Prologue / Look Down - Claude-Michel Schönberg

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 you 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

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 yellow ticket-of-leave

You are a thief

I stole a loaf of bread

You robbed a house

I broke a window pane

My sister's child was close to death

And we were starving

And 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 look down

You will always be a slave

Look down look down

You're standing in your grave

Freedom is mine The earth is still

I feel the wind I breathe again

And the sky clears the world is waking

Drink from the pool How clean the taste

Never forget the years the waste

Nor forgive for what they've done

They are the guiltyeveryone

The day begins

And now let's see

What this new world

Will do for me

You'll have to go

I'll pay you off for the day

Collect your bits and pieces there

And be on your way

You've given me half

What the other men get

This handful of tin

Wouldn't buy my sweat

You broke the law

It's there for people to see

Why should you get the same

As honest men like me

Right

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'

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

I will pay in advance

I can sleep in a barn

You see how dark it is

I'm not some kind of dog

You leave my house

Or feel the weight of my rod

We're law-abiding people here

Thanks be to God

Now I know how freedom And feelsnow

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

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

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

Tell his reverence your story

Let us see if he's impressed

You were lodging here last night

You were the honest Bishop's guest

And than out of Christian goodness

When he learned about your plight

You mantain he made a present of this sliver

That is right

But my friend you left so early

Surley 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

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