In 2004, Jackman won a Tony Award for his Broadway portrayal of Australian songwriter and performer Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz. He hosted the Tony Awards in 2004 and 2005, garnering very positive reviews. The televisation of the these awards earned him an Emmy Award win for Outstanding Individual Performer in a Variety, Musical or Comedy program in 2005.
Look Down
Hugh Jackman Lyrics
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Don't look 'em in the eye
Look down, look down,
You're here until you die
Now prisoner 24601
Your time is up and your parole's begun
You know what that means
Yes, it means I'm free
No
Follow to the letter your itinerary
This badge of shame you'll show until you die
It warns you're a dangerous man
I stole a loaf of bread.
My sister's child was close to death
We were starving.
You will starve again
Unless you learn the meaning of the law.
I know the meaning of those 19 years
A slave of the law
Five years for what you did
The rest because you tried to run
Yes, 24601.
My name is Jean Valjean
And I am Javert
Do not forget my name
Do not forget me
24601
Look down, look down
You'll always be a slave
Look down, look down
You're standing in your grave
The song "Look Down" in Les Miserables is a powerful one that depicts the harsh reality of being a prisoner in 19th century France. The lyrics "look down" emphasizes the shame and humiliation prisoners feel, as if they are not deserving of looking straight ahead or making eye contact. The phrase "You're here until you die" highlights the hopelessness and fear that comes with being locked up, trapped in a system that controls your every move. These lyrics demonstrate the dehumanizing and oppressive nature of the justice system and how it affects those within it.
The dialogue between Prisoner 24601 and the guard shows the struggle for freedom in the face of the law. Prisoner 24601, also known as Jean Valjean, has just finished serving his sentence, yet still feels the stigma of his past as a criminal. The guard reminds him that his parole means he is still under the law's control, and his badge of shame will haunt him forever. The guard's words reflect the unfairness and inequity of the justice system, as Valjean is expected to carry the burden of his crime for life while society refuses to give him a second chance.
Overall, the song "Look Down" portrays the hopelessness and indignity of being a prisoner, serving as a commentary on the oppressive structures that govern our society.
Line by Line Meaning
Look down, look down
You should lower your gaze and never look directly into the eyes of the higher class.
Don't look 'em in the eye
Avoiding direct eye contact with the upper class is necessary for survival.
You're here until you die
As a prisoner, you are bound to live a life of confinement until death.
Now prisoner 24601
You, Jean Valjean, are being addressed as prisoner 24601.
Your time is up and your parole's begun
Your incarceration is over, and you are now on parole.
You know what that means
You are aware of what that entails.
Yes, it means I'm free
I am now a free man due to my parole.
No
However,
Follow to the letter your itinerary
You must strictly adhere to the plan that has been assigned to you.
This badge of shame you'll show until you die
You will bear the stigma of your past actions for the rest of your life.
It warns you're a dangerous man
Your criminal record is a sign that you are a hazardous person.
I stole a loaf of bread.
My crime was stealing bread to feed my starving family.
My sister's child was close to death
My nephew was gravely ill and close to losing his life.
We were starving.
Due to a lack of food, we were slowly dying of starvation.
You will starve again
If you do not heed the law, you will be hungry again.
Unless you learn the meaning of the law.
Only if you understand and obey the law would you avoid the curse of hunger and starvation.
I know the meaning of those 19 years
I am all too aware of the horrors that I have witnessed during my time in prison, which lasted 19 long years.
A slave of the law
The law had the power to reduce me to a mere slave to its system.
Five years for what you did
Although you were only penalized for the crime of stealing, you were incarcerated for a total of 5 years.
The rest because you tried to run
The additional 14 years which you spent in confinement were a result of your attempts to flee from your captors.
My name is Jean Valjean
I am introducing myself as Jean Valjean, the man who was unfairly punished because of a single offence.
And I am Javert
The man known as Javert is my acquaintance.
Do not forget my name
I urge you never to forget who I am.
Do not forget me
Please do not forget about me after I part company with you.
Look down, look down
You must continue to lower your gaze.
You'll always be a slave
As a prisoner, you were once a slave to the law, and that power remains with you always.
You're standing in your grave
Your current situation is similar to being buried in a grave alive, with no chance of escape.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alain Boublil, Alain Albert Boublil, Claude Michel Schonberg, Herbert Kretzmer, Jean Marc Natel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
audrie llname
I love this movie, more than others. More than Phantom of the Opera.