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.
Valjean’s Confession
Hugh Jackman Lyrics
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Is gratitude enough for giving me Cosette?
Your home shall be with us and not a day shall pass
But we will prove our love
To you, whom we shall call
A father to us both
A father to us all
Not another word, my son
There lived a man whose name was Jean Valjean
He stole some bread to save his sister's son
For nineteen winters, he served his time
In sweat, he washed away his crime
Years ago
He broke parole and lived a life apart
How could he tell Cosette and break her heart?
It's for Cosette this must be faced
If he is caught, she is disgraced
The time has come to journey on
And from this day he must be gone
Who am I?
Who am I?
You're Jean Valjean!
Monsieur, you cannot leave
Whatever I tell my beloved Cosette
She will never believe!
Tell her I've gone on a journey a long way away
Tell her my heart was too full for farewells
It is better this way
Promise me, M'sieur, Cosette will never know
What I have spoken, why I must go
For the sake of Cosette, it must be so
Valjean’s Confession is a musical narration of the turmoil experienced by Jean Valjean, the central character of Les Misérables. He is struggling with his dual identity as an ex-convict who is trying to live an honest life and uphold his responsibility as a father to his adoptive daughter, Cosette. In the first part of the lyrics, Valjean expresses his gratitude towards Marius for giving him Cosette’s hand in marriage. He promises to prove his love to them both and be a father to all. However, as he begins to think about his past, he reveals his true identity to Marius and comes to terms with the fact that he must leave Cosette behind to avoid disgrace if he is caught by the law.
The lyrics of Valjean’s Confession use powerful storytelling to portray the emotional struggle experienced by Valjean. They reflect the theme of identity crisis and the difficulty of making sacrifices for those we love. The song ends on a melancholic and emotional note, with Valjean asking the question, “Who am I?” and ultimately accepting his destiny and the responsibility of protecting Cosette.
Line by Line Meaning
M'sieur, this is a day I never can forget
Sir, this day will forever be inscribed in my memory
Is gratitude enough for giving me Cosette?
Can words express my thankfulness for you entrusting Cosette to my care?
Your home shall be with us and not a day shall pass, but we will prove our love
You are welcome to stay with us indefinitely, and we will continuously demonstrate our affection
To you, whom we shall call a father to us both, a father to us all
As the figurehead of our family, we hold you in high regard as a father to both Cosette and myself, and to all
Not another word, my son. There's something now that must be done
Hush, my child. The time for action has arrived
There lived a man whose name was Jean Valjean. He stole some bread to save his sister's son
A man by the name of Jean Valjean stole bread to protect his nephew
For nineteen winters, he served his time. In sweat, he washed away his crime
For nineteen long years, he repented for his actions through hard labor and suffering
Years ago, he broke parole and lived a life apart. How could he tell Cosette and break her heart?
Years ago, he violated his parole and subsequently lived in hiding. How could he reveal this truth to Cosette and risk causing her distress?
It's for Cosette this must be faced. If he is caught, she is disgraced
For Cosette's sake, he must face the consequences of his actions. If he is caught, it would bring shame upon her
The time has come to journey on, and from this day he must be gone
The time has come for him to depart and begin a new chapter in his life
Who am I? Who am I? You're Jean Valjean!
Who do I embody? Who am I? You are Jean Valjean!
Monsieur, you cannot leave. Whatever I tell my beloved Cosette, she will never believe!
Sir, you cannot depart! Whatever explanation I provide for Cosette, she will not accept
Tell her I've gone on a journey a long way away. Tell her my heart was too full for farewells. It is better this way
Inform her that I have embarked on a far voyage. Explain that my emotions overwhelmed me, and I could not bid her farewell. This way is preferable
Promise me, M'sieur, Cosette will never know. What I have spoken, why I must go. For the sake of Cosette, it must be so
Assure me, sir, that Cosette will be kept in the dark about my departure and the reason behind it. For the sake of Cosette's well-being, this is imperative
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg, Herbert Kretzmer, Jean-Marc Natel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind