Look Down

1832. The teeming, squalid streets of Paris Beggars, urchins, prostitutes, students, etc [BEGGARS:] Look down and see the beggars at your feet Look down and show some mercy if you can Look down and see the sweepings of the street Look down, look down Upon your fellow man! [GAVROCHE:] 'Ow do you do? My name's Gavroche These are my people. Here's my patch Not much to look at, nothing posh Nothing that you'd call up to scratch This is my school, my high society Here in the slums of Saint Michele We live on crumbs of humble piety Tough on the teeth, but what the hell! Think you're poor? Think you're free? Follow me! Follow me! [BEGGARS:] Look down and show some mercy if you can Look down, look down, upon your fellow man! (An old beggar woman finds a young prostitute occupying her pitch) [OLD BEGGAR WOMAN:] What you think yer at? Hanging round me pitch? If you're new around here, girl You've got a lot to learn! [YOUNG PROSTITUTE:] Listen you old bat Crazy bloody witch 'Least I give me customers Some pleasure in return! [OLD BEGGAR WOMAN:] I know what you give! Give 'em all the pox! Spread around your poison Till they end up in a box [PIMP:] Leave the poor old cow Move it, Madeleine She used to be no better Till the clap got to her brain BEGGARS When's it gonna end? When we gonna live? Something's gotta happen now or Something's gonna give It'll come, it'll come, it'll come[x2] [ENJOLRAS:] Where the leaders of the land? Where are the swells who run this show? [MARIUS:] Only one man - and that's Lamarque Speaks for these people here below [BEGGARS:] See our children fed Help us in our shame Something for a crust of bread In Holy Jesus' name [URCHIN:] In the Lord's Holy name [BEGGARS:] In his name, in his name, in his name [MARIUS:] Lamarque is ill and fading fast! Won't last the week out, so they say [ENJOLRAS:] With all the anger in the land How long before the judgement day? Before we cut the fat ones down to size? Before the barricades arise? [GAVROCHE:] Watch out for old Thenardier All of his family's on the make Once ran a hash-house down the way Bit of a swine and no mistake He's got a gang The bleeding layabout Even his daughter does her share That's Eponine, she knows her way about Only a kid, but hard to scare Do we care? Not a cuss Long live us Long live us! [BEGGARS:] Look down and show some mercy if you can Look down, look down upon your fellow man!