Beggars at the Feast Songtext

von Claude-Michel Schönberg

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!