Look down, look down
Don't look 'em in the eye
Look down, look down,
You're here until you die
The sun is strong
It's hot as hell below
Look down, look down,
There's twenty years to go
I've done no wrong!
Sweet Jesus, hear my prayer!
Look down look down,
Sweet Jesus doesn't care
I know she'll wait,
I know that she'll be true!
Look down, look down,
They've all forgotten you
When I get free ya won't see me
Here for dust!
Look down, look down
Don't look 'em in the eye
How long, oh Lord
Before you let me die?
Look down, look down,
You'll always be a slave
Look down, look down,
You're standing in your grave
Now bring me prisoner 24601
Your time is up
And your parole's begun
You know what that means.
Yes, it means I'm free.
No!
It means you get
Your yellow ticket-of-leave
You are a thief
I stole a loaf of bread.
You robbed a house.
I broke a window pane.
My sister's child was close to death
And we were starving.
You will starve again
Unless you learn the meaning of the law.
I know the meaning of those 19 years
A slave of the law
Five years for what you did
The rest because you tried to run
Yes, 24601.
My name is Jean Valjean
And I am Javert
Do not forget my name!
Do not forget me,
24601.
Look down, look down
You'll always be a slave
Look down, look down
You're standing in your grave.
About This Song
"Look Down" is a haunting opening number that immediately plunges audiences into the harsh realities of 1832 Paris, where beggars, street children, and the destitute cry out for recognition and compassion from those who pass by without seeing them. The song's central theme explores social invisibility and the desperate plea for human dignity, as the repeated command "look down" becomes both literal instruction and moral imperative to acknowledge society's forgotten underclass. Musically, it features a dark, minor-key melody with layered vocals that create a sense of urban chaos and collective suffering, while young Gavroche's defiant introduction adds a note of resilience amid despair. The lyrics establish the stark class divisions that drive the entire musical, making this song essential for understanding Les Misérables' core message about social justice and human worth. Its raw emotional power and unflinching portrayal of poverty make it one of musical theater's most effective opening statements about systemic inequality.
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