Wigmaker Sequence / The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: ”Sweeney’d Waited Too Long Before” / The Letter

Lyrics

[ANTHONY, spoken] Mr. Todd, Mr. Todd! I found her! I found Johanna! [TODD, spoken] You have? [ANTHONY, spoken] That monster of a judge has had her locked away in Fogg's Asylum! Oh, Mr. Todd, she's in there with those screeching, gibbering maniacs— [TODD, spoken] A madhouse! A madhouse! Johanna is as good as rescued.  [ANTHONY, spoken] She is? [TODD, spoken] Where do you suppose all the wigmakers of London go to obtain their human hair? [ANTHONY, spoken] Where? [TODD, spoken] Bedlam! They get their hair from the lunatics at Bedlam. For the right amount, they'll sell you the hair off any madman's head. Come, we will write a letter arranging a visit and offering to this Mr. Fogg the highest price for hair of the exact shade of Johanna's—which I trust you know? [ANTHONY, spoken] Yellow? [TODD, spoken] No, not exact enough! I must make you into a credible wigmaker—and quickly.  (sung) There's tawny, and there's golden saffron There's flaxen, and there's blonde (spoken) Repeat that. Repeat that! [ANTHONY, spoken] Yes, Mr. Todd! [TODD, spoken] Well? [ANTHONY] There's tawny, and there's golden saffron There's flaxen and there's blonde [TODD] Good There's coarse and fine There's straight and curly There's gray, there's white There's ash, there's pearly [ANTHONY] There's coarse and fine There's straight and curly [TODD] There's corn-yellow Buff and ochre and Straw and apricot... [ANTHONY] There's gray, there's white There's ash, there's pearly There's corn-yellow... [SOLO ALTO & SOLO TENOR] Sweeney'd waited too long before— "Ah, but never again," he swore [SOLO BARITONE & SOLO BASS] Fortune arrived. "Sweeney!" it sang Sweeney was ready and Sweeney sprang [SOLO ALTO & SOLO TENOR] Sweeney's problems went up in smoke All resolved with a single stroke [SOLO BARITONE & SOLO BASS] Sweeney was sharp, Sweeney was burning Sweeney began the engines turning [QUINTET, variously] Sweeney's problems went up in smoke All resolved And completely solved With a single stroke By Sweeney! Sweeney didn't wait Not Sweeney! Set the bait Did Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney! [ANTHONY] With finer textures Ash looks fairer [TODD, spoken] Good.  [ANTHONY] Which makes it rare But flaxen's rarer— [TODD] No, no! The flaxen's cheaper... [ANTHONY] Yes, yes, I know— Cheaper, not rarer [TODD, spoken] Now off with you, off! But Anthony, listen to me once again. When you have rescued her, bring her back here. I shall guard her while you hire the chaise to Plymouth.  [ANTHONY, spoken] We'll be with you before the evening's out.  [TODD, spoken] Good.  [ANTHONY, spoken] Thank you, Mr. Todd. Thank you.  [SOLO BASS] Most Honorable Judge Turpin— [SOLO TENOR] Most Honorable— [SOLO SOPRANO & ALTO] Honorable! [SOLO BASS] I venture thus to write you this [SOLO BARITONE & BASS] Urgent [SOLO BARITONE] Note to warn you [SOLO BARITONE & BASS] That the hot-blooded— [QUINTET] Young— [SOLO BARITONE & BASS] Sailor [SOLO SOPRANO & ALTO] Has abducted your ward Johanna— [SOLO BARITONE & BASS] (Johanna!) [SOLO TENOR] (Johanna!) [SOLO SOPRANO & ALTO] From the institution Where you [SOLO TENOR, BARITONE & BASS] So wisely [SOLO SOPRANO & ALTO] Confined her [SOLO BARITONE] But, hoping to earn your favor [SOLO TENOR & BARITONE] I have persuaded the boy to lodge her here tonight [SOLO TENOR, BARITONE & BASS] At my tonsorial parlor [SOLO ALTO, TENOR, BARITONE & BASS] In Fleet Street [QUINTET] If you want her again in your arms Hurry After the night falls [SOLO TENOR] She will be waiting [SOLO SOPRANO, ALTO, BARITONE & BASS] Waiting... [SOLO BARITONE & BASS] Your obedient humble servant [TODD] Sweeney Todd