Come to Me
Les Misérables (1985 Original London Cast) Lyrics
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Cosette, it's past your bedtime
You've played the day away
And soon it will be night.
Come to me, Cosette, the light is fading
Don't you see the evening star appearing?
Come to me, and rest against my shoulder
How fast the minutes fly away and every minute colder.
Don't you hear, the winter wind is crying?
There's a darkness which comes without a warning
But I will sing you lullabies and wake you in the morning.
Oh, Fantine, our time is running out
But Fantine, I swear this on my life
Look, Monsinour, where all the children play
Be at peace, be at peace evermore.
My Cosette...
Shall live in my protection
Take her now
Your child will want for nothing
Good M'sieur, you come from God in Heaven.
And none will ever harm Cosette
As long as I am living.
Take my hand,
The night grows even colder.
Then I will keep you warm.
Take my child, I give her to your keeping.
Take shelter from the storm
For God's sake, please stay till I am sleeping
And tell Cosette I love her
And I'll see her when I wake...
In this emotional song, Jean Valjean urges Cosette to come to him as it is getting too cold outside and it is past her bedtime. He goes on to ask her to take rest against his shoulder as the minutes fly away and it gets colder. Even though there is a darkness that comes without a warning, he promises to sing her lullabies and protect her. Valjean is worried about the children playing out there because they do not have someone to take care of them. He tells Fantine, who is on her deathbed, that he will take care of her daughter and she will live in his protection. He assures her that none will harm Cosette as long as he is alive. He then asks Fantine to be at peace, and gives Cosette to the Thenardiers for safekeeping.
The song has a deep tone and the lyrics are emotionally charged. It speaks of the love and concern that Valjean has for Cosette even though she is not his real daughter. The lyrics evoke a sense of hopelessness, as even though Jean Valjean is trying to protect Cossette, he fears that he may not be able to protect her from the darkness that is ever-present around them. He is tormented by the fact that he may not be able to protect her, but he decides to take care of her anyway.
Line by Line Meaning
Cosette, it's turned so cold
I've noticed that the temperature has dropped.
Cosette, it's past your bedtime
It's late and you should be sleeping by now.
You've played the day away
You've been busy with activities all day.
And soon it will be night.
The day is coming to an end and it will be dark soon.
Come to me, Cosette, the light is fading
Come to me as the sun is setting.
Don't you see the evening star appearing?
Look up and notice the bright star in the sky.
Come to me, and rest against my shoulder
Come to me and lean on my shoulder to find comfort.
How fast the minutes fly away and every minute colder.
Time goes by quickly and it's getting colder each minute.
Hurry near, another day is dying
Come closer, as another day is coming to an end.
Don't you hear, the winter wind is crying?
Listen to the sound of the cold wind outside.
There's a darkness which comes without a warning
Sometimes things can become dark suddenly and unexpectedly.
But I will sing you lullabies and wake you in the morning.
I'll sing peaceful songs to help you sleep and wake you up in the morning.
Oh, Fantine, our time is running out
We don't have much time left together, Fantine.
But Fantine, I swear this on my life
I promise this to you, Fantine, and I stake my life on it.
Look, Monsinour, where all the children play
Look over there, priest, where kids are having fun.
Be at peace, be at peace evermore.
Find inner calm and remain peaceful.
My Cosette...
I adore my lovely daughter, Cosette.
Shall live in my protection
I'll safeguard and watch over her.
Take her now
Please take her into your care.
Your child will want for nothing
I'm confident that you will provide everything she needs.
Good M'sieur, you come from God in Heaven.
You're a blessing, sir, sent from God.
And none will ever harm Cosette
She'll be safe and unharmed.
As long as I am living.
As long as I'm alive, I'll protect her.
Take my hand,
Please hold my hand.
The night grows even colder.
It's getting colder and darker outside.
Then I will keep you warm.
I'll make sure you don't feel the cold.
Take my child, I give her to your keeping.
I entrust my daughter's care to you.
Take shelter from the storm
Find refuge from the harsh weather.
For God's sake, please stay till I am sleeping
Stay with me until I'm asleep for God's sake.
And tell Cosette I love her
Please share with Cosette that I love her.
And I'll see her when I wake...
I'll reunite with her when I wake up.
Contributed by Claire C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tzitel Shae Dela Cruz
Cosette, it's turned so cold
Cosette, it's past your bedtime
You've played the day away, and soon it will be night
Come to me, Cosette the light is fading
Don't you see the evening star appearing?
Come to me, and rest against my shoulder
How fast the minutes fly away and every minute colder
Hurry near, another day is dying
Don't you hear, the winter wind is crying?
There's a darkness which comes without a warning
But I will sing you lullabies and wake you in the morning
Oh Fantine, your time is running out
But Fantine, I swear this on my life
Look M'sieur, where all the children play
Be at peace
Be at peace ever more
My Cosette
Shall live in my protection
Take her now
Your child will want for nothing
Good M'sieur, you come from God in heaven
And none will ever harm Cosette as long as I am living
Take my hand, the night grows ever colder
And I will keep you warm
Take my child, I give her to your keeping
Take shelter from the storm
For God's sake, please stay 'til I am sleeping
And tell Cosette I love her, and I'll see her when I wake
shivan wu
Cosette, it's turned so cold
Cosette, it's past your bedtime
You've played the day away, and soon it will be night
Come to me, Cosette the light is fading
Don't you see the evening star appearing?
Come to me, and rest against my shoulder
How fast the minutes fly away and every minute colder.
Hurry near, another day is dying
Don't you hear, the winter wind is crying?
There's a darkness which comes without a warning
But I will sing you lullabies and wake you in the morning.
Oh Fantine, your time is running out
But Fantine, I swear this on my life
Look M'sieur, where all the children play...
Be at peace
Be at peace ever more
My Cosette...
Shall live in my protection
Take her now...
Your child will want for nothing
Good M'sieur, you come from God in heaven
And none will ever harm Cosette as long as I am living
Take my hand, the night grows ever colder
And I will keep you warm
Take my child, I give her to your keeping
Take shelter from the storm
For God's sake, please stay 'till I am sleeping
And tell Cosette I love her, and I'll see her when I wake...
Zach Miller
This might just be the most underrated song in the entire musical.
jane mcfadden
how many les miz editions have you seen? this is the best cast. just wondered if you have a different version of this song you prefer?
stephersluvsyou
jane mcfadden I think Debra Byrne's version is worth checking out. Very heartbreaking and a little softer than Ruthie's version.
labanlabansson
+Zach Miller. This is the most underrated song in the entire musical.
Zach Rapoport
Much more tear maker then I dreamed a Dream for me.
Leah Y Gervais
+Zach Miller This is indeed. Many people don't understand why Fantine is such a big character with only I Dreamed I Dreamed whereas Eponine has Own My Own and Little Fall of Rain, but this is so easily forgotten! I think it is more beautiful than Little Fall of Rain.
Little Bird
When her face goes dark and lights up again at “but I will sing you lullabies and wake you in the morning” but gives me chills each time.
54nomore
I think that her performance in the 10th anniversary concert was the best performance Ruthie Henshall ever gave. Her voice was never better. This was by far the best performance of Fantine I have ever heard by anyone. Brilliant!
jane mcfadden
I know :) they don't call this lot the dream cast for nothing lol .love ruthie
Luke 88
When my mum died it was the only thing that really said what I was feeling.