Songs from Les Misérables: Full List of Every Song in the Musical
The songs from Les Misérables are central to its emotional power. Each song adds depth to the characters and the story, whether it’s the haunting ballads of lost love or the rousing anthems of revolution.
Composed by Claude-Michel Schönberg with lyrics by Alain Boublil, the score has become a classic in musical theatre history.
In this guide, we’re taking you through all the songs from Les Misérables, highlighting the pivotal moments and how the music brings the themes of justice, redemption, love, and revolution to life.
Key Takeaways
- Emotional Impact of Les Misérables Songs: Explore how songs like I Dreamed a Dream and On My Own capture the personal struggles of characters like Fantine and Éponine.
- Songs of Revolution and Redemption: Learn about the powerful political anthems like Do You Hear the People Sing? and One Day More, and how they express the fight for freedom.
- Character-Driven Numbers: Discover the significance of songs such as Valjean’s Confession and Javert’s Suicide, which offer insight into the characters’ internal battles.
All the Songs from Les Misérables
The songs from Les Misérables take us through every emotional twist and turn in this epic story. Here’s a complete breakdown of each number, in order of appearance, and what makes them special.
Prologue: Work Song
The opening number introduces Jean Valjean, prisoner 24601, and his fellow convicts. It sets the tone of the musical with its grim portrayal of Valjean’s harsh life in prison. The work song introduces Javert, who will relentlessly pursue Valjean throughout the story, representing society’s judgment on him as a criminal.
Valjean Arrested / Valjean Forgiven
After being released on parole, Valjean is quickly arrested again for stealing silver from a kind bishop who had offered him shelter. However, the bishop forgives him, telling the police the silver was a gift. This act of kindness changes Valjean’s life, prompting him to reflect on his past and future.
What Have I Done? (Valjean’s Soliloquy)
After the bishop’s mercy, Valjean experiences a crisis of conscience. In this emotional solo, he reflects on the injustice of his past and vows to live a better life. This is the beginning of Valjean’s transformation and sets up his quest for redemption.
At the End of the Day
The focus shifts to the workers in a factory where we meet Fantine. This ensemble number highlights the struggles of the working class in France. Fantine loses her job due to the cruelty of her co-workers, which sets off her downward spiral into poverty.
I Dreamed a Dream
Fantine sings this heart-breaking ballad, reflecting on her lost dreams and the harsh reality of her life. Abandoned by her lover and left to fend for herself and her daughter, Fantine’s song is one of despair. This iconic number has become one of the most well-known songs from Les Mis.
Lovely Ladies
After losing her job, Fantine is forced into prostitution to survive. This fast-paced song contrasts the upbeat chatter of the prostitutes with Fantine’s increasing desperation. It shows the harsh realities of her new life.
Fantine’s Arrest
In this brief but powerful scene, Fantine is arrested after an altercation with a customer. Javert, now a police officer, appears once again. However, Valjean intervenes and orders her release, recognising her as one of his former workers. He vows to take care of her.
The Runaway Cart
Valjean reveals his true strength when he saves a man trapped under a runaway cart. This selfless act catches Javert’s attention, further fuelling his suspicion that the man he knows as the mayor is actually Valjean in hiding.
Who Am I?
In this pivotal number, Valjean must decide whether to reveal his true identity or allow an innocent man to be punished in his place. His moral dilemma is clear in the repeated question, “Who am I?” The song marks a key moment in his journey of redemption as he confesses that he is Jean Valjean.
Come to Me (Fantine’s Death)
On her deathbed, Fantine dreams of her daughter Cosette. She pleads for Valjean to take care of her, which he promises to do. This emotional duet between Valjean and Fantine is heart-breaking, as her tragic end is made even sadder by the hope she holds for her child’s future.
The Confrontation
Valjean and Javert finally face each other, arguing about justice and mercy. The song uses counterpoint melodies to highlight the stark differences between their characters: Valjean’s higher, passionate lines and Javert’s rhythmic, unyielding tone.
Castle on a Cloud
We meet Young Cosette, who dreams of a better life in this innocent solo. Living under the cruel care of the Thénardiers, she sings of a peaceful place far from her misery. The song captures her vulnerability and hope.
Master of the House
This comical number introduces Thénardier and his wife, the crooked innkeepers who swindle their customers. Their greed and cunning provide a moment of comic relief, though their mistreatment of Cosette remains in the background. This song has become one of the most fun, if not wicked, numbers in the show.
The Bargain / The Waltz of Treachery
In this scene, Valjean negotiates with the Thénardiers to take Cosette under his care. The Thénardiers pretend to be heartbroken at losing her, but their true motives are financial. Valjean secures Cosette’s freedom, and the song’s waltz rhythm adds a layer of dark humour to the Thénardiers’ trickery.
Look Down
The focus shifts to the streets of Paris, where the poor sing of their suffering. The song introduces Gavroche, a young street urchin, and brings in the students who are planning a revolution. The song builds anticipation for the upcoming conflict.
The Robbery
This action-packed number sets up a tangle of relationships. Éponine, the Thénardiers’ daughter, is in love with Marius, but he falls for Cosette instead. Meanwhile, Thénardier recognises Valjean, setting off a new round of pursuit as Javert gets closer to capturing him.
Stars
In this solo, Javert reflects on his belief in justice and law. His rigid moral code drives him to pursue Valjean with relentless determination. The song reveals the depth of Javert’s character and foreshadows his eventual downfall.
Eponine’s Errand
Marius enlists Éponine to deliver a letter to Cosette, unaware of her feelings for him. Éponine, despite her love for Marius, agrees to help him win Cosette’s heart, leading to one of the musical’s many heart-breaking moments.
Red and Black
The students rally around the revolutionary cause in this powerful anthem. Enjolras leads the charge, calling for justice, while Marius is distracted by his newfound love for Cosette. The tension between personal and political conflict is highlighted here.
Do You Hear the People Sing?
This is the revolutionaries’ anthem, and it has become one of the most iconic songs from Les Mis. The rousing chorus and straightforward lyrics call for resistance and have been adopted by real-world protest movements worldwide. It’s a song of hope and defiance.
In My Life / A Heart Full of Love
Cosette and Marius sing of their love in these intertwined songs, while Éponine watches on in heartbreak. The contrast between Cosette and Marius’ happiness and Éponine’s sadness makes the moment even more poignant.
The Attack on Rue Plumet
Thénardier and his gang attempt to rob Valjean’s house, but Éponine scares them off. Her actions unintentionally force Valjean to consider leaving with Cosette once again, as he fears they are no longer safe.
One Day More
This ensemble number brings together all the characters as they prepare for the upcoming battle. Each sings of their hopes and fears for what lies ahead. The song builds to an emotional climax, making it one of the most powerful numbers in the entire show.
Building the Barricade / On My Own
As the students build their barricade, Éponine sings On My Own, expressing her unrequited love for Marius. This emotional solo has become one of the most popular songs from Les Mis and captures the pain of loving someone who doesn’t love you back.
Javert at the Barricade / Little People
Disguised as a rebel, Javert tries to infiltrate the revolutionaries, but Gavroche exposes him. The boy’s cheeky nature is on full display in Little People, a song about being underestimated by those in power.
A Little Fall of Rain
After being shot during the battle, Éponine dies in Marius’s arms. Despite her pain, she finds comfort in being with him in her final moments. The gentle melody and tender lyrics make this one of the most touching scenes in the musical.
The First Attack
The revolutionaries face off against the army in the first skirmish. They manage to win this round, but Javert, now captured by the students, awaits his fate at their hands. Valjean volunteers to decide what happens to him.
Drink With Me
As the rebels rest and drink together, they reflect on what they are fighting for and whether their cause is worth dying for. Marius laments his separation from Cosette, wondering if he’ll ever see her again.
Bring Him Home
Valjean prays for Marius’s safety, asking God to spare him so that Cosette can be happy. This moving prayer is one of Valjean’s defining moments, showcasing his selflessness and love for Cosette.
The Second Attack / The Final Battle
The revolutionaries lose the second battle, and many of them, including Enjolras, are killed. Valjean saves Marius by carrying him through the sewers, narrowly escaping capture by Javert.
Dog Eats Dog
Amidst the chaos, Thénardier scavenges through the bodies of the fallen, looting whatever he can. It’s a stark reminder of the darker, selfish side of humanity that continues even in the midst of revolution.
Javert’s Suicide
Unable to reconcile Valjean’s mercy with his rigid belief in justice, Javert takes his own life. The song mirrors his earlier solo, “Stars,” but with a tragic twist, as Javert’s internal conflict becomes unbearable.
Turning
In this haunting number, the women of Paris reflect on the loss of life at the barricades. They lament that nothing ever changes, despite the sacrifices made by the young men who fought for freedom.
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
Marius grieves the loss of his friends in this heart-wrenching solo. He sings of the empty tables at the café where they once gathered, filled with survivor’s guilt and questioning the purpose of their sacrifice.
Every Day / Valjean’s Confession
Marius and Cosette reaffirm their love for one another, but Valjean realises he must confess his past to Marius. He tells him that he is a fugitive and that he must leave Cosette for her own sake.
Wedding Chorale / Beggars at the Feast
At Marius and Cosette’s wedding, the Thénardiers crash the celebration, pretending to be respectable. Marius isn’t fooled, but he does learn that it was Valjean who saved him at the barricades.
Valjean’s Death
In this emotional final scene, Valjean is on his deathbed. He is visited by the spirits of Fantine and Éponine, who guide him to the afterlife. His final words, “To love another person is to see the face of God,” sum up the musical’s message of love and redemption.
Do You Hear the People Sing? (Reprise)
The show ends with a reprise of “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, as the spirits of the revolutionaries join Valjean in death. The final chorus is a triumphant and hopeful end, reminding the audience that the fight for justice and equality continues.
Overall
The songs from Les Misérables take the audience through a rollercoaster of emotions, from Jean Valjean’s journey of redemption to the tragic events at the barricades.
Whether it’s the iconic ballads like “I Dreamed a Dream” or the powerful ensemble numbers like “One Day More,” each song adds depth and complexity to the story.
Les Misérables remains a timeless piece of musical theatre, and its songs continue to resonate with audiences around the world.
FAQs
What is Les Misérables about?
Les Misérables is about the struggles of various characters in post-revolutionary France, particularly Jean Valjean, a former convict seeking redemption, and the revolutionary students fighting for justice.
How many songs are in Les Misérables?
There are over 30 songs in Les Misérables, ranging from emotional solos to powerful ensemble pieces.
Who wrote the music for Les Misérables?
The music for Les Misérables was composed by Claude-Michel Schönberg, with lyrics by Alain Boublil.
What is the most famous song from Les Misérables?
Some of the most famous songs include “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” and “On My Own.”
What is Jean Valjean’s main song?
Jean Valjean’s most iconic songs include “Who Am I?” and “Bring Him Home,” where he reflects on his journey and his sacrifices.
Why is Do You Hear the People Sing so popular?
“Do You Hear the People Sing?” is a rallying cry for revolution and has been used in real-life protests around the world due to its powerful message of hope and resistance.
What is the significance of On My Own?
“On My Own” is Éponine’s solo, where she sings of her unrequited love for Marius. It’s a deeply emotional song that resonates with anyone who has experienced unreturned love.
What is the final song in Les Misérables?
The final song in Les Misérables is a reprise of “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” which closes the show on a note of hope and defiance.
Who is the main character in Les Misérables?
The main character in Les Misérables is Jean Valjean, a former convict seeking redemption after being released from prison.
How does Les Misérables end?
Les Misérables ends with the death of Jean Valjean, who is finally at peace. The revolutionaries who died join him in spirit, singing a hopeful reprise of “Do You Hear the People Sing?”
