On Parole
Valjean:
Now at last, I am free
It's peaceful and bright
The world has been revived
At the spring, I'll quench my thirst
I must not forget about that hell
I must not forgive them for the injustice they did to me
In this new world, what will become of me?
Employer:
Collect your things and get out of my sight!
If it's money you want, I'll pay you.
Valjean:
Why did you only give me half what the others got?
I spilled my sweat for this?!
Laborer:
You are an ex-convict.
Do you think trash like yourself is worth the same as me?
Valjean:
<Is this the thing I've longed for, that they call "freedom?"
Such a tiny, single piece of paper curses me
Yes, to them, I'm just a stray dog covered in mud.>
[Now every house has its door closed to me
For this parole*, they tell me to show my yellow piece of paper
They look at me and tell me to get out.]
* In Japanese, the word for "parole" translates literally to "temporary freedom" or "false freedom." The way Valjean actors tend to emphasize the phrase in recordings makes it seem that they're intentionally pointing out those other meanings.
Now at last, I am free
It's peaceful and bright
The world has been revived
At the spring, I'll quench my thirst
I must not forget about that hell
I must not forgive them for the injustice they did to me
In this new world, what will become of me?
Employer:
Collect your things and get out of my sight!
If it's money you want, I'll pay you.
Valjean:
Why did you only give me half what the others got?
I spilled my sweat for this?!
Laborer:
You are an ex-convict.
Do you think trash like yourself is worth the same as me?
Valjean:
<Is this the thing I've longed for, that they call "freedom?"
Such a tiny, single piece of paper curses me
Yes, to them, I'm just a stray dog covered in mud.>
[Now every house has its door closed to me
For this parole*, they tell me to show my yellow piece of paper
They look at me and tell me to get out.]
* In Japanese, the word for "parole" translates literally to "temporary freedom" or "false freedom." The way Valjean actors tend to emphasize the phrase in recordings makes it seem that they're intentionally pointing out those other meanings.