Prologue
Original London Cast - Love Never Dies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let us see if he's impressed
You were lodging there last night
You were the honest Bishop's guest
And then, out of Christian goodness
When he learned about your plight
You maintained he made a present of his silver
But my friend you left so early
Something surely slipped your mind
You forgot I gave these also
Would you leave the best behind?
So Messieurs you may release him
For this man has spoken true
I commend you for your duty
And God's blessing go with you
And remember this, my brother
See in this some higher plan
You must use this precious silver
To become an honest man
By the witness of the martyrs
By the passion and the blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God!
The Prologue is the opening song of the Original London Cast recording of Les Misérables. It is essentially an introduction to the story and sets up the scene for what is to come. The song begins with a group of workers discussing the arrival of a stranger who is seeking shelter. They advise the stranger to go to the Bishop's house where he will be fed and given a place to stay. The stranger goes to the Bishop's house and is welcomed with open arms. The Bishop invites him to dinner where he eats with the Bishop's family and is given his own room to sleep in for the night.
The stranger, however, has other plans. In the middle of the night, he steals the Bishop's silver and flees. The next morning, he is caught by the police and brought back to the Bishop's house where he is accused of theft. The Bishop, however, plays down the severity of the crime and tells the police that he gave the stranger the silver as a gift. He then goes one step further and gives the stranger two silver candlesticks, which he had not stolen, and tells him to use them to become an honest man.
The song is full of religious imagery and symbolism. The Bishop is portrayed as a Christ-like figure who forgives and shows mercy to an undeserving sinner. The stranger represents all those who have been lost and have strayed from the path of righteousness. The Bishop's actions show that it is never too late to turn back to God and to seek redemption.
Overall, the Prologue sets up the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the power of love and compassion. It shows that even the most hardened of hearts can be softened through the kindness of another.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell his reverence your story
Share with the bishop your tale
Let us see if he's impressed
We'll know if he's moved by your ordeal
You were lodging there last night
You were a guest at the Bishop's home
You were the honest Bishop's guest
The Bishop is known for his integrity
And then, out of Christian goodness
From Christian charity and kindness
When he learned about your plight
Upon hearing of your unfortunate situation
You maintained he made a present of his silver
You said he gifted you some silver
That is right
Your words are accurate
But my friend you left so early
You departed early, my companion
Something surely slipped your mind
Perhaps you forgot something important
You forgot I gave these also
You neglected to mention these gifts
Would you leave the best behind?
Why not bring your best possessions?
So Messieurs you may release him
Gentlemen, you may set him free
For this man has spoken true
He has been honest in his account
I commend you for your duty
I appreciate your commitment to justice
And God's blessing go with you
May God bless you in your endeavors
And remember this, my brother
Keep this in your thoughts, my friend
See in this some higher plan
Consider the possibility of a divine purpose
You must use this precious silver
Make good use of this valuable gift
To become an honest man
Use it to become a man of integrity
By the witness of the martyrs
Through the sacrifice of those who died for their beliefs
By the passion and the blood
Through the intense devotion and sacrifice
God has raised you out of darkness
God has lifted you out of a difficult situation
I have bought your soul for God!
I have redeemed you for God's purpose!
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAIN ALBERT BOUBLIL, HERBERT KRETZMER, CLAUDE MICHEL SCHONBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind