On My Own (Les Misérables)

"On My Own" is a solo from the musical Les Misérables for the part of Eponine. Beginning in the key of D major, E-flat major for high toned TVs, modulating to Bb major, B major for high toned TVs, then ending in F major, F# major for high toned TVs, this is the most important song 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 is 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, and Eponine has become one of its most popular characters.

The first actress to play Eponine (English version) on stage was Frances Ruffelle, her version of "On My Own" is preserved on both the Original London and Broadway cast albums.

It has appeared in many famous events outside of Les Misérables.

Michelle Kwan skated to "On My Own" during the 1997 Skate America competition as well as the 1998 Tokyo Golden Gala.

The character of Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek, played by Katie Holmes, sang this song at a talent show phase of a beauty show, (Season 1, Episode 12) in which she participated. In the pilot episode of Glee, the character of Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele, sang this song as her audition piece for the New Directions glee club, this version charted at number 42 in Ireland and 73 in the UK.^[1]

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