Seems a downright shame
Shame?
Seems an awful waste
Such a nice, plump frameWot's his name has
Had
Has
Nor it can't be traced!Business needs a lift
Debts to be erased
Think of it as thrift as a gift
If you get my drift, no?Seems an awful waste
I mean, with the price of meat
What it is? When you get it
If you get it
Hah
Good, you got itTake for instance, Mrs. Mooney and her pie shop
Business never better using only pussycats and toast
And a pussy's good for maybe six or seven at the most
And I'm sure they can't compare as far as tasteMrs. Lovett, what a charming notion
Well, it does seem a waste
Eminently practical
And yet appropriate as always, it's an ideaMrs. Lovett, how I've lived
Without you all these years, I'll never know
How delectable, also undetectable
Think about itLots of other gentlemen'll
Soon be comin' for a shave
Won't they?
Think of all them piesHow choice
How rareFor what's the sound of the world out there?
What, Mr. Todd?
What, Mr. Todd?
What is that sound?Those crunching noises pervading the air
Yes, Mr. Todd, yes, Mr. Todd
Yes, all around
It's man devouring man, my dear
And then who are we to deny it in here?These are desperate times
Mrs. Lovett and desperate measures are called for
Here we are, now, hot out of the oven
What is that?It's priest, have a little priest
Is it really good? Sir, it's too good, at least
Then again, they don't commit sins of the flesh
So it's pretty freshAwful lot of fat only where it sat
Haven't you got poet, or something like that?
No, y'see, the trouble with poet is
'Ow do you know it's deceased? Try the priestHeavenly
Not as hearty as bishop, perhaps
But then again
Not as bland as curate, eitherAnd good for business too
Always leaves you wantin' more
Trouble is
We only get it on SundaysLawyer's rather nice
If it's for a price
Order something else, though to follow
Since no one should swallow it twiceAnything that's lean
Well then, if you're British and loyal
You might enjoy Royal Marine
Anyway, it's cleanThough of course it tastes of wherever it's been
Is that squire on the fire?
Mercy, no sir, look closer
You'll notice it's grocerLooks thicker, more like vicar
No, it has to be grocer, it's greenThe history of the world, my love
Save a lot of graves
Do a lot of relatives favors
Is those below serving those up aboveEverybody shaves
So there should be plenty of flavors
How gratifying for once to know
That those above will serve those down belowNow let's see, here we've got tinker
Something pinker
Tailor? Paler, Butler? Subtler
Potter? Hotter, Locksmith?Lovely bit of clerk
Maybe for a larkThen again there's sweep
If you want it cheap
And you like it dark
Try the financier, peak of his careerThat looks pretty rank
Well, he drank, it's a bank
Cashier, never really sold
Maybe it was old
Have you any Beadle?Next week, so I'm told
Beadle isn't bad till you smell it and
Notice 'ow, well, it's been greased
Stick to priestNow then, this might be a little bit stringy
But then of course it's fiddle player
No, this isn't fiddle player, it's piccolo player
'Ow can you tell? It's piping hot then blow on it firstThe history of the world, my sweet
Oh, Mr. Todd, ooh, Mr. Todd
What does it tell?
Is who gets eaten, and who gets to eatAnd, Mr. Todd, too, Mr. Todd
Who gets to sell
But fortunately, it's also clear
That, but everybody goes down well with beerSince marine doesn't appeal to you
'Ow about rear admiral?
Too salty, I prefer general
With or without his privates? 'With' is extraWhat is that? It's fop
Finest in the shop
And we have some shepherd's pie peppered
With actual shepherd on topAnd I've just begun
Here's the politician, so oily
It's served with a doily
Have one, put it on a bun
Well, you never know if it's going to runTry the friar
Fried, it's drier
No, the clergy is really
Too coarse and too mealyThen actor, that's compacter
Yes, and always arrives overdone
I'll come again
When you have judge on the menuWait, true, we don't have judge yet
But we've got something you might fancy even better
What's that? ExecutionerHave charity towards the world, my pet
Yes, yes, I know, my love
We'll take the customers that we can get
High-born and low, my loveWe'll not discriminate great from small
No, we'll serve anyone
Meaning anyone
And to anyone at all
Songwriters
Stephen SondheimPublished by
REVELATION MUSIC PUBLISHING CORP.;RILTING MUSIC, INC. Song Discussions is protected by U.S. Patent 9401941. Other patents pending.