The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd is a character who first appeared as the main antagonist of a penny dreadful serial entitled The String of Pearls (1846-1847). In the original version of the tale he is a barber who murders wealthy customers by slitting their throats then pulling a lever while they are in his barber's chair which, unknown to them, is fixed to a revolving trap-door, making them fall backward into the basement. The story of Sweeney Todd an early example of an urban legend.
The tale surrounding the character became a staple of Victorian melodrama, and later a Tony award-winning Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim in 1979. Sweeney Todd has also been featured in several films, the most recent being Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), directed by Tim Burton, with Johnny Depp in the title role. Here, sung by Polymnia Choral Society under the direction of Murray Kidd.
Lyrics:
Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.
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.
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 impecably shaved.
By Sweeney,
by Sweeney Todd
the demon barber of fleet street.


Swing your razor wide!
Sweeney, hold it to the skies.
Freely flows the blood of those who moralize.
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,
the demon barber of Fleet Street.

Inconspicuous Sweeney was,
quick, and quiet and clean he was.
Back of his smile, under his word,
Sweeney heard music that nobody heard.
Sweeney pondered and Sweeney planned,
like a perfect machine he planned,
Sweeney was smooth, Sweeney was subtle,
Sweeney would blink, and rats would scuttle
Sweeney was smooth, Sweeney was subtle
Sweeney would blink, and rats would scuttle
Sweeney was smooth, Sweeney was subtle,
Sweeney would blink, and rats would scuttle
Sweeney was smooth, Sweeney was subtle,
Sweeney would blink, and rats would scuttle
Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney!
Sweeney!

Sweeney Todd

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd!

He served a dark and avengeful God!

Sweeney Todd

What happened then, well that's the play,
and he wouldn't want us to give it away...

Not Sweeney
Not Sweeney Todd
The demon barber of Fleet...
Street...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Stephen Sondheim
• Tim Burton
• Johnny Depp
• Polymnia Choral Society

[xochelsea08]

This makes me smile.(: