The curtain opens on Cosette - torn between her intense love for Marius; wanting to stay and protect her beloved father; and bristling under his over-protectiveness.
Only love can be to blame
If we lose our love it's a shame
Ooh, I wouldn't want to live with the pain
Gonna stay forever
There is a mood of tension in the city. The Amis are preparing for the barricade - but Grantaire counters about what's important to him in life.
Let's make a toast to those who helped make this occasion
They turned their back on love, but that's what drove you straight to me
Now to you, I make a lasting dedication
I'll show you all that love and life can be, ooh
And each day that I live I will deliver
(Get ready - tonight
Gonna make this a night to remember)
The battle begins in the streets - as the tinderbox of the streets catches light!
The heat was on
Rising to the top, umm
Everybody's goin' strong
That is when my spark got hot
Eponine is shot at the barricade, dying in the arms of Marius
I stood there tremblin' and soakin'
I didn't feel much like talkin'
I couldn't say what I wanted to say
'Cause my feelings for you seemed to get in my way
The leaves were fallin' down
The sky was cryin'
The leaves were fallin' down
The sky was cryin'
(Don't just stand there in the rain, come inside)
In the midst of the final battle, Marius starts dissociating furiously
Bang, ba-bang, bang go bang go
Bang, ba-bang, bang go bang go
Bang, ba-bang, bang go bang go
I wanna see all my friends at once
I would do anything for the chance to go back
The Amis send away all who do not wish to stay - and, knowing death is certain, Enjolras sings about the future
There'll be love
Hmm There'll be love
Happiness
Yeah There'll be happiness too
As the remaining revolutionaries are slaughtered, Valjean escapes through the sinister sewers carrying Marius on his back. Life and death are in the balance, and danger is everywhere - from Thenardier, from Javert; but Javert, in turn, is haunted by his memories of being at Valjean's mercy...
We're looking down the barrel of the devil's gun
Nowhere to run
We've gotta make the stand against the devil's gun
Overcome by shame and cognitive dissonance, Javert casts himself into the river
It’s all my fault but that’s what I bought
Cause I’m guilty, forgive me
For the mistake I made not to change my ways
Can I be saved? Realized and now I’m sorry
By the days, will end my worries?
Looking inside myself I am so ashamed
Can I be saved? Realized that time is passing
It’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone
Marius grieves his lost community, who took him in when he was alone; and his changed fortunes from his childhood raised in loveless wealth.
Where are all my friends
I can't find nobody
Where are all my friends
Oh Lord, oh Lord
I can't find a father or a mother
Where are all my friends
From the otherworlds, the shades of freedom-fighters past assemble, singing to the future.
You gotta be strong enough to walk on through the night
There's another new day on the other side
Cos I got hope in my soul I keep on walkin' baby
Strong enough to walk on through the night.
And it's time to cool down, as the audience filter out of the theatre, the actors take off their wigs; and may the fire of revolution live in your heart as long as the boogie moves you.