois' version of what happened, not Fantine's. Fantine is about to be brought away when Jean Valjean/M. Madeleine, the mayor, intervenes. He demands that Fantine, who is sick, be brought to the hospital. Fantine tells him his story in short and how she came to be fired from the factory and Valjean has her brought to the hospital, much to the displeasure of Javert.

Melodies

The song changes melodies and paces all the time. The scene between Bamatabois and Fantine is medium-paced and aggressive, Javert's arrival picks up the tune already sung by the constables in "Valjean Arrested & Forgiven" with Bamatabois and Fantine singing the melody the bishop sung in that sung. As Valjean intervenes, the music changes back to slow and soft, the tune resembles the one in "Come to Me".

The Runaway Cart

"The Runaway Cart" is a song from the first act, divided into two parts. The chorus, Fauchelevent, and Valjean sing the first with instrumental parts. Valjean sings the second one and Javert on a medium-paced tune often picked up by Javert or other policemen (first sung in "Valjean Arrested & Forgiven").

Overview

A cart has fallen on its driver (Fauchelevent) and threatens to crush him. Jean Valjean/Madeleine rescues him, by lifting the cart entirely on his own. As the crowd leaves with Fauchelevent, Inspector Javert is intrigued; he remembers a man, a convict, who was also known for his remarkable strength. He broke parole eight years ago, has just been rearrested and will be brought to court the same day. After having told the story to "Madeleine", Javert leaves him behind.

Who Am I? / The Trial

"Who Am I? / The Trial" is a song from the first act, a solo sung by the main character Jean Valjean. It is rather slow-paced, the melody is divided in two parts: The first resembles a recitative, the second and better known is soft but full of tension and can later be found in "One Day More" and "Valjean's Confession". In the Parisian Revival version of Les Misérables, this piece is known as "Le Proces: Comment Faire?"

Overview

Javert has just informed Valjean/Madeleine, that "Jean Valjean" has been arrested. Valjean must decide, what to do: stay silent or declare himself. He first sees no reason to do anything, thinking of the workers who would fall back into misery without him, and of course not wanting to go back to prison. Then he remembers the bishop and the promise he made, to become an honest man. He realises that his final aim was not escaping the justice but to find a way back to God. He decides to declare himself, showing the court, about to condemn the false Valjean, the brand "24601" (his prison number) on his chest and escaping before being arrested.

Come to Me

"Come to Me", also known as "Fantine's Death", is a song from the first act. It is followed by "The Confrontation". It is slow-paced and the tune is very soft. In the 1991 Parisian version, it is known as "La mort de Fantine." It has the same melody as the more famous "On My Own".

Overview

Fantine, delirious at the hospital, thinks she sees her little daughter, Cosette. Valjean, having escaped from the trial, arrives; Fantine begs him to find and take care of Cosette. After this, she dies from her illness.

The Confrontation

The main characters Jean Valjean and Javert sing “The Confrontation”. It follows "Come to Me" and is followed by "Castle on a Cloud". The song is low and slow-paced. The instrumentation behind the vocals is the same as in the "Work Song", the melody partly also picks up that song. The song's highlight is Javert and Valjean singing different texts on different melodies at the same time, with the lead changing. In the Parisian Revival version of Les Misérables, the song is known as "La confrontation."

Overview

Fantine has just died when Javert arrives to arrest Valjean. Valjean asks him three days time to fetch Fantine's daughter, Cosette, and promises to return. Javert laughs at this; a convict's promise is worth nothing to him. Javert does not believe that a man could possibly change; he triumphs about having at last found Valjean. He reveals that he was born in prison but chose the right way in life.

Valjean, at the same time, tells Javert, that he did not care for his beliefs, reminding him, that his only crime was stealing a loaf of bread. He says, that he will fulfil his promise to Fantine and that he would kill Javert, if he had to, being much stronger than he was

They now both make a promise: Valjean promises the dead Fantine again to fetch her child and raise her; Javert swears to Valjean, that he will never stop chasing him and that, one day, he will re-arrest him.

Valjean knocks Javert out after a short fight and escapes.

Castle on a Cloud

"Castle on a Cloud" is a solo for the part of young Cosette. In the key of A minor, she sings about her wishes of a fantasy castle where she does not have to sweep floors. The song is called "Mon prince est en chemin" in the 1980 original French version and "Une poupée dans la vitrine" in the 1991 Parisian version of the musical.

Overview

Cosette has been with the Thénardiers who run an inn, for five years, she is horribly abused, and used as a skivvy.

Look Down

"Look Down", sometimes referred to as "The Beggars", is one of the most well known songs from the musical as its theme is repeated throughout. The song is entitled "Donnez, donnez" in the original French, and "Bonjour Paris" in the Parisian version.

Overview

Nine years have passed since Jean Valjean has taken Cosette away from the Thénardiers. The city Paris is in an uproar due to fact of that General Lamarque, the only man in the government who shows mercy to the poor, is ill and may die soon. The young street urchin Gavroche is in his element mixing with the Paris whores and beggars. Marius and Enjolras then come and give charity to the poor where they discuss about the likely demise of the general. Thénardier's gang comes along and plan to get money by dressing up as beggars and fooling people into thinking they need money for their baby which is actually a loaf of bread wrapped in a blanket.

Do You Hear the People Sing?

"Do You Hear the People Sing?" is one of the principal and most recognizable songs from the musical. A stirring anthem, it is sung twice. In the 1991 Parisian Revival version and in the original 1980 French version, this song was called "A la volonté du peuple", but the 1980 version of the musical did not end with the full ensemble singing this song; it only was added to the end of the Finale when it was revamped for the English-language version (and when it was translated back into French for the Parisian version).

Overview

The song is first sung in Act I by Enjolras and the other students at the ABC Cafe as they prepare themselves to launch a rebellion in the streets of Paris. The song is sung again in the "Finale" as the final song of the musical. This second version, which immediately follows a number by Jean Valjean and others, is sung by the entire cast with revised lyrics, and becomes progressively louder with each stanza.

The song is a revolutionary call for people to overcome persecution and adversity. The "barricades" referenced in the song are erected by the rebel students in the streets of Paris in the musical's second act. They are to draw the National Guard into combat and ignite a civilian uprising meant overthrow the oppressive government, but their rebellion eventually fails.

Other uses

The song was played during television coverage of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.[1]

At the special Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert in 1995, "Do You Hear the People Sing?" was sung as an encore by seventeen different actors who had played Jean Valjean around the world. Each actor sang a line of the song in his own language, and the languages sung included French, German, Japanese, Hungarian, Swedish, Polish, Dutch, Norwegian, Czech, Danish, Icelandic, and English.

One Day More

"One Day More" is a showstopper from the musical. The song is a choral piece: almost all of the main characters sing in it in a counterpoint style, as well as parts by the ensemble. It is the finale to Act 1. In the original French, the song is called "Demain", and it is called "Le grand jour" in the Parisian version. The song borrows themes from several songs from the first act.

Context

The song occurs on the eve of the revolution. The students, Javert, Jean Valjean, Marius, Cosette, Éponine, and the Thénardiers each sing about their viewpoint on the situation. Jean Valjean looks forward to the security of exile, Marius and Cosette sing at their despair of never meeting again. Éponine mourns the loss of Marius. Enjolras and the ABC students prepare to set up the barricades for revolution. Javert declares the revolution will end quickly and he decides to be a spy for the National Guard, whilst the Thénardiers dream of rich pickings from the chaos that is to come.

Other uses

The song was used by Bill Clinton in his successful 1992 campaign for the presidency of the United States.

On My Own

"On My Own" is a solo for the part of Éponine. Beginning in the key of D, modulating to Bb, then ending in F, this is her most important song. In it, she expresses her unrequited love for the character Marius, and how she dreams of being at his side but knows his love is for Cosette and not for her.

The solo did not exist in the original French show. When the English version was written, the music for "On My Own" was adapted from the original French solo "L'Air de la Misère" which was sung by Fantine about her misery and suffering. In turn, Éponine's original French solo, "L'un Vers L'autre", was dropped in the English version. In the later 1991 Parisian version the title was "Mon Histoire" (My story). However, "On My Own" has become one of the most famous and popular songs in the musical, and Éponine has become one of its most popular characters.

Other uses

"On My Own" has appeared in many famous events outside of Les Misérables, for example:

• Michelle Kwan skated to it during the 1997 Skate America competition as well as the 1998 Tokyo Golden Gala.
• The character of Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek, played by Katie Holmes, sang this song at a talent show phase of a beauty pageant (Season 1, Episode 12).

A Little Fall of Rain

"A Little Fall of Rain" is a number in the second act. The number features Marius, a student-turned-revolutionary in the Paris street fighting of 1832, and Éponine, the eldest daughter of the Thénardiers. Once profiteering innkeepers, the Thénardiers, by the end of the First Act, are full-blown con artists who implicate their daughter in criminal schemes.

Anticipating his own death at the barricade, Marius asks Éponine to deliver a love letter to Cosette. (Éponine in fact delivers the letter to her adoptive father Valjean, who later in the second act carries the wounded Marius away from the barricade and through the Paris sewers, saving Marius' life). In spite of the imminent danger, Éponine then returns to the barricade to be with Marius, with whom she has fallen tragically in love.

Fatally shot as she climbs the barricade to rejoin the rebels, she falls into Marius' arms and begins "A Little Fall of Rain" with some of the most haunting and endearing lyrics of the show, "Don't you fret, M'sieur Marius..." Éponine's death scene has been compared by one French scholar to a "pieta in reverse". For a moment, all activity on the barricade ceases. Marius and Éponine's pieta seems to suspend Time itself as Éponine half-sings, half-whispers her dying words to Marius, promising him that "rain will make the flowers grow," (presumably not in this life, but certainly in the next). This is also the song in which Marius realizes that Éponine has fallen in love with him, in return for which a profound compassion for Éponine quickly grows in Marius. As Éponine dies in the end Marius, teary-eyed, leans over and gives her the kiss she dreamed of for so long.

The song starts in F Major, and then modulates numerous times between Ab Major and F Major, before finally ending in Ab Major. In the original French, the song was called "Ce n'est rien", and in the Parisian version, it was known as "Un peu de sang qui pleure."

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

"Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" is a solo sung by the character Marius at the end of the show. In the Parisian Revival version, this song is known as "Seul Devant Ces Tables Vides".

Marius sings it upon finding that he is the only one among the rebel students who has survived the attacks on their barricade, and asks that "his friends forgive him that he lives and they are gone."

The piece was originally composed in F minor, climaxing at a high G. However, various performers have sung the piece in different keys that better suit their range. This is mainly a result of the placement of the part of Marius, which is in between the range of a tenor and a baritone. →

External links

• The story in short, pictures and some of the lyrics on the official site
• Pictures and some lyrics on the official site
• Video from the official site
• The song from the Complete Symphonic Recording on the official site