The Confrontation
Anne Hathaway Lyrics


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Valjean, at last,
We see each other plain
'm'sieur le mayor,'
You'll wear a different chain

Before you say another word, Javert
Before you chain me up like a slave again
Listen to me! there is something I must do
This woman leaves behind a suffering child
There is none, but me who can intercede
In mercy's name, three days are all I need
Then I'll return, I pledge my word
Then I'll return

You must think me mad
I've hunted you across the years
Men like you can never change
A man such as you.

Believe of me what you will (men like you can never change)
There is a duty that I'm sworn to do (men like me can never change)
You know nothing of my life (no, 24601)
All I did was steal some bread (my duty's to the law)
You know nothing of the world (you have no rights)
You would sooner see me dead (come with me 24601)
But not before I see this justice done (now the wheel has turned around Jean Valjean is nothing now)
I am warning you Javert (dare you talk to me of crime)
I'm a stronger man by far (I'm the price you had to pay)
There is power in me yet (every man is born in sin)
My race is not yet run (every man must choose his way)

You know nothing of Javert
I was born inside a jail




I was born with scum like you
I am from the gutter too!

Overall Meaning

The Confrontation is a song from the musical Les Miserables, sung by the two main characters, Jean Valjean and Javert. The song is a confrontation between Valjean, who has been living a new life as a respected mayor, and Javert, who has hunted him across the years as a fugitive. The song begins with Valjean acknowledging Javert and proposing that Javert replaces his chain with a different one. However, Javert immediately interrupts him, insisting that he won't let Valjean go free. Valjean pleads with Javert, telling him that he needs to help Fantine's suffering child. Javert is unconvinced, believing that it's his duty to bring Valjean to justice. He accuses Valjean of being a criminal and claims that men like him can never change. Valjean responds, telling Javert that he knows nothing about him, that he's a stronger man by far, and that his race is not yet run. Javert sings about his own past, that he was born inside a jail and from the gutter too.


The Confrontation is an intense and emotional song, representing the clash of two diametrically opposed worldviews that underpin the whole musical. It's a song that runs high on emotions - despair, anger, and sorrow - and captures the essence of the conflict between the two characters. The song is instrumental in driving the plot forward and serves to express the inner thoughts, feelings and motivations of the main characters.


Line by Line Meaning

Valjean, at last, We see each other plain
After years of hiding, Valjean and Javert finally have a face-to-face interaction.


'm'sieur le mayor,' You'll wear a different chain
Javert greets Valjean respectfully but implies that he will soon be imprisoned again.


Before you say another word, Javert
Valjean wants Javert to hear him out before he is judged solely based on his past crimes.


Before you chain me up like a slave again
Valjean sees being imprisoned as a form of degradation and dehumanization.


Listen to me! there is something I must do
Valjean has to fulfill an important responsibility before he can surrender himself.


This woman leaves behind a suffering child
Valjean wants to take care of Fantine's daughter Cosette, who has been neglected and mistreated.


There is none, but me who can intercede
Valjean believes that he is the only one who can save Cosette from a cruel fate.


In mercy's name, three days are all I need
Valjean asks Javert for a small window of time to rescue Cosette from the Thenardiers.


Then I'll return, I pledge my word Then I'll return
Valjean promises to come back and face consequences once he has secured Cosette's future.


You must think me mad I've hunted you across the years
Javert's relentless pursuit of Valjean seems insane to Valjean.


Men like you can never change A man such as you.
Javert sees Valjean as an incorrigible criminal who cannot reform.


Believe of me what you will (men like you can never change)
Valjean acknowledges Javert's skepticism about his ability to change.


There is a duty that I'm sworn to do (men like me can never change)
Valjean feels a moral obligation to help Cosette, regardless of his past mistakes.


You know nothing of my life (no, 24601)
Valjean feels that Javert cannot understand his struggles or motivations.


All I did was steal some bread (my duty's to the law)
Valjean insists that he was a victim of circumstance and that he has since lived an upright life.


You know nothing of the world (you have no rights)
Valjean feels that Javert's rigid adherence to the law blinds him to the realities of injustice in society.


You would sooner see me dead (come with me 24601)
Javert would rather kill Valjean than witness him escape punishment.


But not before I see this justice done (now the wheel has turned around Jean Valjean is nothing now)
Javert is determined to uphold the law, regardless of its potential injustice or cruelty.


I am warning you Javert (dare you talk to me of crime)
Valjean challenges Javert's moral authority and superiority.


I'm a stronger man by far (I'm the price you had to pay)
Valjean has grown stronger and more compassionate over the years, while Javert remains narrow-minded and vengeful.


There is power in me yet (every man is born in sin)
Valjean believes that he has the capacity for redemption and goodness, despite his past sins.


My race is not yet run (every man must choose his way)
Valjean still has a long journey ahead of him and must continue to make choices that reflect his values.


You know nothing of Javert I was born inside a jail
Javert reveals that he, like Valjean, had a difficult and disadvantaged upbringing.


I was born with scum like you I am from the gutter too!
Javert identifies with the poor and oppressed but believes that justice should be applied impartially, even to those in power.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alain Albert Boublil, Claude Michel Schonberg, Herbert Kretzmer, Alex Callier, Jean Marc Natel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@HnyxLmn

Valjean, at last,
We see each other plain
'm'sieur le mayor, '
You'll wear a different chain
Before you say another word, Javert
Before you chain me up like a slave again
Listen to me! there is something I must do
This woman leaves behind a suffering child
There is none, but me who can intercede
In mercy's name, three days are all I need
Then I'll return, I pledge my word
Then I'll return
You must think me mad
I've hunted you across the years
Men like you can never change
A man such as you.
Believe of me what you will (men like you can never change)
There is a duty that I'm sworn to do (men like me can never change)
You know nothing of my life (no, 24601)
All I did was steal some bread (my duty's to the law)
You know nothing of the world (you have no rights)
You would sooner see me dead (come with me 24601)
But not before I see this justice done (now the wheel has turned around Jean Valjean is nothing now)
I am warning you Javert (dare you talk to me of crime)
I'm a stronger man by far (I'm the price you had to pay)
There is power in me yet (every man is born in sin)
My race is not yet run (every man must choose his way)
You know nothing of Javert
I was born inside a jail
I was born with scum like you
I am from the gutter too!



All comments from YouTube:

@DebtFR

Out of all the prisoners he chooses to go after, the one who took some bread was at the top of his list.

@westbrook0853

It’s because he undermines the law and always runs away or tries to escape

@VRichardsn

He already caught the other ones

@lilymae3762

its cause he broke parole 😂

@eleanorjacobo9818

ACAB

@andregomez436

It's a smart decision. It shows law and order care only to punish the poor, while the rich, who steal, exploit their workers and become rich at the expense of breaking laws and regulations are protected. Thousands of criminals and he decided to go after the one who couldn't defend himself

52 More Replies...

@kr9223

the worst part about being single is having to sing both parts by myself

@PhillipUtterback

that's the best part. i'm never wrong.

@meowmeow7900

@@PhillipUtterback I'd much rather sing both parts than have a gf who sings the other

@trevrah

I always sing Javert's part because he's my favorite character

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