Les Starwarbles, Part III

[matril]

You could say there are two categories of songs in a musical - those that express the feelings and/or develop the character of the singer without really advancing the plot, and those that move the action forward. Les Mis has both (it has to, since it's pretty much all singing and no talking) and I like both. But the second kind is harder to write. Having people sing as they do stuff takes an extra level of suspension of disbelief, and it can make things pretty silly if it's not done right. I mean, sillier than the foundational concept of people breaking out into song in the first place. ;)

Having said all that, here's some songs that encompass entire scenes or even more than one scene.


The sadness of Fantine's death, wherein she entrusts Valjean with Cosette, syncs up pretty well with Anakin leaving his mother. Also, here's Qui-Gon playing the Valjean role yet again. (This tune, also known as On My Own, shows up a whole lot in Les Mis, and it'll show up a lot in my Star Wars version as well.

ANAKIN’S DEPARTURE

(Original)


Shmi: My boy, he shines so bright
My son, he’s meant for better
Than spending life a slave
He’s meant for more than this...

So, my son, you are a slave no longer
Take your path, the choice is now before you

Anakin: I don’t like how everything is changing

Shmi: But you can’t ever stop the change
Nor how the suns are setting
Don’t you fear, the future’s bright and shining
Don’t look back, the past is gone and dying

Qui-Gon: On my word, your son will want for nothing
He’ll stand within my watchful care as long as I am living

(Outside)
Anakin: Mom, I can’t, I just can’t say good-bye
Do you know if we will meet again?

Shmi: Ask your heart, and tell me what it says

Anakin: I can’t say. I hope. It might be so.

Shmi: Then we will. So go with courage, Anakin
Take my love, don’t look back as you’re going

Qui-Gon: Fare you well. Come, and the Force will guide us
Our journey is beginning; see your destiny appearing
(They leave)

Shmi: Take my child; I give him to you freely
You’ll give him more than I could ever give him
But with my hopes are mingled threads of sorrow
In spite of all his dreams I fear we’ll never meet again...

I've always had a strange liking for Thenardier's solo piece, Dog Eat Dog, because there's no more dissembling, pretending to be respectable or nice. He's just a nihilistic opportunist, a worldview standing in direct contrast to the hope that Valjean has upon his death. Anyway, I decided it would work for the moment Palpatine reveals his true nature to Anakin.

LIGHT OR DARK

(Original)

Palpatine: Listen to my words
I only say the truth
The Council is afraid of all the power you possess
A power that they can’t control
Through this fog of lies
I will help you break
Let me lend you knowledge of a subtle, secret Force

Anakin: How could you know about the Force?

Palpatine: My mentor taught me all about its pow’r
The Dark Side was his ally
And he saw the larger view
The Jedi’s dogma keeps you from the path
To save your wife from certain death!

(Anakin draws his saber; “You’re the Sith Lord!” They circle each other warily)


I know the pain you feel
The search for something more
To be more than just a pawn - (Anakin raises his weapon) Would you end my life like this?

Anakin: I would certainly like to

Palpatine: I can sense your hate
The focus it creates
This anger makes you stronger if you only set it free

Anakin: (Puts away his saber) My duty here is clear
I will tell the Council of your secret now
I'll heed the code I follow and I'll put away my doubts
I’ll quickly find the truth of all these mysteries you hide

Palpatine: Still you doubt
In this world full of lies
Light or dark
Waging war in your heart
The Jedi won’t give you the life that you seek
All these doubts, they will tear you apart
Give me your oath, and we’ll discover
The secret to end this strife
Your soul for Padmé’s life


For Cosette, In My Life is partly a love song but also a yearning to understand her past and its secrets. The second part applies very well to Luke. In fact, I was able to keep the first verse entirely the same as the original. A bunch of the other, more recitative parts might be a little harder to follow, but whatever, I had fun with this.

IN MY LIFE

(Original)


(After seeing Leia’s hologram)
Luke: How strange, this call that comes from distant depths of space
This change, to know I cannot stay here in this place
Are these just dreams, or something more?
Day by day all this yearning grows
So many things to do
So many things to know

In my life
There are so many questions and answers
That somehow seem wrong
In my life
There are times when I catch in the silence
The sigh of a faraway song
And it sings
Of the worlds that I long to see
Out of reach
Just a whisper away
Waiting for me

Am I doomed to spend all of my life waiting here?
As I watch all my friends and my hopes disappear?

In my life
I am ready to fly
But they’re keeping me here
And I plead
Set me free...set me free
(At dinner)
Uncle Owen,
We might have stolen goods
This droid we’ve bought, it claims
An Obi-Wan Kenobi as its owner
Old Ben could be its donor

Owen: That man doesn’t exist any more
Gone like your father, years before


Luke: There’s so little I know
That I’m longing to know
Of my father and how
He died so long ago...

Owen: Put away all these thoughts
There is nothing to know
Take the droids in to sweep
All those mem’ries they keep

Luke: Yes sir. You know, these droids
They might be all we need

In my life
I have waited
From harvest to harvest for my turn to come
With these droids, I am sure that my time
Living here as a farmer is finally done

Owen: No more words
Harvest time I can spare you the least
One more turn
Of the seasons and then
You’ll have your release

Luke: In my life
I have heard the same promises spoken
Too often before
It’s not enough
I need more
(Leaves)

Beru: He can’t stay here
He’s just not a farmer
You know where he’s from

Owen: That’s what I fear.

(Outside, watching the sunset)
Luke: In my life
As the suns sinking lower and lower
So all of my dreams
And my life seems to stop
Something always keeps holding me
Captive and dormant, it seems
(Enters garage)
Threepio, what is wrong?
Is the other one here?

Threepo: Master Luke! He is gone
And won’t ever come back, I fear

Luke: Blast! Such danger in darkness; we’d just be destroyed.
In the morning we’ll look for our troublesome droid

In my life
There is peril at hand
Yet adventure calls too -
Destiny
If it calls...I’ll pursue

In my life
There is something that beckons to me
I will heed
I will heed