At the End of the Day
Hugh Jackman Lyrics

At the end of the day you're another day older
Every day that passes, you grow older and there's nothing you can do about it

And that's all you can say for the life of the poor
The poor struggle to survive every day, and that's the only thing that can be said about their life

It's a struggle, it's a war
Life for the poor is a constant struggle, it's like a never-ending war

And there's nothing that anyone's giving
Nobody is helping the poor, they're on their own

One more day standing about, what is it for?
Another day has passed, and the poor are still standing around, wondering what the point of their existence is

One day less to be living
Every day that passes is a day closer to death

At the end of the day you're another day colder
As time passes, you feel more and more alone and isolated

And the shirt on your back doesn't keep out the chill
You don't have enough to keep yourself warm, you're struggling to survive

And the righteous hurry past
People who think they're better than you ignore your suffering and walk by without helping

They don't hear the little ones crying
The cries of children are ignored by those who have the power to help

And the plague is coming on fast, ready to kill
Disease is spreading quickly, and the poor are the most vulnerable

One day nearer to dying
Every day that passes is one day closer to death

At the end of the day there's another day dawning
Every new day brings hope for a better life

And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
The light of a new day brings the promise of a better future

Like the waves crash on the sand
Life is unpredictable and chaotic, like the crashing of waves on the shore

Like a storm that'll break any second
The promise of a better future can be shattered at any moment by unexpected events

There's a hunger in the land
People are suffering, and there's a need for change

There's a reckoning still to be reckoned and
There's a debt to be paid, and justice to be served

There's gonna be hell to pay
Eventually, those who cause suffering for the poor will face the consequences of their actions

At the end of the day you get nothing for nothing
You have to work hard to survive, nothing is given for free

Sitting flat on your bum doesn't buy any bread
You have to work hard to earn a living, you can't survive if you just sit around

There are children back at home
The poor have families to support, and they work hard to provide for them

And the children have got to be fed
Children need food to survive, and the poor have to work hard to provide it

And you're lucky to be in a job
Having a job is a blessing, and the poor are grateful for any work they can find

And in a bed
Having a place to sleep is a luxury for the poor, and they're grateful for it

And we're counting our blessings
The poor are grateful for anything they have, no matter how small

Have you seen how the foreman is fuming today?
The person in charge is angry and frustrated

With his terrible breath and his wandering hands?
The person in charge is unpleasant and abusive

It's because little Fantine won't give him his way
The person in charge is harassing a woman, and it's causing problems

Take a look at his trousers, you'll see where he stands
The person in charge is sexually harassing a woman, and it's obvious by the way he's dressed

And the boss, he never knows
The person in charge is getting away with his behavior, and the boss is unaware

That the foreman is always on heat
The person in charge is always sexually aroused

If Fantine doesn't look out
If the woman being harassed isn't careful

Watch how she goes
She'll be in danger

She'll be out on the street
The woman being harassed will lose her job and her home

At the end of the day it's another day over
Another day has passed, and the struggle for survival continues

With enough in your pocket to last for a week
The poor have enough money to survive for a short time, but they need to keep working to earn more

Pay the landlord, pay the shop
The poor have bills to pay, and they have to work hard to make ends meet

Keep on grafting as long as you're able
The poor have to work hard for as long as they can, to survive

Keep on grafting till you drop
The poor have to work hard until they can't work anymore, to survive

Or it's back to the crumbs off the table
If the poor can't work, they'll have nothing to eat and will have to rely on charity

You've got to pay your way
The poor have to work hard to survive, and they can't rely on anyone else to support them

And what have we here, little innocent sister?
The person in charge is mocking and belittling a woman

Oh, come on Fantine, let's have all the news
The person in charge is harassing a woman, and is not interested in her personal life

Dear Fantine you must send us more money
The woman is being asked to send more money to support her child

Your child needs a doctor
The woman's child is sick, and needs medical attention

There's no time to lose
The woman needs to act quickly to save her child's life

Give that letter to me
The person in charge is taking control of the situation

It is none of your business
The woman is being told to mind her own business

With a husband at home
The woman being harassed is married

And a bit on the side
The woman has a lover

Is there anyone here
The person in charge is asking if anyone can testify

Who can swear before God
The person in charge is asking for someone to make a formal statement

She has nothing to fear?
The person in charge is claiming that the woman has done nothing wrong

She has nothing to hide?
The person in charge is claiming that the woman is innocent

What is this fighting all about?
The person in charge is confused about why the women are arguing

Will someone tear these two apart
The person in charge wants someone to separate the women who are fighting

This is a factory, not a circus
The person in charge is angry that there is chaos in the workplace

Now, come on ladies, settle down
The person in charge is trying to calm everyone down

I am the mayor of this town
The person in charge is using their position of power to assert authority

I run a business of repute
The person in charge is proud of their reputation as a successful business owner

Deal with this foreman
The person in charge wants the woman being harassed to handle the situation with her harasser

Be as patient as you can
The person in charge is telling the woman being harassed to be patient and try to handle the situation calmly

Yes Monsieur Madeline
The woman being harassed is acknowledging the person in charge

I might have known the bitch could bite
The harasser is angry that the woman he harassed fought back

I might have known the cat had claws
The harasser is surprised that the woman he harassed fought back

I might have guessed your little secret
The harasser is taunting the woman he harassed

Ah yes, the virtuous Fantine
The harasser is being sarcastic about the woman's character

Who keeps herself so pure and clean
The harasser is being sarcastic about the woman's reputation

You'd be the cause I had no doubt
The harasser is blaming the woman for the trouble he caused

Of any trouble hereabout
The harasser is claiming that the woman is causing problems

You play a virgin in the light
The harasser is mocking the woman's reputation

But need no urgin' in the night
The harasser is accusing the woman of being sexually active

She's been laughing at you
The woman has been mocking the harasser

While she's having her men
The woman is sexually active

She'll be nothing but trouble again and again
The harasser believes that the woman will continue to cause problems

You must sack her today
The harasser is demanding that the woman be fired

Sack the girl today
The harasser is demanding that the woman be fired

Right my girl, on your way!
The woman being harassed is being dismissed from her job