He thinks that man is me! He knew him at a glance! That stranger he has found This man could be my chance Why should I save his hide Why should I right this wrong When I have come so far And struggled for so long? If I speak, I am condemned If I stay silent, I am damned! I am the master of hundreds of workers They all look to me How can I abandon them, how can they live If I am not free? If I speak, I am condemned If I stay silent, I am damned!
Who am I? Can I condemn this man to slavery Pretend I do not see his agony This innocent who bears my face Who goes to judgement in my place Who am I? Can I conceal myself for evermore? Pretend I'm not the man I was before? And must my name until I die Be no more than an alibi? Must I lie? How can I ever face my fellow man? How can I ever face myself again? My soul belongs to God, I know I made that bargain long ago He gave me hope, when hope was gone He gave me strength to journey on
[He steps in front of the court]
Who am I? Who am I? I am Jean Valjean!
[He unbuttons his shirt to reveal the number tattooed to his chest.]
And so Javert, you see it's true, That man bears no more guilt than you! Who am I? 24601!
Lyrics taken from http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/les_miserables/who_am_i.html