A Little Priest
Below is my favorite song in the musical film "Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street." The film is about a barber getting revenge for the injustice he experienced from the malicious hands of the judge. I think this song sums up the theme. It was sung by Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney when they were contemplating on what to do with the body of Petrelli, Sweeney's first victim. Their solution, make meat pies. And not just Petrelli's meat, who else? and what was their reasoning? Listen...
A LITTLE PRIEST
MRS. LOVETT: Seems a downright shame...
TODD: Shame?
LOVETT: Seems an awful waste...
Such a nice, plump frame
Wot's 'is name has...
Had...
Has!
Nor it can't be traced...
Bus'ness 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: HAH!
LOVETT: Good, you got it!
Take, for instance, Mrs. Mooney and her pie shop!
Bus'ness 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!
[Simultaneously]
TODD: Mrs. Lovett, what a charming notion
LOVETT: Well, it does seem a waste...
TODD: Eminently practical
And yet appropriate as always!
LOVETT: It's an idea...
TODD: Mrs. Lovett, how I've lived
Without you all these years, I'll never know!
How delectable!
Also undetectable!
LOVETT: Think about it!
Lots of other gentlemen'll
Soon be comin' for a shave,
Won't they?
Think of
All them
Pies!
TODD: How choice!
How Rare!
TODD: For what's the sound of the world out there?
LOVETT: What, Mr. Todd? What, Mr. Todd? What is that sound?
TODD: Those crunching noises pervading the air!
LOVETT: Yes, Mr. Todd! Yes, Mr. Todd! Yes, all around!
TODD: It's man devouring man, my dear!
BOTH: And [LOVETT: Then] who are we to deny it in here?
TODD: (spoken) These are desperate times, Mrs. Lovett, and desperate measures are called for!
LOVETT: Here we are, now! Hot out of the oven!
TODD: What is that?
LOVETT: It's priest. Have a little priest.
TODD: Is it really good?
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.
LOVETT: Only where it sat.
TODD: Haven't you got poet, or something like that?
LOVETT: No, y'see, the trouble with poet is'Ow do you know it's deceased? Try the priest!
TODD: (spoken) Heavenly! Not as hearty as bishop, perhaps, but then again, not as bland as curate, either!
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.
LOVETT: Order something else, though, to follow, Since no one should swallow it twice!
TODD: Anything that's lean.
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?
LOVETT: Mercy no, sir, look closer, You'll notice it's grocer!
TODD: Looks thicker, More like vicar!
LOVETT:No, it has to be grocer --It's green!
TODD: The history of the world, my love --
LOVETT: Save a lot of graves, Do a lot of relatives favors!
TODD: Is those below serving those up above!
LOVETT: Ev'rybody shaves,So there should be plenty of flavors!
TODD: How gratifying for once to know
BOTH: That those above will serve those down below!
LOVETT: (spoken) Now let's see, here... We've got tinker.
TODD: Something... pinker.
LOVETT: Tailor?
TODD: Paler.
LOVETT: Butler?
TODD: Subtler.
LOVETT: Potter?
TODD: Hotter.
LOVETT: Locksmith? Lovely bit of clerk.
TODD: Maybe for a lark.
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.
LOVETT:Well, he drank,
It's a bank
Cashier.
Never really sold.
Maybe it was old.
TODD: Have you any Beadle?
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!
(spoken) 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!
LOVETT: 'Ow can you tell?
TODD: It's piping hot!
LOVETT: Then blow on it first!
TODD: The history of the world, my sweet --
LOVETT: Oh, Mr. Todd, Ooh, Mr. Todd, What does it tell?
TODD: Is who gets eaten, and who gets to eat!
LOVETT: And, Mr. Todd, Too, Mr. Todd, Who gets to sell!
TODD: But fortunately, it's also clear
BOTH: That [L: But] ev'rybody goes down well with beer!
LOVETT: (spoken)
Since marine doesn't appeal to you, 'ow about... rear admiral?
TODD: Too salty. I prefer general.
LOVETT: With, or without his privates? "With" is extra.
TODD: What is that?
LOVETT: It's fop.
Finest in the shop.
And 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!
LOVETT: Try the friar,
Fried, it's drier!
TODD: No, the clergy is really
Too coarse and too mealy!
LOVETT: Then actor,
That's compacter!
TODD: Yes, and always arrives overdone!
I'll come again when you have JUDGE on the menu!
LOVETT: (spoken) Wait! True, we don't have judge yet,
but we've got something you might fancy even better.
TODD: What's that?
LOVETT: Executioner!
TODD: Have charity towards the world, my pet!
LOVETT: Yes, yes, I know, my love!
TODD: We'll take the customers that we can get!
LOVETT: High-born and low, my love!
TODD: We'll not discriminate great from small!
No, we'll serve anyone,
Meaning anyone,
BOTH: And to anyone At all!
