Valjean's Confession

Monsieur this is a day I never can forget Is gratitude enough for giving me Cosette? Your home shall be with us and not a day shall pass But we will prove our love to you whom we shall call A father to us both, a father to us all Not another word my son There's something now that must be done You've spoken from the heart and I must do the same There is a story sir, of slavery and shame That you alone must know I never told Cosette She had enough of tears She's never known the truth, the story you must hear of years ago There lived a man whose name was Jean Valjean He stole some bread to save his sisters son For 19 winters served his time In sweat he washed away his crime Years ago he broke parole and lived a life apart How could he tell Cosette and break her heart? It's for Cosette this must be faced If he is caught she is disgraced The time has come to journey on And from this day he must be gone Who am I? Who am I? You're Jean Valjean What can I do that could turn you for this? Monsieur you cannot leave Whatever I tell my beloved Cosette she will never believe Make her believe I've gone on a journey a long way away Tell her my heart was too full for farewells, it is better this way Promise me monsieur Cosette will never know I give my word What I have spoken, why I must go For the sake of Cosette it must be so