☝️ Key Points
- The song addresses the themes of lost hope, shattered dreams, and the harsh reality of life through the eyes of the character Fantine.
- Fantine reflects on her lost youth and dreams of a fulfilled life and immortality.
- 'Tiger in the Night' represents the harsh reality and difficulties that tear apart Fantine's dreams and heart.
- Fantine remembers a past love and hopes for its return, but realizes she is not meant for happiness.
- At the end of the song, Fantine gives up her hopes for a better life and embraces the sad truth that her dreams will not come true. However, the song showcases her strength and perseverance.
Interpretation
The song lyrics "Ich hab' geträumt vor langer Zeit" from
Les Misérables is a poignant and sad song sung by Fantine, one of the main characters. It is about lost hope, shattered dreams, and the harsh life she has to endure.
In the song, Fantine reminisces about her past youth, when she was still happy and innocent. She speaks of a time when the world was a song and she lived in love and hope. She dreamed of a fulfilled life, of love and immortality, as expressed in the lines "Ich hab geträumt vor langer Zeit / Von einem Leben, das sich lohnte. / Von Liebe und Unsterblichkeit.".
As she continues to sing, she speaks of the harsh realities of the life she now leads. She describes how the "tigers in the night", a metaphor for the harsh reality and difficulties of life, tear apart her dreams and her heart, causing her pain.
In the second half of the song, she remembers a past love that she describes as an "boundless wonder". She still dreams of that love returning, but she realizes that she is not meant for happiness.
In the final part of the song, Fantine gives up her hopes for a better life and accepts the sad reality that her dreams will not come true, as expressed in the lines "Ich hab geträumt, mein Leben wär / Ein Schicksal außerhalb der Hölle - / Gott gibt den Wünschen keinen Raum. / Nichts blieb mir mehr von meinem Traum.".
Overall, the song is an emotional portrayal of Fantine's deep pain and lost hope. It is a song full of despair and resignation, but it also shows Fantine's strength and resilience amidst her difficult trials.