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Cosette-and-marius
Won't you say? Will you tell?
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"Valjean's Death"
Valjean's Death
Information
Composer

Claude-Michel Schönberg

Lyricist

Herbert Kretzmer

Performers

Cosette
Éponine
Fantine
Jean Valjean
Marius
Bishop Myriel (2012 film)

Song Order
Previous

"Beggars at the Feast"

Next

"Finale"

"Valjean's Death" is the penultimate (or last, depending on the song organization) musical number in Les Misérables. This and the "Finale," which flows into it without pause, sometimes count as one song. The combination is often known as "The Epilogue" (as the musical also has a Prologue). Fantine and Éponine come to welcome Valjean into salvation. In the 2012 film, Éponine's spirit is replaced by Bishop Myriel.

The lyrics were written by Herbert Kretzmer.

Lyrics[]

[Valjean is sitting in the shadows in the convent, with a wooden cross for company.]

Valjean:
Alone I wait in the shadows
I count the hours until I can sleep
I dreamed a dream Cosette stood by
It made her weep to know I die.
Alone at the end of the day
Upon this wedding night I pray
Take these children, my Lord, to thy embrace
And show them grace. 

God on high
Hear my prayer
Take me now
To thy care
Where You are
Let me be
Take me now
Take me there
Bring me home
Bring me home.

[The spirit of Fantine appears.] 

Fantine:
Monsieur, I bless your name.

Valjean:
I am ready, Fantine ...

Fantine:
M'sieur, lay down your burden.

Valjean:
At the end of my days ...

Fantine:
You raised my child in love.

Valjean:
She's the best of my life. 

Fantine:
And you will be with God.

[Marius and Cosette rush in. They do not see Fantine.]

Cosette:
Papa, Papa, I do not understand!
Are you alright? They said you'd gone away.

Valjean:
Cosette, my child, am I forgiven now?
Thank God, thank God, I've lived to see this day.

Marius:
It's you who must forgive a thoughtless fool
It's you who must forgive a thankless man
It's thanks to you that I am living
And again I lay down my life at your feet.

Cosette, your father is a saint.
When they wounded me
He took me from the barricade
Carried like a babe
And brought me home to you!

Valjean:
Now you are here
Again beside me
Now I can die in peace
For now my life is blessed... 

Cosette:
You will live, Papa, you're going to live
It's too soon, too soon to say goodbye! 

Valjean:
Yes, Cosette, forbid me now to die
I'll obey,
I will try.
On this page, I write my last confession.
Read it well
When I, at last, am sleeping.
It's the story
Of those who always loved you.
Your mother gave her life for you
Then gave you to my keeping. 

[Valjean dies]

Fantine:
Come with me
Where chains will never bind you
All your grief
At last, at last behind you.
Lord in Heaven,
Look down on him in mercy. 

Valjean:
Forgive me all my trespasses
And take me to your glory. 

Fantine & Eponine:
Take my hand
I'll lead you to salvation.
Take my love,
For love is everlasting. 

Valjean, Fantine & Eponine:
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God.

Original London Version[]

Valjean:
Now you are here
Again beside me
Now I can die in peace
For now my life is blessed...


Cosette:
You will live, Papa, you're going to live
It's too soon to ever say goodbye! 


Valjean:
Yes, Cosette, forbid me now to die
I'll obey,
I will try.
On this page
I write my last confession.
Read it well
When I at last am sleeping.
It's the story
Of those who always loved you.
Your mother gave her life for you
Then gave you to my keeping.

[Valjean dies]


Fantine:
Come with me
Where chains will never bind you
All your grief
At last, at last behind you.
Lord in Heaven,
Look down on him in mercy. 


Valjean:
Forgive me all my trespasses
And take me to your glory. 

Fantine & Eponine:
Take my hand
And lead me to salvation.
Take my love,
For love is everlasting. 


Valjean, Fantine & Eponine:
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God.

Trivia[]

  • In 2012 movie version, the lyrics were slightly altered. For example:
    • Cosette sings "Papa, Papa, I do not understand! Are you alright? Why did you go away?"
    • Valjean sings "It's the story of one who turned from hating. The man who only learnt to love when you were in his keeping."
  • In the 2012 Film, Valjean dies after the line "forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory".
  • In the movie Éponine was replaced by Bishop Myriel.
  • In the original French production, the song is called: "Épilogue: la lumière" which means "Epilogue: The light".
  • In Parisian Revival version, the track is known as "Final: c'est pour demain" ("Finale: It is For Tomorrow") and is incorporated with "Finale"
  • The song is in the tune of Come to Me / Fantine's Death / On My Own.

Videos[]

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