[1832. The teeming, squalid streets of Paris. Beggars, urchins, prostitutes, students, etc.]

Beggars
Look down, look down, and see the beggars at your feet
Look down and show some mercy if you can
Look down and see
The sweepings of the streets
Look down, look down,
Upon your fellow man!

Gavroche
How do you do? My name's Gavroche
These are my people, here's my patch
Not much to look at, nothing posh
Nothing that you'd call up to scratch
This is my school, my high society
Here in the slums of Saint Michele
We live on crumbs of humble piety
Tough on the teeth, but what the hell!
Think you're poor?
Think you're free?
Follow me, follow me!

Beggars
Look down, and show some mercy if you can
Look down, look down, upon your fellow man

[An old beggar woman finds a young prostitute occupying her patch.]

Old Beggar Woman
What you think yer at?
Hanging round me pitch?
If you're new around here, girl
You've got a lot to learn

Young Prostitute
Listen you old bat
Crazy bloody witch
'Least I give my customers
Some pleasure in return

Old Beggar Woman
I know what you give!
Give 'em all the pox!
Spread around your poison
Till they end up in a box

Pimp
Leave the poor old cow,
Move it, Madeleine
She used to be no better
Till the clap got to her brain

Beggars
When's it gonna end?
When we gonna live?
Something's gotta happen now or
Something's gonna give...
It'll come, it'll come, it'll come
It'll come, it'll come, it'll come

Enjolras
Where the leaders of the land?
Where are the swells who run this show?

Marius
Only one man - and that's Lamarque
Speaks for these people here below

Beggars
See our children fed
Help us in our shame
Something for a crust of bread
In Holy Jesus' name

Urchin
In the Lord's Holy name.

Beggars
In his name, in his name, in his name...

Marius
Lamarque is ill and fading fast!
Won't last the week out so they say

Enjolras
With all the anger in the land
How long before the judgement day?
Before we cut the fat ones down to size?
Before the barricades arise?

Gavroche
Watch out for old Thenardier
All of his family is on the make
Once ran a hash-house down the way
Bit of a swine and no mistake
He's got a gang
The bleeding layabout
Even his daughter does her share
That's Eponine, she knows her way about
Only a kid, but hard to scare
Do we care?
Not a cuss!
Long live us, long live us!

Beggars
Look down, look down, and show some mercy if you can
Look down, look down, upon your fellow man!