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| "Night of Anguish" | |
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Combeferre |
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"Night of Anguish" takes place at the barricades, just after Éponine's death. Marius, Enjolras and the other students are devastated that she was "the first to fall.", Marius especially devastated having now lost his best friend. After this, Jean Valjean arrives at the barricades.
The lyrics were written by Herbert Kretzmer.
Lyrics[]
Enjolras:
She is the first to fall.
The first of us to fall upon this barricade.
Marius:
Her name was Éponine.
Her life was cold and dark yet she was unafraid.
Combeferre:
We fight here in her name.
Prouvaire:
She will not die in vain.
Lesgles:
She will not be betrayed.
[Éponine's body is carried away, and Enjorlas tries to comfort a heartbroken Marius, who continues to cry over Éponine's death. Valjean appears disguised as a soldier.]
Joly:
Here comes a man in uniform.
What brings you to this place?
Valjean:
I come here as a volunteer.
Joly:
Approach and show your face.
Sentry:
You wear an army uniform.
Valjean:
That's why they let me through.
Joly:
You've got some years behind you, sir.
Valjean:
There's much that I can do.
Joly:
You see that prisoner over there?
Grantaire:
A volunteer like you!
Combeferre:
A spy who calls himself Javert!
Grantaire:
He's going to get it too...
Sentry:
They're getting ready to attack!
[Enjolras gives Valjean a gun.]
Enjolras:
Take this and use it well!
But if you shoot us in the back
You'll never live to tell.
Trivia[]
- In the novel, the first to fall is an old man named Mabeuf who sacrifices himself for the barricade flag.
- In the 2012 movie, the first and last parts of the song are cut entirely.