Lyrics Prologue / Look Down (Live) - 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 20 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)
(Oh 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 2-4-6-0-1
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

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, 2-4-6-0-1

My name is Jean Valjean

And I'm Javert
Do not forget my name
Do not forget me, 2-4-6-0-1

Look down
Look down
You'll 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 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

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 of what the other men get
This hand full of tin wouldn't buy my sweat

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 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 their 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 'til morning
Rest from pain and rest from wrong

He let me eat my fill, I had a lion's share
This silver in my hands cost twice what I had earned
In all those nineteen years
A lifetime of despair

Yet he trusted me
The old fool trusted me
He'd done his bit of good
I played the grateful servant
Thanked him like I should

But when the house was still
I got up in the night
Took this 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 then out of Christian goodness
When he learned about your plight
You maintain he made a present of this silver

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
Now, 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 richness of the martyrs
By the passion and the blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God