Embedded Files
Using the resources below, pupils will prepare for this performance in music lessons and as homework. Year 7 pupils' music homework is to learn the lyrics and melodies of these songs.
Synopsis of Les Miserables
Synopsis of Les Miserables
Beginning in 1815, the story is set in France at a time of political unrest, as the French monarchy is restored (Louis XVIII, 1814) following the French Revolution (1792) leading to the First French Republic (1792-1804), which was brought to an end by the First French Empire (1804-1814) of the conquering soldier-emperor Napolean I.
Les Misérables is the story of Jean Valjean, a convict, who has just been released from prison after serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. Unable to find other work, Valjean is taken in by the Bishop of Digne who gives him work as a servant. However, Valjean steals from the bishop, betraying his trust. Rather than prosecute Valjean, the bishop frees him, on the condition that he starts a new, honest life.
Influenced by the bishop, Valjean assumes a new name and moves to a new town where he becomes a respected citizen and makes a fortune in manufacturing. The police inspector, Javert, is suspicious of him, but it is not until Valjean’s conscience compels him to reveal his true identity that he is forced to flee.
Valjean moves to Paris, where he changes residences frequently and assumes a number of identities in order to avoid arrest. Fulfilling a promise to her dying mother Fantine, he rescues a young girl named Cosette from the evil Thénardier family and becomes her guardian. They spend many years in a convent where Cosette grows into a beautiful young lady. Eventually, Valjean leaves this safe haven so that Cosette may have a more normal life.
In 1832, following the death of General Lamarque (the last remaining French leader with sympathy for the working class) Marius, a young lawyer, prepares to join a band of revolutionaries to overthrow the monarchist government. On meeting Cosette for the first time, Marius fallen in love. He persuades Eponine (daughter of the Thenardiers, who is secretly in love with Marius) to find for him Cosette’s address.
At the barricade, unbeknownst to Marius, Valjean is also there. When Marius is wounded, Valjean, who has spared the life of his constant adversary Javert, risks his life to carry Marius to safety through the sewer system of Paris, returning him to his family and Cosette.
Against all odds, Valjean struggles to follow the bishop’s teachings and become a good man. It is not until after the wedding of Cosette and Marius and he is on his deathbed that he is at last able to stop running from his past and reveal all. Not until then does he finally find peace.
Featured Songs
Featured Songs
1. At The End Of The Day
1. At The End Of The Day
Sung by the poor, working class people of Paris who struggle to afford food and shelter in an unequal society.
2. I Dreamed A Dream
2. I Dreamed A Dream
Sung by Fantine, as she tries to afford to pay the Thenardiers who house her daughter Cosette after losing her job and finding herself on the street.
3. Castle On A Cloud
3. Castle On A Cloud
Sung by Cosette, as she works hard for the cruel Thenardiers who house and mistreat her.
4. Master Of The House
4. Master Of The House
Sung by the dishonest innkeepers Mr and Mrs Thenardier who make their living stealing from those who pass through their inn.
5. Stars
5. Stars
Sung by the police officer Javert, Valjean's lifelong adversary, who vows to bring the fugitive Valjean to justice.
6. Red And Black - Do You Hear The People Sing
6. Red And Black - Do You Hear The People Sing
Sung by the revolutionaries, among them Enjolras and Marius, as they prepare to fight the government forces for the cause of an equal society.
7. Bring Him Home
7. Bring Him Home
Sung by Valjean after Marius is injured, Valjean hopes for Marius's recovery.
8. One Day More
8. One Day More
This song reprises the hopes and dreams of various characters throughout the story.
Lyrics
Lyrics
At The End Of The Day
At The End Of The Day
1. At the end of the day you’re another day older, and that’s all you can say for the life of the poor. It’s a struggle it’s a war, and there’s nothing that anyone’s giving, one more day standing about, what is it for.
2. At the end of the day you’re another day colder, and the shirt on your back doesn’t keep out the chill. And the righteous hurry past, they don’t hear the little one’s crying, And the winter is coming on fast, ready to kill, one day nearer to dying.
3. At the end of the day there’s another day dawning, and the sun in the morning is waiting to rise. Like the waves crash on the sand, like a storm that’ll break any second, there’s a hunger in the land, there’s a reckoning still to be reckoned, and it’s us who’ll have to pay, at the end of the day.
I Dreamed A Dream
I Dreamed A Dream
1. I dreamed a dream in time gone by, when hope was high and life worth living. I dreamed that love would never die, I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
2. Then I was young and unafraid, when dreams were made and used and wasted. There was no ransom to be paid, no song unsung no wine untasted.
3. But the tigers come at night, with their voices soft as thunder. As they tear your hope apart, as they turn your dream to shame.
4. (S)he slept a summer by my side, (s)he filled my days with endless wonder. (S)he took my childhood in her/his stride, but (s)he was gone when autumn came.
5. And still I dreamed (s)he’d come to me, that we would live the years together. But there are dreams that cannot be, and there are storms we cannot weather.
6. I had a dream my life would be, so different from this hell I’m living so different now from what it seemed. Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.
Castle On A Cloud
Castle On A Cloud
1. There is a castle on a cloud, I like to go there in my sleep. Aren’t any floors for me to sweep, not in my castle on a cloud.
2. There is a room that’s full of toys, there are a hundred boys and girls. Nobody shouts or talks too loud, not in my castle on a cloud.
3. There is a lady all in white, holds me and sings a lullaby. She’s nice to see and she’s soft to touch, she says ‘Cosette, I love you very much’.
4. I know a place where no-one’s lost, I know a place where no-one cries. Crying at all is not allowed, not in my castle on a cloud.
Master of the House
Master of the House
1. Welcome M’sieur, sit yourself down, and meet the best innkeeper in town. As for the rest, all of them crooks, rooking the guests and cooking the books. Seldom do you see, honest men like me, a gent of good intent who’s content to be,
Chorus: Master of the ‘ouse, doling out the charm, ready with a handshake and an open palm. Tells a saucy tale, makes a little stir, customers appreciate a bonviveur. Glad to do my friends a favour, doesn’t cost me to be nice, but nothing gets you nothing, everything has got a little price.
Master of the ‘ouse, keeper of the zoo, ready to relive them of a sou or two, watering the wine, making up the weight, picking up their knick knacks when they can’t see straight. Everybody loves a landlord, everybody’s bosom friend. I do whatever pleases, see just how I bleed’em in the end.
2. Enter M’sieur, lay down your load, unlace yer boots and rest from the road. This weighs a ton, travel’s a curse, but here we strive to lighten your purse. Here the goose is cooked, here the fat is fried, and nothing’s overlooked till I’m satisfied.
Repeat chorus
Stars
Stars
1. There, out in the darkness, a fugitive running, fallen from grace, fallen from grace. God be my witness, I never shall yield, ‘til we come face to face, ‘til we come face to face.
2. He knows his way in the dark, mine is the way of the Lord, those who follow the paths of the righteous, shall have their reward. And if you fall as Lucifer fell, the flame, the sword.
3. And so it has been, and so it is written, on the doorway to paradise, that those who falter and those who fall, must pay the price.
4. Now (Lord) let me find him, that I may see him, safe behind bars. I will never rest, ‘til then, this I swear, this I swear by the stars.
Red And Black
Red And Black
1. It is time for us all to decide who we are. Do we fight for the right to a night at the opera now? Have you asked of yourselves what’s the price you might pay? Is this simply a game for rich young boys to play, the colours of the world, are changing day by day.
Chorus: Red, the blood of angry men. Black, the dark of ages past. Red, a world about to dawn. Black, the night that ends at last.
2. Yes it’s time for us all to decide who we are. We shall fight for the right to a night at the opera now. Have you asked of yourselves what’s the price you might pay? Is this simply a game for rich young boys to play, the colours of the world, are changing day by day.
Repeat chorus
Do You Hear The People Sing
Do You Hear The People Sing
Chorus: Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again. When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!
1. Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see? Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free!
Repeat chorus
2. Will you give all you can give so that our banner may advance. Some will fall and some will live, will you stand up and take your chance? The blood of our martyrs will water the meadows of France!
Repeat chorus
Bring Him Home
Bring Him Home
1. Bring him home (God on high), hear my prayer, in my need, you have always been there.
He is young, he’s afraid. Let him rest, heaven blest. Bring him home, bring him home, bring him home.
2. He’s like the son I might have known, if God had granted me a son, the summers die one by one, how soon they fly on and on, and I am old and will be gone.
3. Bring him peace, bring him joy, he is young, he is only a boy.
You can take, you can give, let him be, let him live.
If I die, let me die, bring him home. Bring him home, bring him home.
One Day More
One Day More
1. One day more, another day another destiny, this never ending road to Calvary, these men who seem to know my crimes will surely come a second time.
2. I did not live until today. How can I live when we are parted? Tomorrow you’ll be worlds away, and yet our world has only started.
3. One day to a new beginning. Ev’ry one will be a king. There’s a new world for the winning. Do you hear the people sing? My place is here, I fight with you!
4. One more day to revolution, we will nip it in the bud, we’ll be ready for those school boys, they will wet themselves with blood.
5. Watch ‘em run amuck, catch ‘em as they fall, never know your luck when there’s a free for all.
6. Tomorrow is the judgment day tomorrow we’ll discover what the future holds, what’s now in store.
One more dawn, one more day, one day more, one day more.
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