Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Prologue) Lyrics - Sweeney Todd Soundtrack

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.
Did Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Inconspicuous Sweeney was,
Quick and quite 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.
Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney!

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.

[Thanks to peindei, sjmurphy, Danejcamacho for correcting these lyrics]