Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.

[Az]

His skin was pale and his eye was odd.
He shaved the faces of gentlemen
Who never thereafter were heard of again.
He trod a path that few have trod,
Did Sweeney Todd,
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

ANOTHER MAN:
He kept a shop in London town,
Of fancy clients and good renown.
And what if none of their souls were saved?
They went to their maker impeccably shaved
By Sweeney,
By Sweeney Todd,
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

COMPANY:
Swing your razor wide, Sweeney!
Hold it to the skies!
Freely flows the blood of those
Who moralize!


SOLOISTS:
His needs were few, his room was bare:
A lavabo and a fancy chair,
A mug of suds and a leather strop,
An apron, a towel, a pail and a mop.
For neatness he deserves a nod,
Does Sweeney Todd,

COMPANY:
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

WOMEN:
Inconspicuous Sweeney was,
Quick and quiet and clean 'e was.
Back of his smile, under his word,
Sweeney heard music that nobody heard.
Sweeney pondered and Sweeney planned,
Like a perfect machine 'e planned.
Sweeney was smooth, Sweeney was subtle,
Sweeney would blink and rats would scuttle.

{The men join in singing, voices overlapping, in a gradual crescendo)

Sweeney was smooth, Sweeney was subtle,
Sweeney would blink and rats would scuttle.
Inconspicuous Sweeney was,
Quick and quiet and clean 'e was,
Like a perfect machine 'e was,
Was Sweeney!
Sweeney!
Sweeney!
Sweeeeeneeeeey!

(TODD rises out of the grave and sings as the company repeats his words)

TODD AND COMPANY:
Attend the tale of Sweeney TODD.
He served a dark and a vengeful god.

TODD:
What happened then — well, that's the play,
And he wouldn't want us to give it away,
Not Sweeney,

TODD AND COMPANY:
Not Sweeney TODD,
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. ..

[KatyaR]

1. Oooo, I love that show!

It's one of my favorites.

Now I'll be singing this all night--thanks so much! :spank:

[mcscajun]

2. Awesome show! Saw it on B'way Way Back When...

...my favorite tune is still "Worst Pies in London" (sung of course by Angela Lansbury in her prime)

(GASP)
A customer!
Wait, what's your rush, what's your hurry.
You gave me such a
fright I thought you was a ghost
Half a minute, can't you SIT, sit you down. Sit
All I meant is that I haven't seen a customer for weeks.

Did you come in for a PIE, sir?
Do forgive me if me head's a little vague (ugh)
What is that, but you'd think we'd had the plague
from the way that people keep avoiding
No you don't
Have another TRY, sir (lah)
But there's no one comes in even to inhale
Right you are, sir. Would you like a drop of ale?

Mind you I can't hardly BLAME them
These are probably the worst pies in London
And though I know what it is to take them
I should know, I make them,
but good? No, the worst pies in London
Even that's polite, the worst pies in London

If you doubt it take a bite
Is that just disgusting?
You have to concede it
It's nothing but crusting
Here drink this,
you'll need it.
The worst pies in London
and no wonder with the price of meat
what it is -- when you get it
never -- thought I'd live to see the day.
Men'd think it was a treat
finding poor -- animals -- what are dying in the street.

Mrs. Mooney has a PIE shop
not my business but I've noticed something weird
lately all the neighbors cats have disappeared.
'ave to 'and it to 'er...
what a coarse -- enterprise
poppin' pussies inta pies

Wouldn't do in MY shop,
Just the thought of it's enough to make you sick
and I'm tellin' ya' them pussycats is quick

No denying times is hard, sir
Even harder than the worst pies in London
Only lard and nothing more
Is that just revolting?
all greasy and gritty
it looks like it's molting,
and tastes like...well, pity
a woman alone with limited wind
and the worst pies in London

Ah, sir. Times is hard, times is...HARD.