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!

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: 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: 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!

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:
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: 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!


Lyrics submitted by threecolorable

A Little Priest song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

9 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is genius. It lightens the mood greatly in what would be a very dark music without it. In this song, they formulate their plan to, well, serve people to people. How could it not work? lol... I love it.
    mnomeon June 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is a brilliant song.
    Amazing; only a genius could've written it.
    -SHAMELESSon December 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love at the very end of the song: "No, we'll serve anyone, meaning anyone, and to anyone, at all!" I agree with -SHAMELESS only a genius could have written it
    nvrbeenkissdXby_youon January 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love how it's like the most upbeat song in the musical, and it's about eating people. Love it.
    xrockxlikexwhoaon April 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI notice this version is longer, so it must've been from the stage musical... I'll post the soundtrack version:

    "A Little Priest"

    MRS. LOVETT: (spoken)

    That's all very well, but what're we gonna do about him?

    TODD: (spoken)

    Later on, when it's dark. We'll take it to some secret place and bury it.

    MRS. LOVETT: (spoken)

    Oh yeah, 'course we could do that.
    Don't suppose he's got any relatives that are gonna go poking around looking for him...

    (sung)

    Seems a downright shame...

    TODD: (spoken)

    Shame?

    MRS. LOVETT:

    Seems an awful waste...
    Such a nice, plump frame
    Wot's 'is name has...
    Had...
    Has!
    Nor it 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...
    Seems an awful waste...
    I mean, with the price of meat
    What it is
    When you get it
    If you get it...

    TODD: (spoken)

    Ah!

    MRS. LOVETT:

    Good, you got it!

    Take, for instance, Mrs. Mooney and her pie shop!
    Business never better using only pussycats and toast
    Now a puss is good for maybe six or seven at the most!
    And I'm sure they can't compare as far as taste!

    TODD:

    Mrs. Lovett, what a charming notion

    MRS. LOVETT:

    Well, it does seem a waste...

    TODD:

    Eminently practical
    And yet appropriate as always!
    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!
    Oh 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!

    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

    MRS. LOVETT: (spoken)

    Here we are. Hot out of the oven!

    TODD: (spoken)

    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 come in 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?

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

    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

    TOGETHER:

    That those above will serve those down below!

    TODD: (spoken)

    What is that?

    MRS. LOVETT:

    It's fop. Finest in the shop
    Or we have some shepherd's pie peppered with actual sheperd 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 is drier!

    TODD:

    No! The clergy is really too coarse and too mearly

    MRS. LOVETT:

    Then actor?
    It's compacter

    TODD:

    Ah, but always arrives overdone!

    (spoken)
    I'll come again when you have judge on the menu!

    (sung)
    Have charity towards the world, my pet

    MRS. LOVETT:

    Yes, yes, I know, my love

    TODD:

    We'll take the customers take 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

    TOGETHER:

    And to anyone
    At all!!!

    Love singing along to this as well~!!
    alexial39on April 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWhat does she mean when she says "No, you see the trouble with poet is how do you know it's deceased?"
    Mrs. Lovetton September 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think she meant that poets are always stuffy and so busy writing and reading, theyre kind of sequestered by themselves all the time and philosophize about life and death, and its like theyre never alive
    midnightmareon November 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentMy. Favorite. Song. Ever.
    jojoinpink54on January 16, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General CommentHAHAHAHAHAHAH I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOT!!!!!!!! HELENA IS AWESOME!!!!!!! JOHNNY IS AWESOME!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOT!!!



    GO VEGETARIAN!!!
    mmnnn_hhmmnnnon August 23, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top