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| "Valjean's Confession" | |
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"Suddenly (reprise)" (2012 film version) |
"Valjean's Confession" is sung by Jean Valjean and Marius. In this song, Marius shows gratitude towards Valjean for "giving him Cosette" and offers that he live with them. Valjean, however declines and tells Marius about his past and why he must leave. Valjean then asks Marius not to tell Cosette about his past and tell her that he has gone on a journey far away. Marius convinces Valjean to stay but then reluctantly agrees to his wishes.
The lyrics were written by Herbert Kretzmer.
Lyrics[]
Marius:
M'sieur, this is a day
I can never forget.
Is gratitude enough
For giving me Cosette?
Your home shall be with us
And not a day shall pass
But we will prove our love
To you, whom we shall call
A father to us both
A father to us all
Valjean:
Not another word, my son
There's something now that must be done.
You've spoken from the heart
And I must do the same
There is a story, sir,
Of slavery and shame
That you alone must know.
I never told Cosette
She had enough of tears
She's never known the truth
The story you must hear
Of years ago.
There lived a man whose name was Jean Valjean
He stole some bread to save his sister's son.
For nineteen winters served his time
In sweat he washed away his crime.
Years ago
He broke parole and lived a life apart
How could he tell Cosette and break her heart?
It's for Cosette this must be faced
If he is caught she is disgraced
The time has come to journey on
And from this day he must be gone
Who am I?
Who am I?
Marius:
You're Jean Valjean!
What can I do
That will turn you away from this?
M'sieur, you cannot leave.
Whatever I tell my beloved Cosette
She will never believe!
Valjean:
Make her believe
I have gone on a journey
A long way away.
Tell her my heart was too full for farewells
It is better this way.
Promise me, M'sieur,
Cosette will never know...
Marius:
I give my word.
Valjean:
... what I have spoken, why I must go.
Marius:
For the sake of Cosette, it must be so.
"Valjean's Confession" - Les Miserables
Trivia[]
During this song, some of the lines are either cut short or changed:
- You've spoken from the heart
And I must do the same
There is a story, sir,
Of slavery and shame
That you alone must know.
I never told Cosette
She had enough of tears
She's never known the truth
The story you must hear
Of years ago.
What can I do
That will turn you away from this?: These lines are cut from the film. - "Make her believe" is change to "Tell her," followed by the rest of the lines for the confession.
- The song doesn't appear in 10th anniversary concert version.