Prologue: Valijean Arrested / Valijean Forgiven Lyrics – Les Miserables

Song Overview

Song Credits

• Featuring: Norman Large; Steve Shocket; Marcus Lovett
• Producer: Alain Boublil; Claude-Michel Schönberg
• Composer & Lyricist: Claude-Michel Schönberg; Herbert Kretzmer; Alain Boublil
• Release Date: 1987
• Genre: Pop; Broadway; Musicals
• Language: English
• Track #: 2
• Album: Les Misérables (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Song Meaning and Annotations

In this pivotal scene, Valjean stands accused of deception by the constables who believe he stole silver from the kindly bishop. Instead of condemning him, the bishop not only confirms Valjean’s story but gifts him the very candlesticks he appeared to have abandoned. This act of mercy—unexpected and radical—becomes the moment that severs Valjean’s past as convict 24601 and sets him on a path toward redemption. The music swells from restrained tension to triumphant release as the bishop commends the men for their duty and urges Valjean to “use this precious silver to become an honest man.”

The song text weaves biblical and legal imagery—“By the witness of the martyrs, by the passion and the blood”—to frame the bishop’s charity as divinely ordained. Where Valjean once knew only chains and numbers, he now encounters grace so profound that it “raises him out of darkness.” The candlesticks themselves symbolize both light and guidance, illuminating a “higher plan” for a man who had believed his soul beyond saving.

“That is right, but my friend, you left so early; surely something slipped your mind—you forgot I gave these also.”

The bishop’s gentle reproach reveals his true gift: not just silver, but an invitation to see beyond Valjean’s condemned past.

“You must use this precious silver to become an honest man.”

This charge transforms the candlesticks into a moral compass—Valjean’s key to forging a new identity.

“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.”

Here the song text elevates the bishop’s mercy to a sacrificial act, echoing Christ’s own redemption through suffering and love.

Constables’ Accusation

The opening lines place Valjean under harsh scrutiny, the constables eager to expose the thief “in the honest bishop’s house,” yet unaware they stand before genuine Christian charity.

Bishop’s Gift

By presenting the candlesticks—first absent, then unexpectedly handed over—the bishop subverts justice’s punitive gaze, teaching Valjean the power of unmerited forgiveness.

Bishop’s Charge

The closing directive—“use this precious silver to become an honest man”—lays the foundation for Valjean’s lifelong commitment to mercy, justice, and selfless service.

Similar Songs

1. “What Have I Done?” by Colm Wilkinson
   Both songs capture Valjean at a turning point—first grappling with guilt, then receiving grace. “What Have I Done?” unfolds as a private confession in the dead of night, Valjean reflecting on years of injustice and lost identity. Here, the bishop’s intervention reframes that solitude into hope. Musically, each number begins sparsely, building into orchestral affirmation—the prologue rising from whispered doubt, this number from courtroom tension. Each uses biblical references and self-reproach to chart Valjean’s transformation.
2. “Bring Him Home” by Colm Wilkinson
   This prayer from a later act shares the theme of selfless compassion ignited by mercy. In “Bring Him Home,” Valjean pleads for another’s safety as if it were his own—echoing how he was spared earlier. Both tracks showcase Wilkinson’s (or here Large’s) tenor soaring over gentle organ and strings, creating an atmosphere of sacred solemnity. Lyrically, each song frames love as a force stronger than law—one in plea, the other in forgiveness—binding the musical’s moral center to Valjean’s unwavering faith.
3. “Stars” by Terrence Mann
   Javert’s solo contrasts sharply with the bishop’s mercy, yet resonates on a similar melodic axis. Where “Valjean Arrested / Valjean Forgiven” speaks of light and redemption, “Stars” turns that light into order and judgment—“You are the sentinels, silent and sure.” Both use celestial imagery to guide their protagonists: one toward salvation, the other toward inflexible law. The soaring orchestration and measured pacing in each number underscore their respective convictions, illustrating how forgiveness and duty can share the same musical DNA yet yield opposite destinies.

Questions and Answers

Who accuses Valjean at the start?

Two constables insist he stole silver from the bishop, setting the trial-like scene in motion.

How does the bishop protect Valjean?

He confirms Valjean’s story, gifts him two candlesticks, and orders the constables to release him.

What does the bishop ask Valjean to do with the silver?

He charges him to “use this precious silver to become an honest man,” transforming a gift into a moral mandate.

Which biblical imagery appears in this song?

References to martyrs, passion, and blood frame the bishop’s mercy as a Christ-like sacrifice.

Who performed this on Broadway in 1987?

Norman Large, Steve Shocket, and Marcus Lovett introduced this number on the original Broadway cast recording.