BEGGARS AT THE FEAST Thenardier Ain't it a laugh? Ain't it a treat? Hob-nobbin' here Among the elite? Here comes a prince There goes a Jew. This one's a queer But what can you do? Paris at my feet Paris in the dust And here I'm breaking bread With the upper crust! Beggar at the feast! Master of the dance! Life is easy pickings If you grab your chance. Everywhere you go Law-abiding folk Doing what is decent But they're mostly broke! Singing to the Lord on Sundays Praying for the gifts He'll send. M. and Mme. Thenardier But we're the ones who take it We're the ones who make it in the end! Watch the buggers dance Watch 'em till they drop Keep your wits about you And you stand on top! Masters of the land Always get our share Clear away the barricades And we're still there! We know where the wind is blowing Money is the stuff we smell And when we're rich as Croesus Jesus! Won't we see you all in hell! [Valjean is alone in the shadows, with a bare wooden cross for company.] Valjean Alone I wait in the shadows I count the hours till 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. [Fantine's spirit appears to Valjean.] Fantine M'sieur, I bless your name M'sieur, lay down your burden You raised my child in love And you will be with god. Valjean (interjecting) I am ready, Fantine At the end of my days She's the best of my life. [Marius and Cosette rush into the room, but 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 [to Cosette] 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 a story Of those who always loved you Your mother gave her life for you Then gave you to my keeping. [The other spirits appear.] 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. Valjean, Fantine, & Eponine Take my hand And lead me to salvation Take my love For love is everlasting. And remember The truth that once was spoken To love another person Is to see the face of God!