A Little Priest

By Stephen Sondheim (1984)
On album Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2007), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (1979)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
[MRS. LOVETT]
That's all very well, but what are we going to do about the Italian?

[TODD]
Later on, when it's dark, we'll take him out of the trunk and bury him

[MRS. LOVETT]
Well, yes, of course, we could do that. I don't suppose he's got any relatives gonna come poking around looking for him. But you know me, bright ideas just pop into my head and I keep thinking...
Seems a downright shame

[TODD]
Shame?

[MRS. LOVETT]
Seems an awful waste
Such a nice plump frame
What's his name has… had… has
Nor he 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

[TODD]
Ha!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Good, you got it
Take, 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 taste

[TODD]
Mrs. Lovett

Mrs. Lovett
How I've lived without you all these years
I'll never know

[TODD]
For what's the sound of the world out there

[MRS. LOVETT]
What, Mr. Todd
What, Mr. Todd
What is that sound

[TODD]
Those crunching noises pervading the air

[MRS. LOVETT]
Yes, Mr. Todd!
Yes, Mr. Todd!
Yes, all around

[TODD]
It's man devouring man, my dear

[TODD/MRS. LOVETT]
And who are we to deny it in here?

[TODD]
Ah, these are desperate times, Mrs. Lovett. Desperate measure must be taken

[MRS. LOVETT]
Here we are now, hot out of the oven

[TODD]
What is that?

[MRS. LOVETT]
It's priest
Have a little priest

[TODD]
Is it really good?

[MRS. LOVETT]
Sir, it's too good, at least!
Then again, they don't commit sins of the flesh
So it's pretty fresh

[TODD]
Awful lot of fat

[MRS. LOVETT]
Only where it sat

[TODD]
Haven't you got poet, or something like that?

[MRS. LOVETT]
No, y'see, the trouble with poet is
How do you know it's deceased?
Try the priest!

[TODD]
Mm, heavenly! Not as hearty as bishop, perhaps, but then not as bland as curate, either!

[MRS. LOVETT]
And good for business, too; always leaves you wantin' more!
Trouble is, we only get it on Sundays!
Lawyer's rather nice

[TODD]
If it's for a price

[MRS. LOVETT]
Order something else, though, to follow
Since no one should swallow it twice!

[TODD]
Anything that's lean?

[MRS. LOVETT]
Well, then, if you're British and loyal
You might enjoy Royal Marine
Anyway, it's clean
Though of course, it tastes of wherever it's been!

[TODD]
Is that squire
On the fire?

[MRS. LOVETT]
Mercy no, sir, look closer
You'll notice it's grocer!

[TODD]
Looks thicker
More like vicar!

[MRS. LOVETT]
No, it has to be grocer
It's green!

[TODD]
The history of the world, my love

[MRS. LOVETT]
Save a lot of graves
Do a lot of relatives favors!

[TODD]
Is those below serving those up above!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Ev'rybody shaves
So there should be plenty of flavors!

[TODD]
How gratifying for once to know

[TODD/MRS. LOVETT]
That those above will serve those down below!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Now let's see, here... We've got tinker

[TODD]
Something... pinker

[MRS. LOVETT]
Tailor?

[TODD]
Paler

[MRS. LOVETT]
Potter?

[TODD]
Hotter

[MRS. LOVETT]
Butler?

[TODD]
Subtler

[MRS. LOVETT]
Locksmith?
Lovely bit of clerk

[TODD]
Maybe for a lark

[MRS. LOVETT]
Then again there's sweep
If you want it cheap
And you like it dark!
Try the financier
Peak of his career!

[TODD]
That looks pretty rank

[MRS. LOVETT]
Well, he drank
It's a bank
Cashier
Never really sold
Maybe it was old

[TODD]
Have you any Beadle?

[MRS. LOVETT]
Next week, so I'm told!
Beadle isn't bad till you smell it and
Notice 'ow well it's been greased...
Stick to priest!
Now then, this might be a little bit stringy
But then of course it's... fiddle player!

[TODD]
No, this isn't fiddle player -- it's piccolo player!

[MRS. LOVETT]
How can you tell?

[TODD]
It's piping hot!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Then blow on it first!

[TODD]
The history of the world, my sweet

[MRS. LOVETT]
Oh, Mr. Todd
Ooh, Mr. Todd
What does it tell?

[TODD]
Is who gets eaten, and who gets to eat!

[MRS. LOVETT]
And, Mr. Todd
Too, Mr. Todd
Who gets to sell!

[TODD]
But fortunately, it's also clear

[MRS. LOVETT/TODD]
That ev'rybody goes down well with beer!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Since marine doesn't appeal to you, how about... rear admiral?

[TODD]
Too salty. I prefer general

[MRS. LOVETT]
With, or without his privates?

With is extra

[TODD]
What is that?

[MRS. LOVETT]
It's fop
Finest in the shop
Or we have some shepherd's pie peppered
With actual shepherd on top!
And I've just begun
Here's the politician, so oily
It's served with a doily
Have one!

[TODD]
Put it on a bun
Well, you never know if it's going to run!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Try the friar
Fried, it's drier!

[TODD]
No, the clergy is really
Too coarse and too mealy!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Then actor
It's compacter!

[TODD]
Yes and always arrives overdone!
I'll come again when you have judge on the menu

[MRS. LOVETT]
Wait, true, we don't have judge yet
But we've got something you might fancy even better

[TODD]
What is that?

[MRS. LOVETT]
Executioner!

[TODD]
Have charity towards the world, my pet!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Yes, yes, I know, my love!

[TODD]
We'll take the customers that we can get!

[MRS. LOVETT]
High-born and low, my love!

[TODD]
We'll not discriminate great from small!
No, we'll serve anyone
Meaning anyone!

[MRS. LOVETT/TODD]
And to anyone!
At all!

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