Stephen Sondheim
No Place Like London
[ANTHONY]
I have sailed the world
beheld its wonders
from the Dardanelles
To the mountains of Peru
But there's no place like London!

[SWEENEY TODD]
No, there's no place like London

[ANTHONY, spoken]
Mr. Todd?

[TODD]
You are young
Life has been kind to you
You will learn

There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
And the vermin of the world inhabit it
And its morals aren't worth what a pig could spit
And it goes by the name of London

At the top of the hole sit a privileged few
Making mock of the vermin in the lower zoo
Turning beauty to filth and greed
I too have sailed the world and seen its wonders,
For the cruelty of men is as wondrous as Peru
But there's no place like London!
[ANTHONY]
Is everything alright Mr. Todd?

[TODD, spoken]
I beg your indulgence, Anthony
My mind is far from easy
In these once familiar streets, I feel
Shadows, everywhere

(sung)
There was a barber and his wife
And she was beautiful
A foolish barber and his wife
She was his reason and his life
And she was beautiful
And she was virtuous
And he was...naive

There was another man who saw
That she was beautiful
A pious vulture of the law
Who with a gesture of his claw
Removed the barber from his plate!
Then there was nothing but to wait!
And she would fall!
So soft!
So young!
So lost!
And oh, so beautiful!
[ANTHONY]
And the lady, sir
Did she succumb?

[TODD]
Oh, that was many years ago
I doubt if anyone would know

(spoken)
I'd like to thank you, Anthony
If you hadn't spotted me
I'd be lost in the ocean still

[ANTHONY]
Will I see you again?

[TODD]
You may find me, if you like
Around Fleet Street, I wouldn't wonder

[ANTHONY]
Until then, my friend

[TODD, sung]
There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
And it's filled with people who are filled with shit
And the vermin of the world inhabit it