The songs from Les Misérables are the musical numbers performed throughout the stage version of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel with the same name.

The music was created by Claude-Michel Schönberg, and the original French lyrics were written by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. Later, an English version of the text was written by Herbert Kretzmer for the London production, which began in 1985 after the original show opened in Paris in 1980.

The music includes both solo songs and group performances. Some well-known songs, such as "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," and "Do You Hear the People Sing?," have been included in many stage shows, recordings, and movie versions.

Performances

Several recordings of the musical Les Misérables are available, including those from the Original London Cast and the Original Broadway Cast.

The official soundtrack from the 2012 movie version of Les Misérables reached the top of the American Billboard chart in 2012.

• Jean Valjean, also called "Prisoner 24601," is a man who struggles with right and wrong. He is a former prisoner on parole and the main character of Les Misérables. After failing to find work because of his yellow parole note, he is helped by the Bishop of Digne’s kindness. He then burns his passport and hides his identity using the name "Monsieur Madeleine" (later "Monsieur Fauchelevent") to start a new life. However, the police inspector, Javert, continues to chase him.
• Bishop Myriel gives Valjean a place to stay for the night and protects him from the police after Valjean steals from him.
• Fantine is a single mother who loses her job and becomes a street prostitute to support her daughter, Cosette. She later dies, allowing Jean Valjean to take care of Cosette.
• Javert, a police inspector who once worked as a prison guard, becomes determined to catch Valjean after he breaks his parole. When Valjean spares Javert’s life later in the musical, Javert cannot understand why he was shown mercy and jumps from a building, ending his life.
• Monsieur and Madame Thénardier are dishonest people who run an inn and take advantage of their customers. Later, they become thieves in Paris.
• Cosette, Fantine’s daughter, is adopted by Jean Valjean. She is mistreated by the Thénardiers.
• Marius Pontmercy is a French student and revolutionary who falls in love with Cosette. He is one of the few people who survives the barricade and is saved by Jean Valjean, who carries him through the sewers of Paris.
• Éponine is the daughter of the Thénardiers. She grows up from a privileged childhood to a difficult life in Paris. She loves Marius but he does not return her feelings.
• Enjolras is the leader of the student revolutionaries. He wants to bring change to France.
• Gavroche is the young son of the Thénardiers. He joins the revolutionaries and supports their cause. He is a street child and is often seen as a symbol of the rebellion’s youthful energy.
• Grantaire is a revolutionary who does not believe in the goals of the revolution. However, he respects Enjolras. He is often shown drinking alcohol in the musical.

Prologue

The overture "Work Song" has an instrumental introduction that creates the setting in Toulon, France, in 1815.

In early versions, such as the Original London Recording, the overture was a shorter and simpler version of "At the End of the Day."

• 1980 Original French Version: This song was not included, and none of the Prologue was present. However, its musical theme was adapted from "Look Down," which appeared as "Donnez, Donnez."
• 1991 Paris Revival Version: This song is known as Ouverture (Overture) and Le bagne: pitié, pitié (The Prison: Mercy, mercy).

• 2011 "Los Misérables – Más Que un Musical, una Leyenda" (Les Misérables – More Than a Musical, a Legend): This version is in Spanish, and the song is known as Prólogo.

"On Parole" is the second song in the Prologue. Sometimes it is the first half of "Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven," but more often it is the first part of "The Bishop of Digne." Valjean travels trying to find a place to work and stay. However, he is shunned almost everywhere he goes until the Bishop brings him in and supplies him with food and wine.

• 1980 Original French Version: This song was not included, and none of the Prologue was present.
• 1991 Paris Revival Version: This song is known as En liberté conditionnelle (On Parole).

The song has two parts. In the first part, Valjean is invited in by the Bishop and steals his silver. In the second part, Valjean is caught by two constables. The first part is often left out in recordings; but when both parts are played, the song is usually known as "The Bishop of Digne."

• 1980 Original French Version: This song was not included, and none of the Prologue was present.
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version: This song is known as L'évêque de Digne (The Bishop of Digne).

"What Have I Done?" is the fourth and final song in the Prologue and is sung by Valjean.

• 1980 Original French Version: This song was not included, and none of the Prologue was present.
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version: This song is known as Pourquoi ai-je permis à cet homme? (Why Did I Allow That Man?).

Act I

The music of "At the End of the Day" is intended to be fast and complex. Different melodies are combined, sung by various groups of poor women and men, female workers, and solos by individual workers, all with the title repeated.

• 1980 Original French Version: This song is known as La journée est finie (The Day is Finished), and it appears as the first song.
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version: This song is known as Quand un jour est passé (When a Day is Past).

"I Dreamed a Dream" is a solo sung by Fantine during the first act. Most of the song is soft and sad, but near the end, it becomes louder and filled with frustration and pain. Fantine expresses her sadness about her life after being abandoned by Cosette's father.

Several artists and characters have performed "I Dreamed a Dream" in other contexts.

• Neil Diamond recorded "I Dreamed a Dream" for his 1987 live album Hot August Night II.
• The song appears on Aretha Franklin's 1991 album What You See Is What You Sweat. Franklin also performed this song for U.S. President Bill Clinton on the evening he became president.
• In the film The Commitments (1991), one of the auditionees for the titular band sings "I Dreamed a Dream" as her audition song.
• Susan Boyle performed the song in 2009 for her audition on the third season of the ITV programme Britain's Got Talent. The song's renewed popularity caused Patti LuPone's 1985 recording to enter the UK Singles Chart, reaching number forty-five with 4,987 digital download sales. "I Dreamed a Dream" is the musical's only charted hit.
• In season one, episode 19 of Glee, characters Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Shelby Corcoran (Idina Menzel) sing "I Dreamed a Dream" as a duet in a dream sequence.

• 1980 Original French Version: This song is known as J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie (I Had Dreamed of Another Life).
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version: This song is known as J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie (I Had Dreamed of Another Life) but had somewhat different lyrics to the original version.

"Lovely Ladies" is a song from the first act. It is followed by "Fantine's Arrest." Sometimes, the two are counted as one song. Fantine, now unemployed, wanders to the docks where she eventually turns to prostitution to survive.

• 1980 Original French Version: This song did not appear on the recording but was part of the stage show as a song known as La nuit (The Night), which depicts similar events as the scene where Fantine sells her hair in Les beaux cheveux que voilà (The Beautiful Hair That is There). A shortened version of this song was added at the end of J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie (I Had Dreamed of Another Life), which contains the same melody as the final and slower section of Lovely Ladies.
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version: This song is known as Tu viens, chéri! (You Come, Darling!).

"Fantine's Arrest" is a song from the first act. It follows "Lovely Ladies," though the two are sometimes counted as one song. Fantine expresses her anger toward Valjean when she believes he is against her. She is overwhelmed by emotion when she thinks of her dying daughter and asks God to let her die instead. Valjean's appearance in the song is sometimes referred to as "Valjean's Intervention." This song is followed by "The Runaway Cart."

• 1980 Original French Version: This song was separated into two songs, which were called Dites-moi ce qui se passe (Tell Me What Happened) and Fantine et Monsieur Madeleine (Fantine and Monsieur Madeleine).
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version: This song was cut from the recording.

"The Runaway Cart" is a song from the first act, divided into two parts. The chorus, Fauchelevent, and Valjean sing the first, which also has instrumental parts. Valjean and Javert sing the second part on a medium-paced tune. Eventually, the song is sped up by Javert and other policemen (first sung in "Valjean Arrested, Valjean For

Act II

"Building the Barricade" is the interlude of the musical and introduces a new theme that leads to Éponine appearing at the barricade. She sings dialogue with Marius and later with Valjean, passing a letter from Marius to Cosette. This song is sometimes removed from recordings, either partially or completely. On the Complete Symphonic Recording, the song is incorrectly labeled "At the Barricade."

• 1980 Original French Version – This song was not included in the recording but was performed in the stage show.
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is called "La première barricade" (The First Barricade). The part where Éponine gives Valjean the letter is cut.

"On My Own" is a solo performed by Éponine. She sings about her unrequited love for Marius and her longing to be with him, even though she knows he loves Cosette. The chorus of the song shares the same melody as "Fantine's Death (Come to Me)," but it includes a bridge and different verses. The song begins in the key of D, changes to B♭ (though it does not actually shift keys), and ends in F. This is Éponine's most important song. In the film version, it appears after "The Attack on Rue Plumet" and before "One Day More."

"On My Own" has been featured in other media, such as:

• In the TV show Glee, Rachel Berry (played by Lea Michele, who portrayed Éponine in a Les Misérables production) performed this song as an audition. Michele's version was released as a digital single.
• Anne Hathaway performed a parody of the song at the 83rd Academy Awards. She later played Fantine in the 2012 film version of Les Misérables.

• 1980 Original French Version – This song was not included, but its music was adapted from "L'air de la misère" (The Air of Misery), a song Fantine sang about her suffering. Éponine's solo was called "L'un vers l'autre" (The One Toward the Other), which had no connection to "On My Own."
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is called "Mon histoire" (My Story).

"At the Barricade," also known as "Back at the Barricade," starts with an instrumental repeat of "Red and Black" and a sung repeat of "Upon These Stones." It is the first time a National Guardsman sings a warning to the revolutionaries. On the Complete Symphonic Recording, the song is mislabeled "Building the Barricade."

• 1980 Original French Version – This song was not included in the recording.
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is called "Sur la barricade" (On the Barricade).

"Javert's Arrival," also called "Javert at the Barricade" or "Javert's Return," shows Javert returning to the barricade to report on enemy plans but is interrupted by Gavroche.

• 1980 Original French Version – This song was part of the stage show but not included in the recording.
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is called "Je sais ce qui se trame" (I Know What is Happening).

"Little People" begins with Gavroche proudly revealing Javert's identity as a police inspector. Most of the song is omitted in the 2012 film, except for a short version during "The Second Attack."

The Original London Recording included a longer version of the song, sung by Gavroche between "Look Down" and "Red and Black." This version focused on Gavroche's ability to be useful despite being small, rather than exposing Javert. Later versions shortened the song, and the part where Gavroche reveals Javert's identity uses a different melody.

• 1980 Original French Version – This song is called "La faute à Voltaire" (Voltaire's Fault) and includes a background choir. The chorus was taken directly from the novel.
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is called "C'est la faute à…" (It Is the Fault of…).

"A Little Fall of Rain" is the song that accompanies Éponine's death. Éponine, the oldest daughter of the Thénardiers, tells Marius she loves him and dies in his arms. In the musical, Marius is shown as deeply upset by her death, crying and refusing to let go of her body. This is different from the book, where Marius is not as emotionally affected by Éponine's death.

• 1980 Original French Version – This song is called "Ce n'est rien" (It is Nothing).
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is called "Un peu de sang qui pleure" (A Little Blood that Weeps).

"Night of Anguish" is a musical interlude. Its exact definition is unclear. Sometimes, the lines after Éponine's death are called "Night of Anguish," and it refers to the scene after the first attack, including the dialogue between Valjean and Javert. In the 2012 film, this song is omitted and replaced with a non-vocal musical interlude.

• 1980 Original French Version – This song is called "La nuit de l'angoisse" (The Night of Anguish) and includes music later used in "Drink with Me."
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.

"The First Attack" is mostly instrumental, with short singing lines and shouted dialogue by revolutionaries. Depending on the definition, it includes the scene where Valjean frees Javert. It appears in the 2012 film, but the attack in the film happens before Éponine's death, with Valjean helping with snipers instead.

• 1980 Original French Version – This song is called "L'aube du 6 juin" (Dawn of June 6) on the recording but was revised for the stage show.
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is called "La première attaque" (The First Attack).

"Drink with Me" is a song sung by the revolutionaries as night falls and they wait for their enemies. Enjolras tells others to stay awake but lets Marius sleep, knowing he is still grieving over Éponine's death. In the 2012 film, the first half of the song is omitted, including the revolutionaries' memories and Grantaire's doubts.

• 1980 Original French Version – One stanza of this song appears in "La nuit de l'angoisse" (The Night of Anguish).
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is called "Souviens-toi des jours passés" (Remember the Past Days).

Valjean prays for Mari

Epilogue

"Valjean's Death" is the second-to-last song in Les Misérables. This song and the "Finale," which follows it without a break, are sometimes grouped together as one song. Together, they are often called "The Epilogue," just as the musical has a "Prologue." In this song, Fantine and Éponine appear to greet Valjean as he finds peace. The music for "Valjean's Death" is borrowed from "Fantine's Death," "On My Own," and "Bring Him Home." In the 2012 film version, this song comes immediately after "Beggars at the Feast."

• 1980 Original French Version – This song is titled Épilogue: la lumière (Epilogue: The Light). Fantine and Éponine do not appear in this version. Instead, the song ends with Valjean asking Cosette and Marius to love and care for each other before he dies peacefully.
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is titled Final: c'est pour demain (Finale: It is For Tomorrow).

"The Finale," also known as "Do You Hear the People Sing? (Reprise)," is the final song in the musical. It is often combined with "Valjean's Death" into one track on recordings, called "Epilogue."

• 1980 Original French Version – This song was not included. Instead, the musical ended with "Valjean's Death."
• 1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is titled Final: c'est pour demain (Finale: It is For Tomorrow).

Song appearances in recordings

• Although the cuts in the School Edition seem major, most are minor changes that don't take out more than a verse or a few measures.
• Although "The Death of Gavroche" is in the School edition, it was removed from the 25th Anniversary version.
• Although "The Wedding Chorale" was removed from the School edition, it was included in the 25th Anniversary Concert.
• Only some of the songs listed below are on the movie's soundtrack album. Check the track listing on Les Misérables: Highlights from the Motion Picture Soundtrack. The deluxe version of the album includes more songs.