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Cosette-and-marius
Won't you say? Will you tell?
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"Dog Eats Dog" or "The Sewers"
The Sewers
Information
Composer

Claude-Michel Schönberg

Lyricist

Herbert Kretzmer

Performers

Javert
Jean Valjean
Monsieur Thénardier

Song Order
Previous

"The Final Battle"

Next

"Javert's Suicide"

"Dog Eats Dog" or "The Sewers" takes place not long after the barricade falls in 1832. It features Monsieur Thénardier in the sewers stealing from the dead rebels of the failed revolt. He then tries to steal from Marius and Jean Valjean but flees after recognizing the old man.

The scene changes to Valjean taking Marius' body to safety as he encounters Javert. It has been known as the darkest song in the musical..

The lyrics were written by Herbert Kretzmer.

Lyrics[]

[Thénardier picking through the corpses in the sewers.]

Thénardier:
Here's a hint of gold
Stuck into a tooth
Pardon me, Monsieur
You won't be needing this no more,
Shouldn't be too hard to sell.
Add it to the pile
Add it to the stock
Here among the sewer rats
A breath away from Hell
You get accustomed to the smell.

Well someone's got to clean them up, my friends
Bodies on the highway
Law and order upside down
Someone's got to collect their odds and ends
As a service to the town!

[Valjean arrives, carrying Marius. Valjean collapses. Thénardier robs Marius. ]

Here's a tasty ring
Pretty little thing
Wouldn't want to waste it
That would really be a crime
Thank you sir, I'm in your debt.
Here's another toy
Take it off the boy
His heart's no longer going
And he's lived his little time
But his watch is ticking yet!

Well someone's got to clean them up, my friends
Before the little harvest
Disappears into the mud
Someone's got to collect their odds and ends
When the gutters run with blood.

It's a world where the dogs eat the dogs
Where they kill for the bones in the street
And God in His Heaven
He don't interfere
Because he's dead as the stiff at my feet.
I raise my eyes to see the heavens
And only the moon looks down,
The harvest moon shines down!

[He turns over Valjean's body, recognizes him and runs off.]

[Valjean picks up Marius again and walks through the sewers. As they emerge they meet Javert.]

Valjean:
It's you Javert!
I knew you wouldn't wait too long
The faithful servant at his post once more!
This man's done no wrong
And he needs a doctor's care.

Javert:
I warned you I would not give in
I won't be swayed.

Valjean:
Another hour yet
And then I'm yours
And all our debts are paid.

Javert:
The man of mercy
Comes again
And talks of justice.

Valjean:
Come, time is running short
Look down, Javert,
He's standing in his grave
Give way, Javert,
There is life to save.

Javert:
Take him, Valjean
Before I change my mind
I will be waiting
24601.

[Valjean carries Marius off.]

Lyrics [10th Anniversary Concert][]

[Thénardier picking through the corpses in the sewers.]

Thénardier:
Here's a hint of gold
Stuck into a tooth
Pardon me, Monsieur
You won't be needing this no more,
Shouldn't be too hard to sell.
Add it to the pile
Add it to the stock
Here among the sewer rats
A breath away from Hell
You get accustomed to the smell.

Well someone's got to clean them up, my friends
Bodies on the highway
Law and order upside down
Someone's got to collect their odds and ends
As a service to the town!

[Valjean arrives, carrying Marius. Valjean collapses. Thénardier robs Marius. ]

Here's a tasty ring
Pretty little thing
Wouldn't want to waste it
That would really be a crime
Thank you sir, I'm in your debt.
Here's another toy
Take it off the boy
His heart's no longer going
And he's lived his little time
But his watch is ticking yet!

Well someone's got to clean them up, my friends
Before the little harvest
Disappears into the mud
Someone's got to collect their odds and ends
When the gutters run with blood.

It's a world where the dogs eat the dogs
Where they kill for the bones in the street
And God in His Heaven
He don't interfere
Because he's dead as the stiff at my feet.
I raise my eyes to see the heavens
And only the moon looks down,
The harvest moon shines down!

[He turns over Valjean's body, recognizes him and runs off.]

Trivia[]

  • In The Spanish production the song is called "Perro Come Perro", which translates to Dog Eats Dog with no changes.
  • For the 2012 film, Thenardier's parts for singing are cut, as well as Valjean's parts. Instead, Thenardier is inspecting bodies for gold and is grabbed by Valjean. From there, Valjean asks "How do I get out of here?" to Thenardier who responds, "It's that way, all the way down and to the left."

Videos(2012)[]

Les_Misérables_-_Clip-_&'The_Sewers_-_The_Confrontation&'.mp

Les Misérables - Clip- &'The Sewers - The Confrontation&'.mp

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