Les Misérables
Les Misérables - On Parole/The Bishop lyrics
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~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~ And you will starve again Unless you learn the meaning of the law. ~Valjean~ I know the meaning of these 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 am Javert Do not forget my name Do not forget me 24601 ~Choir~ Look down, look down You will 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 sky clears, the world is waiting. 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 lets see What this new world Will do for me! [He finds work on a farm.] ~Employer~ 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've given me half What the other men get! This handful of tin Wouldn't buy my sweat! ~Laborer~ You broke the law It's there for people to see Why should you get the same As honest men like me? ~Valjean~ Now I know how freedom feels The jail is always at your heels It is the law This piece of paper in my hand which bids me cast throughout the land It is the law Like a cur I walk the streets The dirt beneath their feet ~Bishop~ 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 ~Valjean~ Let me eat my fill I have my lying share The silver in his 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'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!! [Taking the silver cup, he runs off, but is brought back by two constables.] ~Constable 1~ Tell his reverence your story ~Constable 2~ Let us see if he's impressed ~Constable 1~ You were lodging there last night ~Constable 2~ You were the honest Bishop's guest. ~Constable 1~ And then, out of Christian goodness ~Constable 2~ When he learned about your plight ~Constable 1~ You maintain he made a present of this silver - ~Bishop~ That is right. But my friend you left so early Surely something slipped your mind [The bishop gives Valjean two silver candlesticks.] 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 May 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!