Prelude: The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd

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 impeccably 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 '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!

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd
He served a dark and a vengeful god.

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. ..

(The scene blacks out. The bells of a clock tower chine. Early morning light comes up. ..)