On My Own (Les Misérables)

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"On My Own" is a solo from the musical Les Misérables for the part of Eponine. Beginning in the key of D, modulating to Bb, then ending in F, this is the most important part for the role of Eponine. In the song, she expresses her unrequited love for the character Marius, and how she dreams of being at his side but knows his love for Cosette and not for her.

The solo did not exist in the original French show that opened in 1980. When the English version was written, the music for "On My Own" was adapted from the original French solo "L'Air de la Misère" which was sung by Fantine about her misery and suffering. In turn Eponine's original French solo, "L'un Vers L'autre", was dropped in the English version. In the later 1991 Parisian version the title was "Mon Histoire" (My story). However, "On My Own" has become one of the most famous and popular songs in the musical, as has Eponine become one of the most popular characters.

It has appeared in many famous events outside of Les Miserables. Michelle Kwan skated to "On My Own" during the 1997 Skate America competition as well as the 1998 Tokyo Golden Gala.