Lyrics Prologue - Les Misérables - International Cast

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 go?
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 theif
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 the meaning of the law
I know the meaning of those 19 years
A slave of the law
5 years for what you did
The rest because you tried to run
Yes 24601
My name is Jean Valjean
And I'm Javert
Do not forget my name
Do not forget me 24601
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 everyone
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 have 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?
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'll be in advanced, I'll 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
And now I know how freedom feels
A 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
The 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 the lion's share
This silver in my hand cost twice what I had earned
In al those 19 years, a lifetime of despair
And yet he trusted me
The old fool trusted me, he'd 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 reverance 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 monsieur 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 and the martyrs
By the passion and the blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God