Prologue: Work Song

Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

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, here 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, dear 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 sisters 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, 24601

My name is Jean Valjean
And I am Javert
Do not forget my name
Do not forget me
24601