Special Sub-Topic: Who Sang It? Click Here To Play: Who Sang It?

"I have only known one other who can do what you have done."

Javert. From the track "Runaway Cart." Next lines, still Javert: "He's a convict from the chain gang, he's been ten years on the run." After watching Valjean (still disguised as Madeleine) lift an impossibly heavy cart to save Fauchelevent, Javert fights with the suspicion that this authority figure might not be who he says he is and describes it to Valjean only after overcoming his doubt of the mayor.

"The trees are bare and everywhere the streets are full of strangers."

Eponine. From "On My Own," the song that everyone knows. Next lines (sing along!): "I love him, but every day I'm learning all my life I've only been pretending. Without me, his world will go on turning. The world is full of happiness that I have never known!"

"You're Jean Valjean."

Marius. In "Valjean's Confession," Jean Valjean, after telling his story to Marius in a reprise of "Who Am I?" repeats the line "Who am I? Who am I?" and Marius replies. Next lines, still Marius: "What can I do that would turn you from this? Monsieur, you cannot leave. Whatever I tell my beloved Cosette she would never believe." Marius certainly comes off a lot better here than he does in the novel!

"He took my childhood in his stride."

Fantine. From "I Dreamed a Dream," of course. Next line: "But he was gone when autumn came."

"Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free!"

Courfeyrac. From "Do You Hear the People Sing?" Courfeyrac's character is sadly lessened in the musical, which is a shame, because he's an awesome character in the book. The beginning of this song is kind of neat, because the three "leaders" of the students open it: Enjolras, Combeferre, and Courfeyrac. Next lines: the chorus--sing along "Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men..."

"General Lamarque is Dead!"

Gavroche. In "ABC Cafe/Red and Black" off the Complete Symphonic (the song doesn't go this far in other recorded versions). Gavroche shouts it to the students, and Enjolras replies "Lamarque is dead. His death is the hour of fate."

"Another story must begin!"

Valjean & Jean Valjean. Last line of "Valjean's Soliloquy" right before "At the End of the Day" begins. Incidentally, if you come in late, this is when they seat you. "Valjean's Soliloquy" contrasts interestingly with "Javert's Suicide" being the same tune and the same moment of crisis, but the difference is the conclusions each character comes to, of course.

"No mistakes, my dears!"

Thénardier. From "The Robbery/Javert's Intervention" as Thénardier is preparing his gang to ambush Valjean and Cosette. Next line, Mme. Thénardier: "These bloody students on our streets, here they come slumming once again. Our Eponine would kiss their feet. She never had a scrap of brain."

"Every day you walk with stronger step, you walk with longer step, the worst is over."

Cosette. The first lines of "Every Day," which immediately follows "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" Next lines, Marius: "Every day, I wonder every day, who was it brought me here from the barricade?"

"Let others rise to take our place until the earth is free!"

Enjolras. From "Final Attack," just before all the students die. Actually, this is the last line sung by any of the students, Marius excepted. If a good singer is playing Enjolras, the note he hits on "rise" gives me shivers. The best example of this is Anthony Warlow on the CSR. Whoa.

"There is nothing on earth that we share."

Javert. In "Javert's Suicide." Next line: "It is either Valjean or Javert." The more I think about the lyrics to this play, the more well written they seem.

"I am agog, I am aghast, is Marius in love at last?"

Grantaire. From "Red and Black." Next line, still Grantaire: "I've never seen him ooh and ahh. You talk of battles to be won, and here he comes like Don Ju-an--it's better than an opera!" This is a very funny moment on stage, though a tad off color--one time when I saw it Kevin Kern, who was playing Marius, had a very hard time maintaining Marius' indignation and not laughing because Grantaire was so funny.

"You must use this precious silver to become an honest man."

Bishop & Bishop of Digne. From "Prologue." Next lines, still the Bishop: "By the witness of the martyrs, by the passion and the blood, God has raised you out of darkness; I have bought your soul for God." Because the songs are so different, it took me ages to figure out that this is the same melody as "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables".

"Where are the leaders of the land? Where are the swells who run this show?"

Enjolras. From "Look Down." Next line, Marius: "Only one man and that's Lamarque speaks for the people here below." Not really a Marius thing to say if you're going by the book, but I find his character is the most changed from book to musical. Enjolras, meanwhile, is right on the money.

"It's the story of those who always loved you."

Valjean. From "Finale." Next lines, still Valjean "Your mother gave her life for you and gave you to my keeping." Get out your hankies, people.