Les Miserables

The English-language version of the musical Les Miserables is the longest running musical ever staged in London, now approaching 39 years. Its subject matter does not immediately strike you as the ingredients for a box office smash hit - Victor Hugo's novel is indeed full of misery, the plot is complex and spans multiple decades. But amongst the many characters are a few good-hearted ones and the music is compelling.

Here is a selection of sad songs from the show:

At the end of the day
"At the end of the day you're another day older. And that's all you can say for the life of the poor"

I dreamed a dream
Fantine tells of the man who beguiled her for a summer and then left her with a child, Cozette

Castle on a cloud
Young Cozette fantisies about a place where she would not be an ill-treated skivvy

On my own
Eponine is in love with her childhood friend Marius, but Marius sees her only as a friend

Empty chairs at empty tables
Marius laments, as sole survivor, for all of his student friends who were killed in the failed uprising at the barricades

Epilogue
The shows ends with protagonist Jean Valjean being welcomed to heaven by the many who died during the story, the dead singing
"they will walk behind the ploughshare, they will put away the sword" and "tomorrow comes!".