On Parole (Les Misérables)
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On Parole is the second song in the first Act of the musical Les Misérables. It comes after the Work Song and is followed by Valjean Arrested & Forgiven. The songs ends are not clearly defined: Jean Valjean has a solo at either end of it, which are sometimes counted the song before or after On Parole. These difficulties can be avoided by referring to the songs between the Overture / Works Song and What Have I Done? simply as the Prologue.
[edit] Overview
The show's main character, Jean Valjean, has just been released after 19 years of imprisonment. He hopes for a new life, but also swears not to forget the years of unjust hardship he has behind him. He finds work, but at the end, gets payd only half of the salary the others get, because of his past as a convict. He tries to get admitted at an inn, but is rejected for the same reasons. He discovers that he might have left the prison, but that he can never escape his past and will always stay an outcast. As he lies down to sleep the night in the streets, the bishop of Digne comes and invitest him to his house, giving him food, drink and shelter for the night. Valjean, embittered by hardship, repays him by stealing his silverware, worth twice of what he earned in 19 years in prison.
[edit] Music
On Parole is generally slow-paced and a mixture of all kinds of reoccuring melodies. Valjean's first solo is a soft tune found also in Come to me and The Confrontation. The work scene and the inn scene both pick up the main theme from the Work Song, though higher-pitched, slower and much softer. Valjean's solos about his despair are in a recitative style and sung numerous times by him (e. g. The Runaway Cart). The bishop sings a melody later often picked up by Javert (and the constables in the next song), though a lot slower and softer.
