At the End of the Day
Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics

At the end of the day you're another day older
Time moves on, and another unfulfilling day of being poor has passed.

And that's all you can say for the life of the poor
Being poor is a daily struggle without any form of progress.

It's a struggle, it's a war
Living in poverty is comparable to fighting a constant battle.

And there's nothing that anyone's giving
No one is providing any meaningful assistance.

One more day standing about, what is it for?
Each day is wasted doing nothing significant.

One day less to be living.
Time is running out and one day is subtracted from the total.

At the end of the day you're another day colder
The day has come to a close, and the chill makes the harsh reality of poverty sink in.

And the shirt on your back doesn't keep out the chill
Wearing clothes is hardly adequate protection from the cold.

And the righteous hurry past
The privileged people pass by, ignoring the suffering of the less fortunate.

They don't hear the little ones crying
The pleas and cries of young children go unheard and unnoticed.

And the winter is coming on fast, ready to kill
The upcoming winter is a threat to the impoverished people, potentially leading to their death.

One day nearer to dying!
Each passing day brings them a step closer to their eventual demise.

At the end of the day there's another day dawning
A new day is coming full of new struggles and challenges.

And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
The sun is a symbol of hope and change, a new beginning.

Like the waves crash on the sand
Life is an unpredictable force similar to the crashing waves.

Like a storm that'll break any second
The potential for chaos is always present, just like an impending storm.

There's a hunger in the land
Poverty has left many people hungry and yearning for basic necessities.

There's a reckoning still to be reckoned and
There are unresolved issues that still need to be addressed.

There's gonna be hell to pay
Eventually, the consequences of neglecting the poor will surface.

At the end of the day you get nothing for nothing
There is no reward or recognition for hard work, especially when working-class people have to struggle to survive.

Sitting flat on your butt doesn't buy any bread
Being idle will not lead to progress or prosperity.

There are children back at home
Having children to feed and support is an additional burden.

And the children have got to be fed
Taking care of children's basic needs requires adequate resources.

And you're lucky to be in a job
Being employed, although difficult, is better than not having a source of income.

And in a bed!
Having a place to sleep is a luxury that many less fortunate people cannot afford.

And we're counting our blessings!
Despite the struggles, they are grateful for what little they have.

Have you seen how the foreman is fuming today?
The foreman is angry and visibly upset.

With his terrible breath and his wandering hands?
His appearance and behavior are unappealing.

It's because little Fantine won't give him his way
The foreman is angry because Fantine is not giving in to his advances.

Take a look at his trousers, you'll see where he stands!
The physical evidence of his intentions is visible on his clothing.

And the boss, he never knows
The factory owner is often unaware of the mistreatment and harassment that occurs in the workplace.

That the foreman is always in heat
The foreman is constantly driven by sexual desire.

If Fantine doesn't look out
If Fantine is not careful.

Watch how she goes
Be mindful of her actions.

She'll be out on the street!
Fantine will likely be fired and end up with nowhere to go and no means of survival.

With enough in your pocket to last for a week
Making just enough money each day to provide a week's worth of basic necessities.

Pay the landlord, pay the shop
The little money they earn goes towards their rent and purchasing necessities.

Keep on grafting as long as you're able
Keep working hard for as long as possible.

Keep on grafting till you drop
Continuously working until exhaustion or injury.

Or it's back to the crumbs off the table
Without steady income, they must resort to whatever means necessary to survive.

You've got to pay your way
They must work hard just to be able to support themselves and survive.

And what have we here, little innocent sister?
Mocking Fantine for her perceived innocence and naivety.

Come on Fantine, let's have all the news!
Taunting Fantine by asking for information about her personal life.

Ooh..."Dear Fantine you must send us more money...
Reading a letter from Fantine's child's caretakers, asking for financial assistance.

Your child needs a doctor...
Fantine's child requires medical attention which she cannot afford.

There's no time to lose..."
The situation is urgent and requires immediate attention.

Give that letter to me, It is none of your business
Fantine attempts to keep her personal life private and is embarrassed by the situation.

With a husband at home, And a bit on the side!
Fantine is married but also has an extramarital affair.

Is there anyone here
Does anyone here have the right to judge me?

Who can swear before God
Who is so pure and faultless that they can judge and condemn me?

She has nothing to fear?
Is no one else scared of being impoverished and potentially dying?

She has nothing to hide?
Is everyone else so pure and blameless that they can scrutinize my life?

Will someone tear these two apart, What is this fighting all about?
Trying to break up the argument between the other women regarding Fantine's situation.

This is a factory, not a circus!
Reminding everyone that they are in a place of work.

Now, come on ladies, settle down
Encouraging the women to calm down and stop fighting.

I run a business of repute, I am the Mayor of this town
Asserting his position of authority as both a business owner and mayor.

I look to you to sort this out, And be as patient as you can-
Asking the foreman to resolve the conflict and maintain composure in doing so.

Now someone say how this began!
Asking for the beginning of the altercation.

She's the one who began it!
Blaming Fantine for starting the argument.

There's a kid that she's hiding
Accusing Fantine of hiding a child.

In some little town, There's a man she has to pay
Speculating that Fantine is paying a man for her extramarital affair.

You can guess how she picks up the extra
Implying that Fantine is engaging in prostitution to make extra money.

You can bet she's earning her keep, Sleeping around
Accusing Fantine of sleeping with multiple men for financial gain.

Yes it's true there's a child, And the child is my daughter
Admitting to having a child.

And her father abandoned us, Leaving us flat
Explaining that the child's father has abandoned them and left them with no means of support.

Now she lives with an innkeeper man And his wife, And I pay for the child
Revealing that Fantine's child lives with someone else but she is still supporting her financially.

What's the matter with that?
Asking why there is an issue with her supporting her child.

She'll be nothing but trouble
Claiming that Fantine will only cause problems.

And there's trouble for all, When there's trouble for one!
Stressing that if one person is struggling, it will affect everyone else.

While we're earning our daily bread, She's the one with her hands in the butter
Implying that while they are working hard for their daily bread, Fantine is living an easier life.

You must send the slut away
Demanding that Fantine be fired.

Or we're all gonna end in the gutter, And it's us who'll have to pay
Claiming that if Fantine is not fired, they will all suffer the consequences.

I might have known the bitch could bite
Derogatory name-calling toward Fantine.

I might have known the cat had claws
Implying that she was aware of Fantine's true nature all along.

I might have guessed your little secret
Claiming to know Fantine's secrets.

Ah yes, the virtuous Fantine, Who keeps herself so pure and clean
Being sarcastic and mocking Fantine for her perceived virtue.

You'd be the cause I had no doubt, Of any trouble hereabout
Blaming Fantine for any and all problems they face.

You play a virgin in the light, But need no urgin' in the night.
Claiming that Fantine pretends to be innocent but is promiscuous.

She's been laughing at you, While she's having her men
Claiming that Fantine is laughing at their naivete while enjoying her sexual life.

She'll be nothing but trouble again and again
Predicting that Fantine will continue to be a problem.

You must sack her today, Sack the girl today!
Demanding that Fantine be fired immediately.

Right my girl. On your way!
Ultimately, Fantine is fired and left with no income and no means of support.